Financial security is a subjective thing. Certainly, it has to do with making our income and expense numbers come out right. But it also depends upon perception: our emotional well-being and personal answer to the question, “How much is enough to live on?”
One devotional Scripture for today is in Hebrews 13, which says in part, “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.” For God has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” I used to think that love of money was all about acquiring more and more. But another form of it is thinking that what you have is never enough to live on, never enough to have peace of mind.

An essential word of hope comes from how Hebrews puts the two sentences together: Don’t obsess about whether you have enough money or not because God has promised to never abandon you. So the core issue of financial security is not really money; its about fearing abandonment. Can we trust God’s presence in all possible life circumstances and lean upon God’s ability and willingness to come to our aid?

Yes, the numbers are important, along with practical behavior and proactive saving. But the real bottom line has to do with God’s presence, promise, and power. Now that’s security!
Your partner in ministry,
Betsy Schwarzentraub
Written 3/21/2011 for the General Board of Discipleship
of the United Methodist Church