Most people do not live beneath their means. It’s the problem of allowance. If it is available to you then you will most likely buy it - even if you don’t need to. Living equal to our means is not our right but a crutch. It is a growing issue related to consumerism and greed. However the answer to the answer to the problem of allowance won’t be found in pinching pennies and avoiding Starbucks.
THE PROBLEM OF ALLOWANCE
I read that durring the ’90s the average American spent .95¢ of every $1 leaving only a nickel for saving. That number has decreased even more since 2000. Consumerism is telling us that it is our right to have any and every gadget, luxury and comfort we can afford.
The problem of allowance is seeking to live as comfortable as possible based on our income (I’m not even going to talk about un-necessary debt).
Think of it like this: If I have a big, tri-fold wallet I will eventually cram it full with receipts, credit cards, library cards, coupons, cash (hopefully), pictures, and more. But is all that necessary or is my wallet crowded simply because it has room?
The full-blown commercialized consumption that most in the wealthy nations (and the wealthier in poor nations) partake in today is not something that has always been around. It has been largely expanded in the twentieth century. …around the 17th, 18th and 19th century, consumption by most was based on necessities. Saving and being frugal was the norm for most, and spending on “luxuries†was typically frowned upon and seen as wasteful.*
The want to consume is not new. However the ability to do so with the level of availability is.
All of us have a need for consumption. That is not wrong. What can be wrong is how we deal with those wants and needs, and what we look to in order to meet them.
Man’s spirit is a universal need for more, though not for particulars (”this’ and that’s”) because they can never satisfy wholly. The only ‘thing’ that can satisfy wholly is righteousness (the right thing) - God. By living at or above our means we are dulling the hunger in our spirit for God and easing the pain we feel when we desire God.
In 2005 there was a negative savings percentage in America. It hasn’t been that low since the great depression. People are spending every penny they earn, and then borrowing money on top of that.
The issue here is not how much you earn - but how much you spend, and how much you give.
THE FASTED LIFESTYLE
At first glance the fasted lifestyle may simply sound like living beneath our means. This is true, but there’s more.
In regards to finances, there is a difference between the fasted lifestyle and living frugally. We live the fasted lifestyle so we can touch God on a deeper level. It is not only wisdom and prudence, but it is also love.
Molly wrote an excellent summary:
The fasted lifestyle is basically embracing voluntary weakness in every area of life—not very popular! It’s saying “yes†to weaknesses and “no†to our own strength. Doing this day in and day out does amazing things to the human soul. It causes us to see our own barrenness and dependency on God—it shows the worthlessness of those things that we rely on to bring us comfort, honor, security, and exhilaration.
Just because you can satisfy your consumer desires doesn’t mean you should. Again, to quote Molly:
Through attempting to live the fasted lifestyle, I realize how addicted I am to false sources of comfort and happiness. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “we human beings are far too easily satisfied.†My heart aches with longing for a thousand different things, not knowing its true longing is for God….Many people spend their lives living from one false source of comfort to another…
WE NEED LEADERSHIP FROM ANOTHER AGE
Living beneath our means is not a new concept to Christians. Even from the beginning we are taught to tithe 10% of our income.
Yet there is something beyond simply giving to your church: The Fasted Lifestyle is a life of beautiful restraint.
Simply because you can buy something does not mean you should. To live a fasted lifestyle with your money you must submit your spending habits to the leadership of Jesus; allowing the light of eternity to shine truth on what you are doing.
The fasted lifestyle can only be walked out in context to a relationship with Jesus. If you do it right, your wallet can be an on-ramp to intimacy with God. Where your money is your heart will follow.
retroman said:
Frugality is an important part of our witness. Living too close to the edge financially keeps us from being able to bless others and give to God’s purposes.
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 8:48 am
Janice said:
This reminds me of the SF Compact that had gotten so much publicity. A group that made a pact not to buy anything new(except for safety, health and underwear) for 1 year. Reading about them, and their purpose is to have a smaller global footprint on the earth’s eco-system. The principal can easily be shifted to make us take a look at our materialistic attitudes and examine if we are good stewards of what God has given us. Do we need to buy all of the “things” we think we have to have? I for one have been trying to examine my purchases, do I really need that?
Recycle, Borrow, barter. Can I put God’s resources to better use? I am trying.
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 9:16 am
DEBTective said:
Great post, bub. People nowadays are spending every last bit of cash that they make, and it’s a cryin’ shame. The less they spend, the more they can give to people who need it, see? Thanks for spreading the word about how it pays to live frugal … and thanks for working for The Man Upstairs.
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 10:23 am
Jacquie said:
I’m definitely wrestling through some of these issues at the moment. We are looking to purchase a house and God richly blessed us in the sale of our former home, but when we got involved in a bidding competition on a house just yesterday, I felt the tentacles of the “deceitfulness of riches” and the temptation to make it happen in our own strength, instead of allowing God to make it happen. Even though I know that God wants to give us a home that will be perfect for us and our future family, I want Him to be the one who does it - not us. And I don’t want to fall into the trap of spending more than we really need to. It’s so difficult to find the right balance and hear His wisdom clearly in the midst of the pressure. So while we didn’t get the house we really wanted yesterday, I felt good about it in my heart, because we stopped before going too far. But trying to live the fasted lifestyle - choosing to embrace weakness and trusting in God to provide for our every need - is definitely not easy!
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Robin said:
I hate the way we can so easily mask our hunger for God in wanting new stuff and I hate the false pleasure that it brings.
But I have to say that I am very encouraged by the growth I see in my life in this area. Last paycheck, I got considerably less than I expected, and definitely less than I needed. I started reacting to it by getting upset, but at the same time, I resisted it. Somehow, God had taught me enough that I made up my mind: Money doesn’t make me happy, so it shouldn’t make me sad. Although I was concerned, I refused to be upset. And I have to say, God has provided for me perfectly. I haven’t got to spend as I please, but He covered all of my true needs.
So Praise the Lord. For His faithfulness and for my growth!
I am intrigued by ‘the fasted lifestyle’. I really do want to live it, but I have only really heard the term. Besides Molly’s blog, can you reccommend any other teaching or blog about it? Do you happen to have one?
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Phil said:
Once again Shawn, you have this incredible ability to write a very topical post for me, but then I guess it’s not you writing them!
I’ve become very concious the last couple of months about my spending and savings. The end of Uni only a term away, I’m looking to the future and what to do next and it’s certainly making me consider my financial situation. This has been very useful, I now have a greater idea of how I should be living, it’s just the living I now have to deal with. Here comes another part for prayer.
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Armen said:
I’ve never really been one who spends each paycheck on little items of clothing, dvds, music etc, each week. However, I have had a weakness where my savings will build up, and then they begin to ‘burn a hole in my pocket’ and I’ll go out and buy a new laptop, camera, or something else on the expensive side.
However, recently God has definately been helping with that. Since my wife and I have moved to Australia, we’re earning less than before, but saving more. Where we’re living lacks all the clothing stores and electronics that we were confronted with before, and as a result, we’re not buying very much (if anything) that would be outside our needs.
The problem is, we’ll probably want to go on a tour of Australia and maybe visit Thailand and Malaysia, at some stage, which will be sore on savings. Are such spendings wrong in your view Shawn? I do wonder about travel sometimes
Posted on April 23, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Adam Parker said:
We used to live above our means buying anything and everything and just spending money very wastefully. We accumulated much debt and just thought of it as normal, everyone has debt.
We didn’t really know what to do or how to do it, but went through a Dave Ramsey course on managing finances and our outlook has drastically changed. We now have a budget that we create for each month and agree on as a family, we have been able to live beneath our means while putting money aside to pay off debt, and give more of it away. It has been wonderful.
We used to have arguments as a couple about money (as most every couple does since its the #1 reason people get a divorce over - I think). But we now love looking at our budget together and having a plan for our money and knowing where every penny is going, and we haven’t had an argument about money since we have started this (that I can remember).
This is a very great topic that I believe is much needed in our culture today of -2% savings and massive credit card debt being normal.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 1:12 am
JoAnna said:
Very good post, indeed. I have just been thinking about giving. We used to enjoy being such givers, but I just realized that we haven’t really been given opportunities lately to give extra. Or rather, the opportunities haven’t presented themselves in the form of an announcement of a need at church. We need to be much more diligent about seeking out needs. I miss giving. Coincidentally, our finances show that we haven’t been giving the extra that we used to. Our finances stink. Examining our income/budget and asking God what was going on, is exactly when I realized our lack of extra giving. Then you post this! God is so cool like that.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 7:21 am
{Shawn} said:
@ JoAnna: I used to think that I had to give to a charity or a missionary or a church only. But why? God’s commission to us is to help those in need. They may not even be Christians. The issue isn’t who we are giving to but Who we are giving to.
There was a good discussion on finances a while back on this guest post about financial charity.
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 8:12 am
Chelsea said:
Thank you so much. This was a huge blessing to find in my inbox!
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 12:33 pm
hey guys... « {Steve & Amanda Offutt} said:
[...] the meantime, check out Shawn’s post about Finances. Its excellent! Posted by Steve & Amanda Filed in prayer and fasted lifestyle, life & [...]
Posted on April 24, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Beppo said:
Great post. It’s sad how many Christians are living at or above their means and thus are unable to give. It doesn’t even take that much to make a difference — sometimes just buying someone’s dinner can be a huge blessing to them (as a friend told me recently). I know missionaries in third-world countries who can feed their family of 4 for about $25/month. How many of us truly can’t afford to help them?
One of my friends recently went to Ghana to lead revivals and to get them running water. These people did not have running water at all! Imagine not having baths & showers, nor filtered water to drink but getting it from a stream. By people here putting their money together, they dug a well and gave the whole community fresh running water. They were very anxious to hear about Jesus after that! My friend then led an evangelistic crusade where 14 denominations came together, and many people got saved, healed, and delivered. God did all that because some people here in America gave of their abundance. It changed their lives in Ghana, and we barely even missed it.
When we think of how much difference a few hundred dollars can make, it’s not so easy to upgrade our TV to something bigger… Not that it’s wrong to have a big TV, but, when you consider how great it is to bless others, it’s better to spend the money on others. It truly is better to give than to receive. If only we can keep that ministry mindset… that’s the hard part.
Posted on May 1, 2007 at 3:37 pm