My husband and I have two young sons. As we do our best to prepare for our family’s future, we are presented with options and encouragement for saving for college, managing retirement funds, and more. We are encouraged to buy life insurance and plan financially in many other ways.
In transparency, all of it makes me nauseous, and additionally, all of it feels so contrary to what Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel, Luke 12:13-21.
How do I reconcile this great encouragement to plan and save as an American in my thirties with Jesus’ words in Scripture? It feels impossible!
As I reflect, what the Lord reminds me is that it is okay—and even good—to plan and to save wisely and prudently for our family life, but to remember that we will always simply be stewards of what He gives us. He reminds me that all the preparations we are making for our boys and for the long-term are not in the name of greed, but in His name, that our planning can be used for the glory of God when we realize not one dollar we save is ours, and all belongs to Him.
He reminds me that as we plan and save, our focus and foundation can and must be in becoming rich in what matters to God and living generously in every way.
The martyrs who are remembered in our church today, Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, and Companions, teach us to be rich in these very things: humility, faith, surrender, and death to oneself for the greater glory of God.
We can strive for each of these things as we do our best to plan with prudence, always remembering that when we meet God face to face, it will not matter what we owned but how generously we chose to lay down our lives for Him and for others.
May God increase within each of us a spirit of generosity—in our finances, in our homes, and in our hearts.
May God increase within us. // @emwilssClick to tweet
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Emily Wilson Hussem planned her whole life to become a sports reporter but turned out to be a Catholic writer at the hand of God. The heart of her ministry is offering encouragement to women in living a counter-cultural life of joy. She is the author of two children's books, God’s Glorious Girl and God’s Brave Boy and Awaken My Heart, a devotional for women of all ages. Find out more about her here.
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