Weekly Thought – September 8, 2026
Fred knew the Bible spoke more about money than almost any other subject. He filled hundreds of files with one-liners, speech memos, letters, and passing thoughts regarding financial wisdom. He was interested in the philosophy of money. He created filters through which he passed experiences, opportunities, and people. Fred’s other area of intense thought was discipline. These disciplines served him well as he employed them to finish well.
Staying On Track
A few early disciplines served me well. I adopted these when I was making $208 a month in 1941.
1) Define a lifestyle then find a way to finance it. Earning as much money as I could never seemed to be the right focus for my life. Some advise, “Make all you can and then develop a lifestyle to consume the money.” That is materialism. It is also frustrating and most who espouse this philosophy find it lacking in meaning. We outlined a general lifestyle spread over a number of years that would be useful, pleasant, and full. Then we established the specifics from which we created our budget. As our earning capacity increased, we continued defining the lifestyle first, adding in a few luxuries (but not enough to live luxuriously). We wanted to avoid the pressures of temptation. By setting our own standard we avoided social competition.
2) Maintain adequate savings. Early in our married life we determined to save enough to be liquid for a year without working. Without savings a person can become a financial slave. It cost us in our early years because we had to forego a car, live in a one room flat, and do without many things others considered necessities. Adequate savings gives more than just a feeling of security. It provides a foundation for moral decisions you may be called upon to make. I once took a moral stand in a board room which was made much easier because I knew they didn’t have me hamstrung by my need for the next paycheck. In my earlier, more irreverent days I called my savings account FFGTHF (Fat Fred’s Go to Hell Fund). I was assuring myself I could always look a bad situation in the eye and say, “go take a running leap.”
3) Understand financial security. Security is a feeling, not a fact. No amount of money can actually give us security and yet we need to find a place of financial peace. Mary Alice and I decided what we would need for our ultimate needs, medical care, lifestyle maintenance, etc. and created a plan to get there. At first it was only about savings, but then as we reached the specific amount, it shifted to investment, putting “deposits in the memory bank,” charitable giving, and personal development. It was important to learn to feel as secure in our spending as it was in our savings. As a card-carrying member of the “waste not, want not” fan club, this was hard for me. I loved to say to our children: “A fool and his (her) money is soon parted.” But financial security was the attitude of providing for outflow, as well as inflow.
This week think about: 1) What does money mean to me right now? 2) What is my FFGTHF number? 3) How do I define financial security?
Words of Wisdom: “It was as important to feel secure in our spending as it was in our saving.”
Wisdom from the Word: “On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you so that a collection will not have to be made when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 NET Bible)