To Hoard or to Spend?

“[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” (Pr 21:20 AV)

There is something to be said for the discipline of saving.  We look at resources one of three ways.  There are people who look at resources as nothing more than something to hoard.  Their view of material things is like that of someone who competes at a sporting event.  The one with the most points at the end of a game wins.  Wealth is nothing more than a status symbol.  Once one has the most, the game is won.  Charity is seen only in terms of what can be lost and still have the chance of winning.  Then there are those who see resources as that to be used until nothing remains.  This type of person finds a twenty-dollar bill laying in a street and immediately makes plans to spend all of it on something he or she would not normally purchase.  They use time and money the same way.  If it is something to possess, it is something to use.  Then there is the balance seen above.  Resources are to be used.  Like the oil stated above, it is used for cooking, heating, and giving light to the house.  He is not a hoarder.  But he is also not a waster.  He saves a portion of what he has as the means to an end.  He saves with a plan.  The wise man desires treasure.  Not to boast of what he has.  The treasures and oil exist for the same reason.  There is a purpose for it.  Rationing and saving ensures those purposes are met.

When I was a young child, banks were called savings banks.  Over the years, that has changed.  The word ‘savings’ has kind of dropped off.  I can also remember when banks used to promote savings accounts for minors.  My mom took each of us into the bank on a designated birthday and opened a savings account in our names.  I think it might have been around five years old.  To this day I can remember the branch my mom took me to.  I can even remember the sandwich board advertisement in the front lobby.  It was a very small branch adjacent to the grocer's.  We went in, and she opened my account.  The passbook was blue.  She opened the account with a quarter.  From that time forward, my allowance went into my savings account.  If my grandparents gave me any money, into my account it went as well.  When we delivered papers, those earnings went into our savings account.  We could not draw any out without my parents' permission.  When we turned 16, then we had full control over our account.  We could do with it as we pleased.  They were trying to teach us to save.  Saving, even if there isn’t an immediate plan for it, is a good discipline.  We saved for a few things we knew we would buy.  At 12 or 13, we could purchase our own ten-speed bicycle.  My first was a green Schwinn.  That was stolen, so my next was an orange Schwinn from a police auction.  Had I not saved, that second bike would have been impossible.  The point was my parents were trying to teach us to save.

Some see saving as a lack of faith.  This may be the case for some.  That is where hoarding comes in.  However, spending everything we have is foolish.  The balance between the two is where the wise live.  Solomon is sharing with his children that saving is a good thing.  If done in moderation and with a purpose, then saving is very wise.  Just because we have it doesn’t mean it has to be used.  Just because it is in storage doesn’t mean it comes out until it is gone.  A great barometer would be waste.  To use all resources up when they do not need to be is a waste.  But so is saving without intent or purpose.  If a farmer saves grain in a silo just to see how full that silo can be, much of the grain will spoil.  It will be of no use.  So too are all resources.  At some point, having more than we need without a purpose or plan will eventually see it go to waste.  So, seek that balance.  Where is that midway point between spending and saving?  That is where the wise dwell.