Most people would probably think this way and it is easy to see why. Most weeks we are reminded that the cost of living is going up and the fact is we won’t be able to work as much as we would like to some day.

We try to make enough so we won’t be a burden to our loved ones in the future. Experts tell us that in the future, we might need X amount to live comfortably so we aim for that.

In a sense, preparing for the future involves a cost to the present. But how much are we prepared to pay and is the price too high?

Do we for example spend so much of our time working (to prepare for the future) to the point we neglect time with our family?

Are we absent parents to children who need parents? Are our present joys contaminated with worry for the future?

The Good Book reminds us that God knows what we need probably more than we do so we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-27).

Is this why more and more people are renting out their property to holidaymakers instead of to long-term renters?

For sure, one will get more returns this way, but if it leads to hardship for others, is it worth it? Is it perhaps greed that leads people to make decisions like this?

The apostle Paul wrote about 2000 years ago, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Timothy 6:9 NIV)

Investing wisely is important, but so is loving one’s neighbour, which is even more important (Matthew 22:38-40). The Bible reminds us that we will have to give an accounting to God for everything that he has entrusted to us. Everything after all belongs to God (Psalm 24:1) so let us use what he has entrusted to us wisely.