May 29, 2009
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Frugal Friday: Can you pray this?
Pastor Francis Chan is quoting from Proverbs 30:7-8 where David is asking the Lord to give him neither poverty nor riches, lest he be full and deny the Lord or poor and steal. His interpretation of this passage is different than other interpretations I’ve heard. Have you ever asked God to give you just enough money to make ends meet? Have you asked him to just give you your daily bread? Hmm… I know that I haven’t!
During this economic ‘crisis’ a lot of us have felt as if we are doing without. You hear a lot of complaining these days about how ‘tight’ things are. I’ve been one of the guilty ones. But, when we really stop and look at what we are considering a ‘crisis’ in our finances you will see that it oftentimes has nothing to do with the necessities of life. People are cutting back cell phone packages to less minutes or choosing a smaller cable package and not eating out as much. Does that REALLY qualify as suffering? ( I know that some have lost their homes and jobs so I’m not referring to those difficult situation.) I guess I’m thinking of those of us whose income has dropped considerably, yet we are still living like kings compared to most of the world’s population. We still have a roof over our heads (a nice roof in fact)… food on the table… clothes on our back… tv’s… cars…computers…phones..and so.. so much more!
Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself.
1 Timothy 6:8 says that with food and clothing we should be content.
How many of us could go an entire year and be content with only food and clothing? There is not even a mention of a roof over our heads in that equation. Just food and clothing.
God has me in ‘school’ these days. I am “learning” to be content and praying that He teach me to be thankful for all He has given me.
Comments (10)
Such good thoughts to ponder. I am reminded of Romans 5:3, “We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”
That is a powerful challenge! i have known for a long time that i could not handle vast riches and even though my husband wants to win the lottery, i have prayed, “No, Lord. Please don’t; i could not handle it!”, i too want “just a little bit more” than my daily needs. Another thought that i have had often had on this subject is that most of us do not ever experience delayed gratification. If something is needed or wanted we just run to Wal-Mart or wherever and get that thing. There is very little saving up, or praying for a thing. We just run out and buy it for ourselves. i admit to falling into that trap as well and am going to take my needs and wants to Him and wait on Him to supply. He is a great God who loves to bless His children. Thanks for this timely post!
You make some good points. I think it is easy to get used to having a lot and to think that is the norm. When we first moved here, we had only the two suitcases each that we brought with us. We were staying in a tiny apartment, had no phone, no TV, no computer, no car, no washer and dryer, no microwave… not much of anything, really! When we got into the apartment we have now, it seemed like a palace! When our car finally sold in America and we could buy one here, it was WONDERFUL not to have to take the bus anymore! I am learning to be grateful!
Francis Chan has been a blessing in my life — our family attended his church for a year (until we moved to a differenct city). Thank you for sharing this challenge.
I finally got around to your site to say “HELLOOO!” Thank you so much for your comments and kindness.
RYC: The book I am reading is about many different situations where women cared for the ailing. They took care of sitting with the ill, comforting and nourishing them, and sometimes preparing their bodies after death.
My grandmother was such a person (born in 1896) and that’s part of why I was interested in that time period, because I have inherited her “healing genes” and, until recently, was the caregiver to many. Now I am in receipt of being cared for – by (who else, but) women!
I’ve had the book on my bookshelves for a while and just “found” it and picked it up. I probably bought the book as a “used book” from Amazon. I normally go there first to save money!
We have simplified our life over the past 5 years and it has been good for us. So many people around the world are thankful for what we would think was poverty. I grew up making things do on a shoestring. Now we don’t have to, but I find myself still reusing paper and squeezing the toothpaste, things like that. I have to actually remind myself that it is okay to buy something that is frivolous. Yes, I like that prayer in the Bible. I would rather have riches in heaven than riches here on earth. The more I look toward Heaven, the less I want of things…. Of course, we don’t watch commercials on TV so that probably helps!
@cherylyn_p - I have added the book to my ‘wish list’ on Amazon. It sounds very interesting.
My mother is a nurturer. I’ve watched her over the years and tried to learn from her. There seems to be women who naturally are able to go into a situation and just ‘know’ how to bless and bring comfort. My mother is one of those women.
We are home missionaries to the prison and prison aftercare missionfield. Over the past 4+ years, the Lord has been teaching us not to look past today. We are learning He will provide one day at a time, and that is all we pray for—today. The temptation to worry, to look past today, comes. However, slowly but surely we are becoming people who really do know Who holds the future. God has been teaching us a kind of dependency most American Christians are not experiencing, yet. We do believe, though, that it is how many of us will need to learn to live in order to finish this race.
@BooksForMe - That is awesome that you are missionaries to the prison.
I do ‘understand’ what you are saying about learning to live day by day. God has been teaching me the same lessons from Matthew 6 the past few years since our financial situation has become ‘seemingly unstable’. I reign my thoughts back often and say to myself (or outloud).. ‘for today the Lord has given us food and clothing and I will be content …. so much more… I will leave tomorrow in His capable hands’.
I hope you write a post someday on what the Lord is teaching you.
Wow! That’s quite a prayer. It’s true, we are so rich compared to people in other parts of the world. “Contentment with godliness is great gain.”