Always Learning: Answer to Spending Less ~ Shop Less!

Monday, February 2, 2015

Answer to Spending Less ~ Shop Less!

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "As for the true Christian, he expects to have his reward in the next life, and to endure hardness in this. The promise of the old covenant was prosperity, but the promise of the new covenant is adversity....'Every branch in Me that beareth no fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit' - What? 'He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.'"

You know that verse in Jeremiah 29:11 that people quote often, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." This sounds like God does want to prosper us and our future here on earth is filled with hope. However, the KJV of this verse reads, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." This is VERY different than the NIV!

Our "expected end" is spending eternity with the Lord, not being prosperous as so many teachers, even preachers, preach today. This isn't our home and we will experience trials and suffering down here. Michael Pearl teaches that God allows Satan to roam the earth to refine His saints. I don't think preachers of old preached the prosperity gospel since they knew that this isn't what Christians should strive for or expect.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. THIS is what we should aim for. If we have food and clothing, the Lord commands that we be content, yet so many in our society are anything but content. They spend to spend; trying to find fulfillment in spending. "The road to bankruptcy is paved with good deals. The answer to spending less is not coupons or blow-out sales. Shop less. We spend money on spending, then we spend money to warehouse and organize the stuff we spend on. Then we pay to discard it. Then we pay to maintain the landfills where it sits for ever and ever. But the expense of shopping doesn’t stop there! You pay in time and mental health, too.

Prosperity in this life is not something God promises. If we are blessed with material wealth, use it to bless people. If you are not, be content for He Himself has said, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you."

Our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His righteousness, not in this world and what it has to offer. You will never find satisfaction in shopping and buying new things. You will find deep satisfaction and peace by spending time in His Word and learning from Him. Grow deep roots in Him and know that your final end will be amazing for God is preparing a mansion just for you!

These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation:

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Comments (21)

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Melissa M. · 529 weeks ago

Amen! Great words today.

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Becky · 529 weeks ago

We need to be more home oriented instead of shopping oriented. Personally I think shopping "just to shop" is a huge waste of time. I like to get in and get OUT!!! There are so many other things that are interesting and exciting to do. My take on it:)
Becky

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

I've never enjoyed shopping, thankfully, but I still managed to spend too much when I was younger. The older and wiser you get you realize that contentment doesn't come from having stuff. It' all going to burn! I am content at home now, Becky, which helps a lot!

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Anon. · 529 weeks ago

Such a good word for today. Thank you. I actually enjoy getting out roaming and window shopping but I have discovered that the actual purchase of more and more stuff is so unsatisfying. Once you've tasted the Lord, nothing else satisfies! Thank you for bringing light to the Jeremiah verse that is endlessly misunderstood and quoted by so many.

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

I agree, Anon. I was shocked when I read what the KJV said since that verse never made sense to me. Being wealthy is mostly spoken of as being a bad thing in the Bible since people will depend upon their wealth instead of the Lord.

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momsmanylessons 2p · 529 weeks ago

We must be kindred spirits! This is exactly what I tell myself and my children. Shopping and good deals are my "one weakness" (Larkrise To Candleford series). To stop buying more than I need, I shop less. If I keep myself out of the stores, I won't find all those bargains and deals! Success!
And like you said, those things won't satisfy. It is only God Who can do that! Thanks for you wise words today. (Now all I need is to sort and give away all those treasures in my storage room!)

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

I LOVED that series! Nothing but Jesus will satisfy.I remember this quote from Tom Brady 7 years ago after winning 3 Superbowls saying this on 60 minutes, “Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. I think, .. it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be … I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.” We all have eternity in our hearts. Nothing on this earth will satisfy. It is all meaningless, as the author of Eccclesiastes points out.

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terrigrothe 27p · 529 weeks ago

great and timely words! I needed to hear it

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Amy · 529 weeks ago

I've never actually heard that verse used to promote the idea that God will provide financial prosperity, even when it's quoted in the NIV. Usually people quote it when they are going through a trying time, and they are trying to lean on the Lord's sovereignty to see them through. At least that has been my experience. Even in the NIV I don't think it makes much sense to say that the word prosper means that God will give you financial prosperity, because that doesn't line up with the rest of Scripture.

Whenever we look to anything other than the Lord to fulfill us, we will be disappointed and disillusioned. Buying things isn't an area that I personally struggle with, but I know there can be other ways I try to fill my life.

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

Prosperity in America is always related to financial prosperity, Amy. The dictionary defines it this way, "to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects." I have never heard anyone said they were prosperous and were not referring to financial success. It is the only place in the Bible that says this whereas God giving us peace is referenced many places! I agree; nothing else will fulfill except the Lord. You're right; we all do try to fill our emptiness with other things instead of the Lord. Thank you for your comment!

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Jane · 529 weeks ago

Like Amy I have never heard that verse used to promote financial prosperity but as an encouragement to us when we are going through difficult times. I have been taught it's about character building and spiritual growth not financial reward. Our 'hope and future' being Christ.

I shop very little these days. I think when we're younger, getting married and setting up home, having children, there is greater temptation to spend but as we get older we realise 'things' don't necessarily bring fulfilment.

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

I responded to Amy's comment above about being prosperous. I think if this was a goal God had in mind for us, He would have said it over and over again by using that word. I don't shop much anymore and we do learn wisdom with age! This is why God commands older women to teach young women. We know how empty is the pursuit of worldly goods.

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Mmolesy · 529 weeks ago

Watching the occasional episode of hoarders is enough to put me off shopping. Yikes! No amount of shopping or acquiring has made those people happy. I find I'm most tempted to spend when I'm distracted or I'm not keeping myself busy with more important things. It's so sad to see people when they fall into that trap.

As for the vere in Jeremiah, I always viewed it as spiritually prospering us. Although I read the king James. But when I used to read the NIV I never saw it as financially prospering us, this would almost come across as God bribing us to follow Him. And that's shockingly out of character! So glad I read the King James!

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

Yes, the KJV makes it much more clear what He means since we usually don't have to figure out what God is saying and He tells us over and over again to not fear and that He gives us peace.

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akexploringstudies 17p · 529 weeks ago

I agree that godliness with contentment is great gain! I have learned to pray about the things I want to buy. Sometimes as I pray I realize it's not a need and the desire passes. Other times I save money and we buy things cash. We have always bought things cash. I have more peace in my life that way.

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

We were brought up to save our money for things we wanted and to not go into debt. Ken and I have always tried to live below our means so we can be good stewards of what God has blessed us with!

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Desiree · 529 weeks ago

Thank you Lori! I had never seen the difference between the two versions before. I grew up KJV but after being teased by a pastor in my early 20's I switched to the churches version. NIV. My NIV is marked and highlighted and written in and I tend to use it as my daily reading. My current church is KJV. The NIV makes it sound like financial prosper! Anyway...one of my 'new years resolutions' was to get a grip on our finances. Neither my husband or I are good with money. But since I do most of the shopping I am the one that spends it the most. So, I determined on Jan 1 to not eat out once in that month. My husband picked up Costco pizza one time. I say that was a really good month for us! Also, I asked my husband to go to the grocery store after work a couple times. He was going right past them and he will go in, get what I ask, and leave. Whereas I will go in and spend $40 on a loaf of bread. So, we ended the month with $200 extra! That may not sound like much to most people but for us it is huge! No dipping into credit cards the last week of the month....I served a couple meals that to me might have been slightly subpar...not unhealthy...just not exciting. But no one complained. I am looking forward to this month!

1 reply · active 529 weeks ago

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Lori Alexander 122p · 529 weeks ago

Hey, saving $200 is great, Desiree! Congratulations! It's so much better to not get into credit card debt. It is definitely bondage as the Word says.

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lokkesja 1p · 529 weeks ago

I used to buy a lot of clothes. Then when we moved, I had to pack them all and realized how much money I had spent over the years and barely worn any of it. My self-worth had become wrapped up in what I wore instead of what was on the inside. Now I'm realizing that a smaller wardrobe is better. I actually learned to appreciate what I have. Now whenever I purchase clothes, I have to get rid of something in my wardrobe to ensure that doesn't get out of control again. I'm learning contentment in that specific area, and I have to say that my self-esteem has only increased because of it :-)

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nora · 529 weeks ago

I agree. I try to grocery shop bi-weekly. This is much easier in the spring/summer where we are getting tons of produce from the garden/CSA. It can still be done with buying things like apples, oranges, butternut squash and sweet potatoes for the second week. I still buy my basics in bulk oats, beans, cornmeal, toilet paper, etc it's amazing how much you save from staying out of the stores.

I've also learned to spend more on quality items like a black dress or sheets, things that will be used over and over again.

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Anthy · 529 weeks ago

Is this an English street in the photo, Mrs Alexander? It looks like that!

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