When I decided to do everything in my power to escape poverty and live in abundance, I initially believed that I needed to focus on my studies, hoping to obtain a diploma and then a job. I thought that my salary would make the difference. I maintained this false reasoning until the day the Lord made me understand that what would allow me to leave poverty behind for good was my ability to save and make the fruits of that saving grow.

Besides offering an opportunity for enrichment, saving also allows us to prepare for all changes in time and seasons.

Saving Helps in Times of Crisis

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” – Genesis 8:22

Night always eventually gives way to day. The day always dawns. No matter how long the cold lasts, warmth will eventually come. No matter how long youth lasts, old age will eventually come. No matter how long life on earth lasts, death will eventually come. The change of seasons or cycles is applicable in all aspects of life, including the economy and finances. Thus, after every economic crisis, there comes economic growth.

The duration of either can be unpredictable, but the certainty that these seasons succeed one another is absolute. When we experience growth or abundance, we must be sure that a crisis is on its way and that its turn will inevitably come. Professional investors generally master economic times and seasons. This knowledge allows them, for example, to acquire assets during a crisis to sell them when the forthcoming growth reaches its peak.

Those who are unaware of the existence and functioning of times and seasons are the ones who will sell their assets during a crisis. Professional investors are generally less affected by economic crises because they take advantage of the growth season to save as much as possible. It is this savings that allows them to get through the crisis period with ease while continuing to make good deals.

Joseph’s Saving Plan

The Bible tells the story of a young Hebrew who had been sold into slavery by his brothers. This young Hebrew became the slave of an Egyptian who was one of the king’s officials. Joseph was a model slave who delighted his master’s heart. The latter entrusted the management of his assets to Joseph, who continued to prosper them thanks to the great wisdom God had given him.

One day, Joseph found himself in prison because his master’s wife had lied about him, saying he had tried to rape her. During his time in prison, he perfectly interpreted the dreams of two senior officials close to the king of Egypt.

One day, the king of Egypt himself had a dream that troubled him, and it was Joseph who had the privilege of interpreting it. According to Joseph’s interpretation, Egypt would experience seven years of abundance followed by seven years of great famine. Joseph advised the king to set up a system that would allow Egypt to save one-fifth of all its crops during the seven years of abundance. It was this reserve that allowed the population of Egypt and the surrounding areas to survive during the seven years of famine.

“There will be seven years of great abundance throughout Egypt. But seven years of famine will follow them, and all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.” – Genesis 41:29-36

These provisions will serve as a reserve for the country in anticipation of the seven years of famine that will strike Egypt, so that the inhabitants of the country will not die of hunger. Joseph’s plan for Egypt is one that everyone should implement in their own lives. This personal saving plan is fundamental because difficult times are unavoidable. Just as no one can prevent winter from coming, no one can prevent times of scarcity or personal crises from arriving.

No one can prevent those moments when a lot of effort yields little result. No one can prevent those moments when it feels like customers have abandoned us. Those moments when bills, fines, and lawsuits come from all sides. These difficult times are often accompanied by cases of personal or family illness. The only way to face them without being shaken is to make provisions during the season of abundance. The larger the savings, the easier the passage through the crisis will be.

What particularly struck me in Joseph’s story is that God did not inspire any other solution to face the crisis. God could have asked the people to fast and pray. He could have asked the people to bring offerings during the season of abundance. But God showed that there was only one effective solution. This solution was nothing other than saving…

This text is an excerpt from the book “MASTERING THE ART OF SAVING” written by Dominique MBOG.

We invite you to read the following article “What You Do Not Control, Control You.”