Saturday, February 4, 2012

Frugality ~ A Good Thing?


Yes, it is a good thing.  The dictionary defines frugality this way ~

The quality of being frugal or prudent in saving; the lack of wastefulness:  many people who have lived through periods of economic deprivation develop lifelong habits of frugality and are almost never tempted by wasteful consumption.

Our society is extremely wasteful. We have so much. We don't know what it is like to go hungry. Even a lot of the poor in our country are overweight. As believers, we need to be good stewards of this earth, our money, and our possessions.

BUT, you can be so frugal that you become selfish and that is completely opposite of how Jesus wants us to live. There are many verses about being generous and helping those in need. We reap what we sow.

The Bible doesn't say anything about being frugal, but it does have a lot to say about being generous. It is very easy to become stingy and selfish when you want to be frugal. I know. I became that way when I was caught up in being frugal and it wasn't pretty. Here are some verses on being generous ~

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 
Luke 6:38

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, 
that shall he also reap. 
Galatians 6:7

It is more blessed to give than to receive. 
Acts 20:35

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 
Proverbs 11:24,25

 We know debt is bad so we must live within our means and not be wasteful, but we must believe God. He says you reap what you sow. Treat others the way you want to be treated.  Everyone loves being around generous people. Remember God is our provider. Trust Him from whom all blessings flow.
 
My sister's New Year's Resolution was to not spend any money this year except on the basics. She is a generous person. She is loving finding frugal ways to give and find the things she truly needs. It has helped her use up what she has and do without many things she wants!

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Posted by Always Learning at 6:00 PM
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I'm T · 686 weeks ago

In this country, calories are cheap but nutrition is expensive. There are 'food deserts' through many of the poorest parts of our country, where no good, healthy food can be found.

THAT is the major reason that many of the poorer(est) people in our country are overweight.
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Ken · 685 weeks ago

Yes T... this is very true, and don't forget to add ignorance. Many people have never been taught that many foods may fuel the body but only a healthy food can build it and rebuild it properly to keep it healthy. The point is that even the poorest of our poor live better than most Kings of old because of our advancements in technology and mass production. Frugality needs to be a part of life for rich and poor in this country, especially when it comes to over-eating.
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I'm T · 685 weeks ago

You're absolutely right that many people in developed countries overeat, especially Americans. And, too about the fact that many people in this country, across all income levels, aren't taught how to best fuel their bodies.

However, I disagree with you that the poor today eat better than the royalty of the past. The mixing of food and technology is a scary thing. Royalty were eating real, wholesome foods, whereas today the food available to the poorest Americans is full of garbage brought about by "technology" - additives, HFCS, etc.
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Fran · 686 weeks ago

Great message! You can be wise with your money if you are on a tight budget, but still find what is necessary to tithe and to be generous with your time. I heard a great sermon once in college about how students who may not have any income can still "tithe" with their time. The concept is the same as with money. Whatever free time you have, you give a portion (1/10) back to the lord by giving it to your faith community or to helping others. I volunteered to watch church families' children for free so that parents could have a date, run errands, etc. I was expecting this to be a blessing to these families, and I believe it was, but what I truly wasn't expecting was for it to be a blessing for me. Living away from home at college and being surrounded by mostly 18-22 year-olds, I truly cherished spending time with young children in their "homey" homes (as opposed to my cinder-block wall dorms). I reconnected with different generations, prepared and ate home-cooked food, and became a surrogate member of multiple families in my church. God is faithful, and when he tells us to be generous with what we have, whether it be time, money, or other resources, he always blesses us more than we could have ever expected....

Now I have a job and money to tithe, which I do. But I still apply the principle of spending a portion of my free time serving my church community (or larger community). I have tutored, worked with homeless women, and continued to watch children. I cannot believe the fulfillment, relationships, and blessings that continue my way by being giving of myself through my time.
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gracefulabandon 14p · 685 weeks ago

I love this! We are frugal with our own needs and God often uses that to allow us to give. I think that frugality should be more considered stewardship -- seeking God how best to use our resources and walking obediently.
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justpitchingmytent · 685 weeks ago

Such wise words!
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Johnlyn · 683 weeks ago

I have a warped sense of frugality. For example one day I found myself buying Doritos for $1.50 instead of strawberries for $2.00 because I knew that it was an excellent price on Doritos.

This is definitely something I need to work on. Being frugal means buying healthful food even if the cost is higher than the junk food.

Thanks for sharing this post!

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