Here, Piggy, Piggy!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
—Romans 12:1

On the shelves in my bedroom I have a piggy bank that belonged to my brother. It was a gift from my Aunt Paula when we were children. She gave me one as well, but it has long since been destroyed, as is the fate of most of my possessions. However, this is one of the few items I have that belonged to my brother who died at 20. So, I cherish it. Many cherish their own piggy bank. It might not be a child’s savings account, but acclaim, self-worth, a bank account, power, luxury, or any number of things.

But why a piggy bank? History shows us it comes from our need to secure our future. For centuries many rural families depended on an actual pig for their financial security. They would acquire a piglet in the spring and feed it on household rubbish throughout the summer and into the fall. In winter, when assets were no longer liquid for commerce, the pig would be their financial security blanket. You could slaughter and eat it, sell it or trade it to survive the winter months.

The pig concept came down through history as a icon of savings. The earliest versions of the “Pig Bank” come from 1900. As an advertisement declared, “The latest novelty — The Pig Bank. You have to kill the pig to get the money — 25¢ each.”

The ad declared the redemption criteria of the piggy bank. It had no stopper to get the money out. This protected the money from theft and encouraged savings. The only way to get the money out was to “kill the pig” and break it to pieces.

The same is true today in our spiritual lives. We seek security. Long for identity. We invest and save up for rainy days when acceptance is lacking. Our pig might be a position of authority, financial security, social acceptance, accomplishment, renown, family, church, or any number of things. We invest in them for the long winter months of scarcity.

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with preparing for the future and providing for your family. I’m talking more about how we find our identity in these things. How we try to find a way to establish our own security for the future in and of ourselves. How we seek to establish our own safety net by our own efforts.

It is interesting that the pigs were fed on rubbish. So are we much of the time. The Bible declares pigs to be unclean (Leviticus 11:7-8). This has more to do with the transmission of disease, but it is interesting. How often are we infected with the need to try and establish our own safety net; our own security blanket? How often do we feel alone facing the winter of life and feel we have to find a way to provide for the future on our own. So, we feed our need with rubbish (the things of this world) and hope to make it through.

There comes a time when we have to break the piggy bank! We have to let it shatter upon the floor and realize there is nothing in it that will get us through the winter. As Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Broken, shattered and alone; we each must come to the Lord. We give up all that we are, for there is nothing there substantial enough to pay the debt we owe. And in exchange, He gives us all He is to balance the debt and grace abounds.

Why do we continue to hoard our assets in piggy banks that will avail us nothing in eternity? Whether it be money, time, effort or any other activity, all is wasted and will be broken to pieces in the trial of winter. The only savings that matters is the treasures we store up in heaven (Matthew 6:20). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21)

Again, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be wise with our money, providing for our family and future. I’m talking about our identity. Where do you find your treasure? Are you what you own? Are you what you accomplish? Are you the position you hold? Are you defined by the relationships you have with others? Are you…fill in the blank?

Or are you defined by who Christ says you are? What He has done? Who He has called you to be?

I’m challenged this week to evaluate where I am storing up my treasure. Is it in my own efforts? For my own comfort? Or is it in who Christ has called me to be?

I believe I need to break a few piggy banks in my life. Let go of the security blanket I’m trying to create for myself and trust His plan. Invest in heavenly treasures. Sacrifice who I want to be in order to be who He called me to be.

I don’t need a spiritual piggy bank! I have a trust fund. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.