I talk a lot about the importance of having an emergency fund and how it is a necessary ingredient to a sound financial plan. But, I thought we should step back and ask the necessary question, “Would Jesus have an emergency fund?”
In trying to answer this question, the first verse that came to mind was Proverbs 27:12 (NLT) ”A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.“
The whole purpose of having an emergency fund is to be prepared for when the inevitable “trials of life” hit. Christians are not exempt these trials and struggles that seem to pop up unexpectedly.
This reminds me of the parable of the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. From what I can tell, the foolish virgins brought enough oil for their lamps had the bridegroom showed up on time. Well the bridegroom was probably playing football with some friends and showed up a little late. (And he didn’t even call to say he was going to be late!!)
What separated the foolish from the wise was their preparation for the unexpected. The virgins forever known as foolish, didn’t plan for the unexpected by bringing extra oil. Those who were labeled wise brought extra oil in preparation for the unexpected.
Jesus knew the balance of what part He played and what He should rely on God to do. We have a part to play, but it is foolish of us to think higher of ourselves than we ought and think that we have a more important role than we actually do. Ultimately God is the one who supplies all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).
But Jesus also said “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6.
I get convicted by this verse when I have a temptation to think that if I can save enough money, I can insulate myself from any and all problems; thus not needing God. I have to fight against the tendency to trust in myself and depend on my abilities rather than God. The truth is that we can never make enough smart financial decisions or do enough things right that we will not need Him. He designed it that way. We are imperfect beings who are dependent on God.
So, as far as Jesus’ emergency fund goes, if He were walking the earth today, I think He would have one, but He would still trust God for His daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
There are a bunch more verses that would point to suggest yes or no to the question, so I would love to hear what your take on Jesus’ emergency fund is in the comments below…
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Jesus clearly had an emergency fund. Where do you think he got the extra fishes and loaves?
Another good verse on this is Proverbs 21:20
http://www.ebible.com/bible/Proverbs%2021%3A20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.
I wonder about this sometimes. But I completely agree with you about the 2nd point, that Jesus wouldn’t see the emergency fund as something that could protect him from all catastrophes. And that he taught against having faith in money or investments.
It depends on who you think Jesus is. If you think he is God then he would not need an emergency fund because he would know what was going to happen and could change anything to his liking. If he was only human then he would have an emergency fund out of wisdom, planning for the unknown.
Excellent post, and I do believe you’re right. I think Jesus would have had an emergency fund, but he wouldn’t put his trust in it. Jesus wouldn’t want to go into debt in the event of a financial emergency, and he would also know that nobody is immune to financial problems.
On the other hand, he wouldn’t put his faith in the emergency fund. I think Jesus’ view would be that it’s prudent to be prepared, but ultimately God is in control and you need to rely on Him to sustain you.
As a Christian, I trust that God will not send me more trials than I can bear, and that he will provide for me. That does NOT absolve me of responsibility of taking care of myself and my family. He has provided the means for me to accumulate an emergency fund, and as you quote “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.“
Great comments everyone!!
@Michael
I was wondering where they came from!!
Maybe Jesus could just ask his Dad for money if he needed it?
Liked your post, added you to my bloglog.
Ernesto,
@debtdieter:
ROFL. That is just tooo funny.
Just a few thoughts…
In Matthew, Christ is clearly talking to “Pharisees” who put their trust in “things” and not in God. Our faith, whether we are wealthy or poor, should always be in Christ. That being said, some of the great blessings that we have been given, as human beings, are the abilities to work, plan, and prepare.
(Remember when Christ sent the Disciples to get the colt, so that he could ride it into Jerusalem. To me, this is clear evidence that “He had a plan” – He had resources, in place, to be used at a time of need.)
NCN
Would Jesus really need one? I mean, he is Jesus after all. The rest of us, sure…but Jesus?
Great article & a topic I don’t see mentioned very often. I think that moderation and perspective are the key. It’s wise to save & be prepared, but keep in mind that God is still in charge of ALL things & ALL situations. No amount of money in the bank should take away your reliance on Him. It’s really about balance & faith. If you have $50K in savings and die tomorrow, do you think God is more likely to say “Awesome- glad you were prepared for any emergency” or “Lot of good that money does you know, too bad you didn’t give it to missions or give it to church or use it while you were on earth to do my will.”
At some level it’s about personal conviction and what you feel is right for you to save, without hording or squandering “investment opportunities” in the kingdom. The Randy Alcorn book- God, Possessions & Eternity has some great info on things like this.
No way Jesus would have an emergency fund. Even though he was fully man, he was also fully God. So he knew what the future held and has the the entire universe at His disposal.
But us? We have no clue what tomorrow brings. So in our human-ness , we save and store for the unexpected, which is also wise, given our lack of “future-knowledge”.
Look at Matthew 6:26:
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
My interpretation? If your faith is in the Lord, he will provide for you regardless of whether you have an emergency fund or not.
@Amanda D
Good points – you reminded me of an interview where Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life author) said that he believes it is a sin to DIE rich. His point was, what good does millions of dollars in the bank do when you die? This was refreshing to see given that he has made quite a few millions I am sure, but his plan is to use what God has entrusted him with to benefit others rather than hoarding up treasures that he can’t take with him.
I think some people are missing the point. Obviously, being God, Jesus didn’t *need* an emergency fund. He didn’t need to do a lot of things that He did while on earth. I think that Jesus would have had an emergency fund to model to us that being prepared is a good thing. Cool post idea, by the way
What about poor people who foresee danger but lack the financial resources to take precautions? Are they prudent, simpleton, or something else?
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.
———————————————
So if a poor person is not able to save, he’s foolish???
New here – just stumbled across this site.
I ask myself this question all of the time. I just can’t build up a huge (over $5000) savings when my brothers are in Honduras and India, needing every extra dollar they can get to bring water, food, and the message of Jesus to orphans and widows. If I encountered disaster and ran out of money tomorrow, I’d have to move my family in with our extended family. When they run out, people die. Then again, the two leftover aluminum windows in my house with cracked panes (from the cold) really ought to be replaced, requiring 50% of my current savings. But, hey, I’ll still have 50% left, and every scientist knows that half-lives can go on indefinitely, right?
I just found this site. I like this site!!
It’s kind of silly to debate whether Jesus would have an emergency fund or not. The simple fact is he didn’t. Money wasn’t invented yesterday. It existed in Jesus’ time. And yet nowhere in Scripture does it mention Jesus’ emergency fund. So would he have one? No. He didn’t have one when he was here the first time; I don’t think he would have one today.
Of course Jesus had an emergency fund! The bible even records him as using it when the tax man came calling; though I’d think, for the rest of us, stuffing your money inside a fish is even sillier than under your mattress. *grin*
Seriously, yeah, he’s God, but he’s also the Second Adam; fully man as well as God. In addition to dying for our sins, he came to set an example, and as such did some things that aren’t really necessary for the God nature (eat, sleep, pay taxes . . .) BTW, while on Earth, the Son relied not on his own power, but on the same Holy Spirit available to us. In that, He Himself modeled relying not on your own strength (even though His was truly sufficient) but on His Spirit.
But we know they had funds laid up; otherwise Iscariot wouldn’t have had anything to steal, would he?
What about a retirement fund? That seems to be a bigger issue than emergency funds. How far does being a wise steward go? This is an ongoing debate between my wife and I. What is a Christian perspective on retirement and saving for retirement?
@Crossn81
You know, it is a tough question to answer, that I don’t think there is a clear cut answer for. Like previously mentioned, I think the key is where you place your trust. Obviously, if your trust is in anything other than God, you are in trouble. But, on the other hand, Proverbs is loaded with scriptures about the wisdom of preparation and the foolishness of not being prepared.
Another angle is the grace factor that we have as part of the new covenant – so I don’t know, those are just my thoughts on it. But, the conclusion that I came to was that I should save for retirement. I am going to do my best to keep from trusting in it – which reminds me of another proverb about riches make themselves wings and fly away… anyway enough rambling for now…
Nice post – stimulating thoughts for my wife and I.
Great posts. I am glad I came across this site. My brother and I recently had a discussion very similar to this.
After reading through the New Testament I came up with the following conclusion:
Apparently Jesus had a tresurer by the name of Judas. John 13:29 shows Judas holding the bag. So I would think that shows He would have had an emergency fund. I doubt He had a treasurer for Himself but for the disciples.
In the Good News Bible, John Chapter 13:29 says this “Since Judas was in charge of the money bag, some of the disciples thought that Jesus had told him to go and buy what they needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.”
That, in my opinion; shows that Judas was the treasurer for the disciples. It shows that they had a money bag and it was used to help the poor or to use for festivals. Having a money bag shows, in my opinion anyway, that they saved money.
My King James version of the same chapter and verse says this: “For some of them thought, because “Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.”
@Duke
That is a nice piece of insight – thanks for sharing
Reminds me of a quote I heard once… “Luck favors the prepared.”
This also reminds me of a conversation I had with a Christian couple about paying rent ahead of time. Was it seen as not trusting God if they paid their rent 6 months ahead and didn’t live on the week-to-week seat of their pants rollercoaster where they were waiting for God to send them fish with coins, baskets with food etc? I think God wants our full attention and trust and will speak to us through every day-to-day events. I agree with the comments that it is where you put your trust. I also think that it’s often overlooked that God gives us the ability to create wealth (often through using our talents with hard work)and this is one part of a good emergency fund.
@Ryan
Wasn’t Judas treasurer?
I think the real question is “Would Jesus advise us to have emergency funds?” Of course Jesus himself wouldn’t actually need one, and a lot of people have pointed it out.
However, and I think Bob did a good job of explaining this, God clearly shows us throughout the Bible that we should be prepared and prudent. That’s not the same as trusting completely in our wealth – it’s just wisdom in action.
Jesus did speak of saving up for the future. It was in Mt. 6 where he spoke of “laying up treasures.” But it wasn’t for retirement. It was his urging to lay up treasures in heaven, as I’m sure you recall. He was always calling people to live in a framework of thinking that sees everything in the big picture of what God is ushering in—the age to come. The paradoxical thing is that “laying up treasure in heaven” requires not hoarding but giving what one has away for the good of others. What we lose for Jesus’ sake we gain back both in intimacy with him and in honor and reward in heaven.
As to the bigger picture of Scripture, we do have teaching about saving and being prepared for lean times that may come later. It’s primarily found in the wisdom literature of books like Proverbs—which is what you might call “common sense living.” Yet Jesus calls us to a discipleship that is what you could call “uncommon sense”–living with a different understanding of reality than just what makes sense from a purely human perspective.
I think that there is a tension that we find ourselves in between taking care of ourselves and truly being generous lovers of our fellow man. It is one thing to be irresponsible and thoughtless about the future, which is a potential mistake we could make. But when people do this, it is usually the result of them holding the value of instant gratification. In other words, they aren’t saving up because they’re spending it all now. There is no virtue in that kind of frivolity.
But Jesus takes us down another path. He leads us in a sort of reckless abandon towards Kingdom life at any expense. And Kingdom life is a life of sacrificial giving and investing in the people and the world around us. He invites us to break free of living in constant fear of not having enough (ironic for us anyway, since we are the world’s richest nation), and to truly trust his promise that God will take care of us if we are living for him and welcoming his reign (Mt. 6 again).
But understand that most of us won’t take him that seriously. Even most “Bible scholars” will civilize Jesus’ teaching to make it fit our sense of economics. We’re just too conditioned to take care of number one. And often our logic gets in the way of allowing us to experience the real power and touch of God on our lives.
Here are some statements from Jesus that relate . . .
Matt 16:25 (NIV) For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matt 19:21 (NIV) Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Luke 14:33 (NIV) In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Mark 12:43 (NIV) Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.” (Nothing here about—“How foolish! She must not be thinking about her retirement!”)
Luke 6:20 (NIV) Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 9:57 (NIV) As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Mark 10:29 (NIV) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Matt 6:31 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
As a disciple, it’s always a bad idea to think that we shouldn’t try to model ourselves after Jesus. After all, he called us to be disciples, not just believers, and the central focus of a disciple’s life is to become like his teacher–not just to know what he knows, but do as he does. Add to that the truth that God has make it clear that his number one priority in our lives is to conform us to the image of his Son.