Covenant Presbyterian Church

"Take no thought for your life" is a challenging declaration, for it brings into sharp contrast giving responsible thought for personal need and making personal need one’s only thought. In this celebrated passage, our Savior’s main intent was to enforce upon the hearts of his followers the sovereignty and faithfulness of God in the provision of their physical needs (Matt. 6:25-34). To make his point he used God’s provision for unthinking animals and flowers, his intimate knowledge and concern for our personal needs, and our duty of seeking his kingdom as the predominant focus of life. From personal experience and struggle, every believer feels the pinch: how does one balance the Bible’s pervasive teaching on planning, saving, and diligence in earthly affairs with Jesus’ seeming indifference to these concerns in favor of higher priorities and pursuits?

The immediate context of Matthew 6 and the broader context of the Sermon on the Mount provide significant assistance. Throughout these three chapters Jesus renounces the hypocrisy, legalism (adherence to man-made laws in favor of God’s laws and promises), and externalism of first-century Judaism, especially its leading representatives, the scribes and Pharisees. Earlier in chapter 6, he condemned the formalism of their prayers, the hypocrisy of their fasting, and exposed their utter worldliness, which is well-attested in contemporary accounts, especially with respect to the members of the Sanhedrin. The section beginning with "take no thought" must be seen against this background. Jesus is not forbidding a wise and believing approach to providing for the needs of life. He is rejecting a worried, man-centered, and materialistic preoccupation with material possessions. He does so primarily by reminding his disciples of God’s promise to provide for the needs of those who seek first his kingdom or rule above all else. Put first things first, Jesus says, and not only will this life be placed in proper perspective, but your heavenly Father will also provide for every legitimate need.

From this context, our Savior resolves a dilemma that is only apparent, the difficult duty of balancing heaven and earth, his kingdom and our needs. The Christian disciple’s privileged pursuit is the glory and kingdom of God, which is defined by the beloved Beatitudes earlier in this same sermon, guided by wise, personal application of his law against the externalism of the scribes and Pharisees, and marked by constant trust in God’s provision for our temporal needs. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world introduces the promised reality of his kingdom and its blessings. Our treasure must be here; our heart will follow. This does not meant that earthly life and its needs are a matter of indifference or that the Old Testament ethic of hard work in one’s vocation, planning, saving, owning property, and leaving an inheritance to children’s children is now passé at best and misdirected at worst. No, the kingdom of our Savior impacts and transforms these things. His coming makes explicit and imperative what the Old Testament had already inculcated in a variety of ways. These things are not ends in themselves; they are good and holy provided they contribute to the greater good and glory of Jesus Christ. Owning a home is a good thing if it is used for raising a godly family, showing hospitality, and worshiping God. Saving is good provided it is kingdom-driven and not so that I can live without worry or responsibility after retirement. Diligence in one’s work is not sub-spiritual, as the past several generations have been led to think through the encouragement of monastic pietism and private spirituality. This life, its responsibilities and blessings, are good and worthy pursuits - not as the summum bonum of man, his highest good, but as means through which God is glorified and his kingdom built.

In the light of our Savior’s unsurpassed wisdom, I draw attention to a few necessary, very spiritual preparations families need to make, especially younger families in the midst of child-bearing and raising years. Of special concern is the relationship between financial planning and the kingdom of God. What follows is not a manual of early family finance but a few basic duties young families should endeavor to fulfill as well as some pitfalls to be avoided. They apply equally to older families and in some cases more, for it is an unfortunate fact of present Christian experience that wisdom is increasingly not to be found in the hoary heads, that Christians who should more mature are not. This is because the life-long diet of pabulum given in many segments of the church produces adult spiritual babies.

First, younger families must avoid the Wal-Mart mentality. When Wal-Mart determines to set up operations in a new area, their enormous capital is put to work erecting and stocking a facility that looks like it has been there forever. This is very different from the "mom and pop" operations of small-town lore; they labored for years to build up capital and inventory, gradually increasing operations, and endeavoring to avoid operating in a deficit cycle. Young married couples increasingly live as if their new household must resemble, in terms of material possessions and outward splendor, the financial strength that comes only through years of hard work, frugality, and savings. This inevitably leads to debt, especially in the form of credit cards. As tens of thousands of American families have painfully come to realize, credit cards are not easy money. Next month’s paycheck does not cover last month’s foolishness and unprepared-for-emergencies. The debt mounts, frustration and fear spiral, and financial paralysis ensues. The lesson for every Christian couple is that while we can certainly trust God to provide for us, he never promises to rescue us if we voluntarily jump into the deep end of the pool and do not know how to swim. Unnecessary debt should be avoided. The borrower will always be servant to the lender. An argument might be made that in our present situation some purchases cannot typically be made without the assumption of debt, but it is equally true that most purchases should never be made in such a fashion.

Second, debt becomes a critical problem in the event of a job loss, the death of a spouse, a down-turn in the economy, or a season of unexpected expenses. The assumption of unnecessary debt is essentially hyper-Calvinism, a presumptive trust in God’s providence without consideration of the means he has ordained to accomplish positive goals and avoid negative ones. Once one enters the path of using debt to meet daily living requirements, it becomes a necessity, for there is never sufficient money to cover unexpected expenses, only adding to the debt load. The only way to break this cycle is repentance, strict financial accountability, stubborn persistence in saving and waiting upon the Lord’s provision, and prayerful consecration to pursing the kingdom of God. Young married couples, and singles especially, must establish the habit of monthly saving; the Bible does not prescribe a level but the general rule should be to save the vast majority of what it is not required for necessary living expenses. Necessary living expenses do not include eating out, having all the latest fashions, buying a new car every few years, or building a collection of movies, games, and music that rivals the local rental store. Each of us must learn to distinguish between what is truly needed from what is only desired. We must also examine our own hearts to make sure we have not adopted one of the most pernicious, egocentric financial philosophies of our day: if I work hard, I somehow deserve this.

Third, in determining these levels, a budget of some kind is required, not only as a general guide but as a regular monitor of increases that will necessitate modification of family lifestyle in order to avoid the beginning of the debt spiral and allow adequate preparation for unforeseen expenses. Types of budgeting widely vary. Some find it necessary and helpful to have such a meticulous budget that they can monitor their family financial health like a stock market ticker. Others require less specific, up-to-the-minute family financial reporting, yet are still able to manage their household well. Still others are able to "keep it all in their heads" and achieve financial stability. Whatever method is chosen, it will be impossible to make preparation for unforeseen expenses, save for the future, practice biblical tithing, and avoid debt unless there is knowledge of where family resources are being utilized and how they should be better utilized for the glory of God. I would suggest a stricter methodology for younger families. The constant temptations of a materialistic culture, covetousness, from which believers are not yet freed completely, pride, and self-inflicted economic catastrophe are all checked by careful, faithful, and committed budgeting.

Fourth, Christian families should have a will. Younger families lacking significant financial resources often feel this to be pointless, but even in the absence of substantial assets, the process of facing your own morality on the printed page is a useful exercise, a spiritual exercise. It is especially important for family with children and families with increasing assets. The careful delineation of provision for children and distribution of family assets is a thoroughly covenantal, kingdom oriented duty. It is often the last way a father and/or mother indicates that there is a reward on earth for covenant faithfulness. Parents need feel no compulsion to distribute resources equally among surviving children. This is unbiblical egalitarianism. Family assets should be distributed according to covenant faithfulness in children. Never mind that this will produce bitterness in children whose inheritance is reduced or denied because of unfaithfulness; their attitude reveals that a wise distribution of covenant family assets has inserted a penetrating finger into the heart of their faithlessness. With respect to children guardianship, which is included in standard wills and of special concern to families with children at home, the selection of a guardian should be made in terms of God’s covenant rather than family feelings. Select surrogate parents that will continue the training of your children in God’s word and covenant; this may lead you to bypass a doting, nominally Christian grandparent in favor of a trusted church family. Wills are covenant legacies; they encourage viewing life in terms of God’s kingdom rather than sentiment and cultural standards.

A fifth principle is tithing. The dedication of the tenth or tithe to God is more ancient than Moses. Abraham distributed a tenth to Melchizedek, priest of the most high God (Gen. 14:20). While there were various tithes under the Mosaic economy, not all of which were given at one time or to one end, with the passing away of the specific land-based, ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic economy, the tenth remains as the standard, divinely authorized percentage of giving. Jesus enforced the tithe (Matt. 23:23), and beyond this giving in good measure, cheerful, generously (Luke 6:38; cf. 2 Cor. 9:7). Tithing imposes discipline upon one’s spending and lifestyle and recognizes God’s ownership of everything as well as his goodness in sharing his munificence. As a rule, the tithe should be distributed before everything else. Gratitude comes first. Families that give unto the works of Christ’s kingdom, primarily but not limited to the local church, can expect to prosper (Prov. 3:9,10). Those that adopt a principle of expediency can expect to struggle.

With respect to the first four of these general principles, it might be argued that unbelieving financial experts would encourage them and more, often with greater stringency. The children of this world are sometimes wiser than the sons of God in matters pertaining to this life (Luke 16:8). It must be pointed out, however, that the believer has specifically kingdom ends in pursuing careful financial planning. Avoidance of unnecessary debt allows for greater contributions to the needs of Christ’s kingdom, saving for the future, and ability to handle unexpected expenses. Budgeting often reveals the need of temporary or permanent lifestyle changes. Progressive saving allows parents to help their children when they set up their households. Wills make clear the transitory nature of life and the necessity of laying up treasure in heaven. When financial planning along these lines is pursued in terms of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, confidence in his provision, and satisfaction with his promises, then we are truly "taking no thought," making use of the means the Lord has provide for us while trusting in his promises to provide for us, without making this life and its possessions our dominating focus.

There is one other thing that must be taken into account whenever believers address the subject of finance. Even biblical principles of family finance are not automatic formulas for success. While our responsibilities are set forth with clarity in Scripture, allowance must be made for God’s providence in specific situations. It is not God’s will for all believers to enjoy the same level of financial ability. Many faithful believers who avoid debt, save what they can, and endeavor to budget carefully are barely able to make ends meet. This does not mean they are cursed or have hidden areas of unfaithfulness in their lives. It is more an indication that while the heart of man devises his way, the Lord directs his steps. We do not live in a mechanistic universe in which if we put our quarter in the cosmic gumball machine, the prize will come out. Too much of modern capitalism utterly ignores divine providence, and in its mechanistic insistence upon personal responsibility and hard work, tends toward Deism. While God generally blesses obedience with blessing, not all his blessings are the same or entail financial prosperity. In many countries of the world and even in our own where at least paper prosperity seems to abound, God’s people have only their daily bread. They have little control over their circumstances. They more directly bear the discipline of the cross in the area of personal finance. In reality, however, all believers are in the same position. "Taking no thought" is a powerful reminder that our earthly lives do not consist in the abundance of our possessions, that the kingdom of God is our greatest reward, and that whatever our economic circumstances may be, we are absolutely dependent upon the faithfulness of our heavenly Father.