This month for The Big Picture are some verses to meditate over and possibly pray to God that He will renew your mind (not "change your heart") where appropriate. "Change your heart" is a Christian phrase that really shouldn't exist if we take the Bible at full face value. Right? I mean if God lives in our heart then when we say "Change our heart" we are really saying Jesus needs to change Himself. The Bible however does refer to renewing our minds as an on going process for the Christian.

What do the following Proverbs (NKJV) mean to you on the topic of savings?

Proverbs 6:6-8 - Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.

Proverbs 21:20 - There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.

Proverbs 22:3 - A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. This verse is repeated twice!

Proverbs 30:25 - The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

Ecclesiates5:13, 14 - There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

All of the above verses must be tempered and balanced with the following story (NIV) directly from Jesus:

Luke 12:13-21 - Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own."

And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, `I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' "But God said to him, `You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

Matthew Henry puts this parable into context with the rest of Luke 12: …Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favour...