need v. want
I spoke last weekend on the parable of Lazarus (the beggar) and the Rich man. The challenge was to go a month spending only what you have to, and try to cut out the 'extra' expenses. The point is to see if by filling your 'wants' with spiritual things rather than material things, you might end up in a better place. My friend Doug emailed me this article over the weekend, addressing this topic from a different place. Read the link, then read my response to Doug afterwards, as he asked my for my take on the whole thing!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/11/13/rs.embrace.inner.cheapskate/index.html
interesting...my take is that he was going too far with it in his effort and looks like a cheapskate. Maybe I do, too; I don't have a problem spending money on and with the fam, just on myself. does that make sense? The thing we learned last week is that we really don't need to run to Target once a week to walk around and end up spending $40 on crap we don't need. And that we spend more on crap that we don't need than we thought we did. How much do we have around the house that we don't use (food, etc), and then run out to get more because we don't want to eat what we've got? That's where this is all shaking out for me -- we spend disposable income on stuff that we don't NEED, just want. And if that could be reined in, we could end up paying off what we do need to pay off and then have both freedom to buy what we want w/out robbing Peter to pay Paul, and maybe a different mindset regarding what we think we need in the first place. Make sense?
4 comments:
Totally makes sense! I am trying hard to get into the mindset of not spending as much. I started reading Dave Ramsey's book, but then Mom needed it back...don't know if I can justify buying one myself, when I'm trying to save money! :)
Are we talking about not spending as much just as an end in itself? If so, let us stop. The purpose for us as Christians is to have every fabric of our lives, politics, economics, social living, and thoughts re-oriented by and according to the demand of the good news of the kingdom of God. If it is just because we need to reassess our needs and wants, I would say we aren't there yet.... Our very society is built on the engine of consumerism, individualism, and "free market." Ironically, unless we actively buck the system, and re-orient ourselves and believing communities toward God's kingdom IN CONTRAST TO our world's kingdoms, we are not free, but slaves.
For me, the point is to understand that the craving to spend is fueled not by the fact that I need what I buy (the extras...the $40 @ Target) but by the fact that there is a longing for fulfillment in each of us that we try to appease w/ the stuff of earth. If I am able to turn to the scriptures, prayer, Jesus when that craving arises rather than go walk around Sportmart, my soul will be satisfied and my focus re-oriented. At least that's how I see it...
Very Augustinian, good sir....I still think there is more to it than that....from a Scriptural perspective.
;-)
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