Ants, Saving, and the Promises of God for Missionary Finances

When I was starting out as a missionary, I was quite concerned about my finances. This is a word that God spoke to me:

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Is 46:4.

It was such an encouraging promise! God does not want us to stress about money. We should not worry about it, or spend our lives chasing financial security. God wants us to partner with Him, as He grows our character through learning to manage the money He entrusts to us.

A friend of mine was teaching in India at a member care seminar. She was encouraging all the missionaries to have a savings plan for the future – for retirement and old age. At the end of the time one man came up to her and said “Sister, you need to have faith!”

Some people think that saving is not spiritual.

It is possible for us to have wrong motives in our saving. We can be greedy, or selfish with our finances. We can harden our hearts to the poor and refuse to give to others in need. We can be afraid of not having enough ourselves. We can put our security in having money in the bank and set our hearts on that. Jesus warns us not to do that. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Lk. 12:33,34.

Saving is a Biblical principle! It is a discipline that can help families and communities out of cycles of slavery and poverty.

We are told this in Proverbs.

“Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.”

Proverbs 6:6-11

What are some lessons we are meant to learn from the ant? Ants save tiny bits of food. They store lots of small pieces, that become a big store. The same for us. Start a savings plan that is small enough to be in your budget. If you only get $100 a month try saving $10 of it. Don’t think – it is too small to make any difference. As you save up the small amounts, it will grow if you persevere over time.

1. Start small.

Ants are willing to work. To go out and find the food. Sometimes we think the spiritual thing is to sit back and pray. We wait for God to miraculously bring money for us. Yet the ant keeps seeking until it finds.

This is the same with savings. Look at where you could save. We often say we don’t have enough to save. But, think through how you could squeeze more out of what you get. When we are tight financially I make it a game. I think – what could I make instead of buying? How could I cut out some expenses?

Hudson Taylor – a mighty pioneer missionary learned this as a young man studying in London. He found he could survive on a little, walk to work, and eat plain food.

This month is tight for us. I have a lemon tree full of fruit growing in my garden. There are so many uses for them: lemon juice, lemon curd, lemon marmalade, lemon cleaning product, lemon-scented hand oil, lemon cleaner, lemon freshener, lemon insect repellent.. the possibilities are endless. Diligent, creative, hard work brings reward.

2. Save because you want to.

Work and save because you want to, not waiting for someone to tell you to, or make you do it. We are all responsible for ourselves and our families. Sometimes, we can have a mindset of dependence. When we lack, we can blame it on; our organization, lack of supporters, God, our churches, our governments, corruption, or the injustice of the situation we were born into. When we blame others it makes us passive or pushes us to think and behave like victims. The truth is, no matter what our circumstances are, we still have free will. This gives us the ability to ask God for a way out, and as His image-bearers, we can be creative and find solutions.

3. Be forward-looking.

Prepare in summer, because winter is coming. We should be forward-looking. Hopefully, your ambition is to continue to serve God in your calling into your old age. Or at least longer than the next 6 months! That means we should start now – not put it off till later – to save and prepare for the future needs that we will have. We should look to God, and listen to him. Do not worry about the future, but listen to Him. Let him direct your spending and your saving.

In a future article we will look at how to save, but for now, think about these questions:

• What is your attitude towards saving?
• Do you have a savings plan?
• Do you have any savings for the future?
• How are you like the ant?
• What are some ways you can grow in wisdom in this financial area?

We’d love to hear from you! As a missionary, we realize this are can be a major struggle. Let us know what solutions you have found helpful in the comments below or on the Missionary Life Facebook group.

*This is a guest post by R.M.