Saving Is the Main Course, Not Dessert

Over the last several weeks, we’ve laid a strong foundation for financial stewardship by focusing on income awareness, budgeting with intention, and creating a debt repayment plan rooted in faith and discipline. These steps are crucial for getting out of survival mode — but they aren’t the end of the journey. They’re the beginning.

Now it’s time to take the next step: building savings.

For many people, saving feels like a luxury — something they’ll get to after the bills are paid, the debt is gone, and life calms down. It’s often treated like dessert: nice to have, but not essential. But in reality, savings is the main course. Without it, financial peace, stability, and long-term progress remain out of reach.

Saving isn’t just for people with high incomes or perfect budgets. It’s for everyone. Whether you’re earning a little or a lot, saving is both possible and essential. It’s how you create margin, prepare for the unexpected, and start building the future God has called you to — one step at a time.

💡 This Week’s Focus: What Is Savings and Why It Matters

Saving isn’t just the act of moving money into a bank account — it’s the habit of setting aside a portion of what you earn today to provide for your needs tomorrow. It’s how you create breathing room, plan for life’s uncertainties, and walk in wisdom as a faithful steward of what God has entrusted to you.

Saving is the opposite of living paycheck to paycheck. It’s a quiet, intentional choice to build margin — the space between what you earn and what you spend. And in that space, you find peace, flexibility, and the ability to respond to life’s twists and turns without fear.

Here are just a few reasons why this matters:

• It protects you from debt when unexpected expenses arise.

• It provides peace of mind when life feels uncertain or unstable.

• It gives you options, allowing you to make thoughtful decisions rather than desperate ones.

• It’s the first step toward building wealth, leaving a legacy, and gaining financial freedom.

In The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel writes:

That’s savings. Not flashy. Not loud. But real, enduring, invisible wealth — growing steadily in the background while others are chasing status.

From a biblical perspective, saving is not about fear or hoarding. It’s about wisdom, discipline, and stewardship. It’s a way to prepare for the future without placing your hope in money. It’s how we honor God by managing well what He provides — not spending everything today, but setting aside for the seasons ahead.

📖 Verse of the Week
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”
— Proverbs 21:20 (NLT)

This verse paints a clear contrast between wisdom and foolishness in how we handle money. Wise people store, save, and plan ahead — they don’t spend everything as soon as it comes in. They think about tomorrow.

Fools, on the other hand, live for the moment. They consume without consideration, leaving no margin for emergencies, opportunities, or future needs.

Saving — even in small amounts — is a sign of wisdom, discipline, and maturity. It reflects a heart that chooses stewardship over impulse, preparation over panic, and long-term peace over short-term pleasure.

What Scripture Teaches Us About Saving

Saving isn’t just a financial principle — it’s a biblical one. Throughout Scripture, God highlights the wisdom of preparation, planning ahead, and living with margin. Here are three powerful examples:

1. Joseph and the Seven Years of Plenty
📖 Genesis 41:33–36

When Pharaoh had dreams warning of a coming famine, Joseph, led by God’s wisdom, created a national savings plan. For seven years, Egypt stored grain during a time of abundance. When the famine came, they not only survived — they became a source of provision for others.

Joseph’s foresight didn’t just preserve Egypt; it blessed nations. His example shows us that saving during the good times prepares us to endure and lead during hard times.

2. The Ant’s Example
📖 Proverbs 6:6–8 (NLT)
"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter."

God points us to one of His smallest creatures to teach one of the biggest financial lessons: prepare now for what’s coming later.

Ants don’t wait for winter to arrive. They work and store during the summer, even though no one is forcing them. Their diligence is driven by instinct — and Scripture calls that wisdom.

3. The Proverbs 31 Woman
📖 Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)
"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."

The virtuous woman doesn’t panic about tomorrow — she’s prepared for it. Her confidence is built on wise planning and stewardship. She manages her household with care and forethought, and because of that, she can face the future with joy, not anxiety.

These aren’t just nice moral lessons. They’re practical, God-given blueprints for living with purpose and peace.
God’s Word consistently shows us that saving is spiritual wisdom in action — not because we trust in money, but because we trust in the One who provides and want to handle His provision faithfully.

💡 Can You Save on a Low Income?

Absolutely — but it starts with your mindset, not just your math.

One of the most common beliefs that holds people back is:

But the truth is, saving isn’t about how much you make — it’s about what you do with what you make.

As Larry Burkett wisely said:

You may not be in a position to save $500 a month — and that’s okay.
But could you start with $5? Or $10? That’s enough to begin building the habit.

A timeless principle of financial wisdom is this: pay yourself first.
Before you spend, before you cover the bills, set something aside — even a small amount. That one act reinforces discipline, prioritizes your future, and builds margin over time.

Saving, no matter how small, begins to:

• Shift your mindset from lack to stewardship

• Create breathing room and peace of mind

• Establish a habit that grows with your income

These benefits compound over time — not because of big amounts, but because of consistent, faithful action.

You don’t have to wait until your finances are “perfect” to save.
You just need to begin — one decision, one deposit at a time.

🎯 Weekly Challenge: Save Something This Week

This week, start saving — no matter how small:

• Open a savings account if you don’t have one.

• Transfer $5 into savings today.

• Look at your current budget and choose one thing to cut back (coffee, snacks, streaming) — and move that amount to savings.

The goal isn’t the amount. It’s the act.
You’re practicing wisdom and preparing for peace.

💬 Reflection Questions

1. Have I treated saving as optional or essential?

2. What mindset has held me back from saving?

3. What’s one thing I can do this week to start saving with purpose?

📢 What’s Coming Next

Next week, we’ll talk about how to save on any income — with real, practical strategies you can apply right now, no matter how tight things feel.

You’ve taken the first step — now let’s build the habit that turns intention into impact.

You’re not just finishing something—you’re stepping into something better. Keep going. You’re doing this.

🔁 New here or missed a few? You can read all the previous newsletters right here: financebyfaith.beehiiv.com

Blessings and financial peace to you!