Make, Save, Give
I’ve always loved this quote from John Wesley:
“Make all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.”
It’s bold. Straightforward. And completely countercultural.
It flies in the face of government overreach, consumer trends, corporate greed, and even the hollow financial advice floating around on social media. It’s not soft. It’s not vague. It’s clear, biblical, and gritty. And if I’m honest—it’s also hard.
I wrestle with this almost daily. The tension between “make all you can” and “give all you can” is very real in my life. I want to build. I want to provide. I want to invest wisely. But I also want to be open-handed and generous. I want to be known as someone who gives freely—and yet my grip can get tight when the budget’s tight, when the market dips, or when fear whispers, “Just hold onto a little more.”
That’s when God usually steps in. Sometimes with a whisper. Sometimes with a 2x4. Often through the wisdom of my wife, who gently (or not so gently) reminds me that all of it—every bit of it—is His.
Proverbs 3:9–10 brings it home:
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
That verse carries both command and promise. The command: honor the Lord with your wealth. The promise: He will take care of you. And honestly, I can’t think of a single day where He hasn’t. Even when I’ve doubted. Even when I’ve held too tightly. He’s been faithful.
This way of living—making, saving, giving—isn’t just about financial advice. It’s about trust. It’s about surrender. It’s about breathing stewardship in and out every day, not for the sake of building a better retirement, but for building the Kingdom.
And I’m still learning.
What about you? Does Wesley’s call resonate? Do you push against it? Does it not go far enough?
I’m all ears. Genuinely.
Because this kind of living doesn’t happen by accident. It takes courage, wisdom, and grace. And maybe a few bruises to the head along the way.
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#FromABeardedGuy
👉 For more honest reflections on faith, work, and walking it out in real life:
