We are encouraged to save, but we must do it for the right reason and in the right proportion. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
As stewards of God's resources, the Bible says that maintaining a reserve of savings is important. “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20, TLB). Saving a portion of all the money that flows into our lives makes sense as a practical matter.
The Bible teaches that it is good and wise for us to make plans for retirement so that we are not a burden to the church, our families, or the government in retirement (1 Tim. 5:16, 1 Thess. 2:9).
God wants us to prosper financially and to yield what He has given us the best of our ability (Matthew 25:14-30, Colossians 3:23-24).
Romans 10:9-10
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
He calls us to be good stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us, using them to bless others and advance His kingdom on Earth. This means that wealth should never be viewed as an end in itself but rather as a means to fulfill God's purposes and impact the lives of those around us.
Proverbs 11:4-28 ERV. Money is worthless when you face God's punishment, but living right will save you from death. Doing right makes life better for those who are good, but the wicked are destroyed by their own wicked ways. Doing right sets honest people free, but people who can't be trusted are trapped by their greed ...
Proverbs 21:5 advises, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Planning for the future involves setting financial goals, creating a budget, and saving for emergencies and long-term expenses. By planning ahead, we can confidently avoid financial stress and prepare for the future.
Frugality is not inherently good. It is the kind of thing that can masquerade as good even while it is an idol. Always we need to remember that it is God who provides for us and that he has promised us our daily bread. He will provide what we need and our confidence must be in him, not in our own efforts.
Proverbs 21:20 says, “A wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” Saving is making provision for tomorrow.
Ecclesiastes 5:13 tells us wealth hoarded does so to the harm of the owner; Isaiah 23:18 tells us that those who don't hoard their wealth, their profits will go toward abundant food and fine clothes; and James 5:3 tells us if you hoarded wealth in the last days your gold or silver will be corroded and eat your flesh ...
The Bible doesn't specifically state that we should invest, but also does not forbid it. Investing is mentioned in Proverbs 31:16 and used in Jesus's parables (ex. Parable of the Ten Minas found in Luke 19:11-27), implying that it is expected and normal.
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
In my mind, a penny saved is a penny saved and a penny earned is a penny earned.
Wealth, according to the Bible, is like fire, good but dangerous. Everyone sees the good, so the Bible warns us about the danger. Danger one: the desire to get rich (I Timothy 6:10). Danger two: worry about money (Matthew 6:25-34).
Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
The “false balance” that Solomon speaks of in this proverb would've been a scale that was intentionally manipulated to read falsely. A false balance could've been a scale that was modified to have different length arms or different size bowls. A false balance would've been any scale that gave the merchant an advantage.
Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little. Romans 4:4 - Wages, like a debt owed, must be paid.
Live on Less Than You Make and Save
That means living on less than you make—so you'll have money left over to save. The Bible talks about the importance of saving in Proverbs 21:20 (NIV84), which says, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”
The Bible encourages saving.
Saving is accumulating appropriate material resources for a defined, responsible purpose. A wise person does this (Prov. 6:6-8, 21:20). As you work and God provides you with income, He expects you to pay your taxes, give to His work and meet your present needs.
Money, for the follower of Jesus, is a tool for the kingdom. 2. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2).
Believe in Christ and confess His name if you haven't. Repent of your sins if you haven't. Be baptized (immersed in water) if you haven't. Be faithful, or return to being faithful if you haven't.
If. We have two seemingly contradictory truths: On the one hand, the Bible says that once God saves you, you'll always be saved (e.g., John 10; Romans 8); on the other, it says that only if you endure to the end will you be saved (cf. Hebrews 3:12–14).
John 3:3 in Other Translations
3 Jesus answered and said unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."