FRUGALITY by Chris Easley

Here is a fantastic post from sophomore WA student Christopher Easley...I recently had the chance to teach on the topic of homosexuality in their Christian Thought and Culture classes and was very impressed with their desire to engage Scripture as they consider issues in our larger culture in the classes taught by Jeff Brooke...this piece of writing is from one of their class assignments...

In American society today, “frugality” is generally a disliked characteristic in a person if they possess it. The word conjures an image of Ebenezer Scrooge, neurotically counting his money while keeping the heat low on a cold winter day. Such stinginess is legitimately seen as an unpleasant quality. However, the traditional concept of “frugality” is actually focused towards developing a generous spirit, and most people today seem to be unfamiliar with the concept.

Our cultural ignorance about this discipline is actually relatively new. Not too long ago, a person of “economy” was praised for their ability to stretch a dollar. Now it has become socially expected to spend money very frequently. When a group visits the mall or goes downtown, those who choose to restrain their desire for more stuff are often labeled “cheap.” Even our generosity is sometimes connected to our materialism, as can be seen by the popularity of efforts such as (PRODUCT)RED, a group of products whose developers send a portion of profits to relief efforts around the world. Yet frugality and generosity have been connected by the testimony of Scripture and centuries of earlier Christian tradition.

Simply stated, frugality is the giving up of unnecessary things we would otherwise freely enjoy in order to give to God and the work of his kingdom. I have found this personally challenging and my attempts at it have sometimes been guilt-ridden. A few years ago I began asking myself “Would this money be better spent helping a starving child?” before spending anything. Purchases of candy at summer camp left me struggling with questions as to whether any of life’s (expensive) pleasures should be acceptable when so many still do not have their daily needs. Yet a thorough study of Scripture reveals, alongside calls to generosity and sacrifice, encouragement to provide for oneself and family and even pay for celebratory activities.

Given the encompassing view Scripture provides of how we should spend our money, perhaps I could better ask myself, “Is this dollar doing the most it can for the Kingdom of God?” before spending. An honest evaluation will reveal that we often spend an inordinate amount of money on ourselves and do not enter into the kind of sacrifice Scripture calls for. A holy practice of frugality is not guiltily depriving oneself of legitimate goods or services, nor forgetting the needs of the poor, but entering into an honest questioning of how we can best spend our money to God’s glory. This includes both meeting our needs and giving up certain things for others.

At a practical level, each of us should honestly consider how and why we are spending our money the way we are. Do we drink (and pay) for coffee or soda as much as we do because we think it is a legitimate way to help us concentrate or relax and thus build God’s Kingdom? Or would we better serve God’s kingdom by buying less and giving the extra money towards ministries that bring Living Water to the thirsty? Asking ourselves questions such as these is perhaps the best way we can begin. Entering into such discussion with other believers (to facilitate true honesty and provide accountability) could also be an important step to take.

May we have the courage to pursue a holy, counter-cultural, generous frugality.