You may have heard someone say, “That person is so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good.” The Bible teaches that the opposite is true: that we’re no earthly good unless we’re heavenly minded. Notice what the Bible has to say to help us be “heavenly minded” when it comes to planning our financial future:

Expect change.
The old saying – “time flies” – has some good theology behind it. In James chapter 4 our lives are compared to a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. And yet it’s so easy to live, think, and talk as though this life will go on indefinitely. But the Bible cautions us that we do not even know what will happen tomorrow. This is not a cause for fear, but rather helps us see that our lives and our future plans are in God’s hands, and that we can confidently surrender our changing circumstances to Him.

Embrace Suffering.
If we have sufficient resources, we can avoid a lot of pain and discomfort in life with things like medication, air conditioning, and comfortable homes. And so it may seem foreign to our North American ears that suffering is a normal, expected part of our life with Christ, and even a cause to rejoice! (1 Peter 4:12) But this biblical principle helps us see that the goal of financial planning is not to try to completely eliminate all pain and suffering (and so diminish our life with Christ), but rather to position ourselves in the center of God’s will so that we can glorify God in times of trial and blessing.

Give freely.
Do you like having a say in decisions that impact you? Most of us do, and yet we had no say in the decisions that have most impacted our lives – who our parents are, where we were born, the time period we live in, what abilities we have, etc. This “package” of who we are is a wonderful example of God’s grace in our lives. And because God has so freely given to us, He wants us to respond by freely giving to others (Matthew 10:8). In fact, the book of James teaches that our faith is useless and even dead if it is not expressed in generous giving to those in need. That means that planning for our financial future, from God’s perspective, begins with being intentional about growing in our faith by growing in our giving.

Look forward.
As believers, we understand that the busyness of life will come to a screeching halt when the Lord returns: “The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare,” according to 2 Peter 3. That may sound like something out of an Oscar-winning movie, but it describes a future reality that has major implications for how we live now. The Bible instructs us to prepare for the “day of God” by living holy lives. That means that our future financial planning should be set apart from the values of the world, honoring the Lord with everything we are and everything we have during and after our lifetimes, seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness.

For more information, ask for a FREE copy of “What Does the Bible Say About Planning for the Future?” by contacting Steve Hilbrands from Grace Bible College at 616-538-2330 or email Steve Hilbrands.

This is general information and is not intended to be tax or legal advice. Please consult your own advisors.

This sample illustration is for illustration purposes only. Please consult your own advisors or West Michigan Christian Foundation.