SAVING: A NECESSARY EVIL “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6.19
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auritius is presently living an economic paradox. Everything seems to point out (at last!) to an economic recovery: The country is progressively leaving the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF); the reopening of our boundaries brings a flow of tourists into our hotels, and investors for the many building programmes. A paradox, indeed; because we might have thought that this long-awaited recovery would immediately bring about an easier and cheaper daily life, in the form of decreased prices; but we are compelled to acknowledge that life seems to have become more expensive. A rupee kept at a very low rate, the increase of shipping costs, the worldwide demand for energy, a weak production, or the climatic conditions, which have brought about the low production of some agricultural raw materials (for instance, wheat), may explain this situation. A paradox, also, because we might have expected a decrease in the consumption by the families; but it seems that the official statistics point out rather to an increase. The consumption by the families in 2020 was Rs315 billion, revealing a decrease of 63 billion as compared with 2019. But the first two quarters of 2021 reveal that we have consumed Rs14 billion more than during the first two quarters of 2020. A paradox, also, because the reported recovery is still low, and particularly fragile, as it depends of factors which are beyond human control. The return of other pandemic waves, more aggressive and more contaminating variants, a worldwide economic
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slowdown brought about by scandals in the new dominating Chinese economy, rumours of war in the Chinese Sea, financial scandals weakening our financial basis, are only a few of the serious possibilities. Anyhow, we, Seventh-day Adventist Christians, do not believe in a world which will become better, but we rather expect a final upheaval, announcing Christ’s second coming. At last, I dare to hope that we shall not forget our heavenly home while working for this Earth, which we all wish to see in a better condition. Yet, these paradoxes demand that we should foresee. To foresee means to take precautionary measures, advanced measures. But I suggest particularly this definition: to make the necessary preparations. A convincing example from the Bible is Joseph, when he proposed to Pharaoh to take measures to store of food, after his dream of the fat and lean cows. The Bible, particularly the Book of Proverbs, mentions also the necessity of preparing in advance: Proverbs 6.6–8: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, Yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. The same Bible teaches it also in Matthew 6.19: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Should we therefore foresee? Do we need to make the necessary preparations? Several Bible verses hint that wisdom fosters a good management of the resources placed at our disposal, particularly Proverbs 21.20: In the house of the wise are stores of choice foods and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. The Bible also
