Money, money, money. It is one of the things this world revolves around, and it’s what classifies a person as rich or poor. This is also one of the main reasons why couples fight. I have found it is always the same thing – spending and saving habits. While one has learned the responsibility of saving, the other spends foolishly. This is unfortunately very common in today’s world; however, it is not something new. This issue has been around since the beginning of time. I believe it has been so common that God Himself put it into writing – the Scriptures. In fact, money and possessions are said to be the second most referenced topic within the Bible.

With this being said, the Bible says many different things pertaining to money. Many would quote one of the most known verses – the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). But what does the Bible say about saving money? The book of proverbs has a lot to say on this topic. One verse is Proverbs 13:11, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Another is Proverbs 21:5, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Jesus Himself talked about this in His parables. One that comes to mind is the “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30).

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.”

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

The man with two bags of gold also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.”

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

“So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”

What does this have to do with saving? Well, as servants of Christ, we are called to be productive. Everything we are given comes from Him alone, and He has entrusted us to use our money to benefit His Kingdom. He will return, not only to reward us, but to also settle accounts.