Joseph

February 10

Genesis 41:53-57, 42:1-4

Saving and spending

When the seven years of plenty had passed, the storehouses in Egypt were full. Then, just as God had said, seven years of famine followed. Joseph opened the storehouses and started selling grain to the Egyptian people. Things were getting so bad that even people from distant countries came to buy food.

Joseph’s father Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt and sent his sons to buy grain there. Only his youngest son Benjamin stayed behind because Jacob was afraid something bad might happen to him.

Should I spend my pocket money or save it?

Whether your parents give you pocket money, or whether you do chores to earn money, what you do with the money is up to you.

It is probably best to keep a balance between spending money and saving it. By keeping money for a while (saving), you can make sure you have money when you need it. If you spend all of it straight away on buying things you don’t really need, you may not have enough when you want to buy something special. By learning to save now, even if it is only a small amount, you will be starting a good habit.

Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19). This means that we should be careful not to heap up treasure—whether money or things—that could become more important to us than having eternal life.

If you want to use money wisely, don’t rush into buying things. Rather wait and ask the Lord to help you make a good decision. But remember, money and things won’t last forever; what is far more important are the things we do to store up treasure in heaven.

Verse for today

“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer” Proverbs 30:25.