Thanksgiving is over and the holiday rush to get Christmas presents is here. Last year I did tackle the Black Friday sales. I came away with a lot of things I didn't need (some I still have) and a horrible sickness that lasted a few weeks (probably from lack of sleep). I decided to skip that stress this year and stay home.
I did have an ulterior motive for staying home...to save myself from ME. I must say I do have a spending problem. I'm really ashamed of how much money I can waste so quickly. I still have this burning desire to go out and "get the deals". More is better, right? No, I don't think it is. 1 Tim.6:8 tells us "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
Let's face it...I have a lot of really great coupons crying to be used today. Instead of using them for things I really don't need any way, I decided to get out my Bible. God lead me to that passage in 1 Tim. The next few verses go even further to say "people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into may foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." 1 Tim. 6:9 Interesting...so is it "bad" to go out and use my coupons to get things? After praying and meditating on this verse God pressed on my heart No it's not horrible to go out shopping, BUT doing so could lead me astray in many ways such as wasting time driving and standing in line, fueling the desire to always want more or ignoring God and my family to get more things.
After reading this passage in 1 Timothy a few times my burning desire to run out and use those coupons finally subsided.
Dear Lord, let me see that you give me just enough for what I need. Help me to give more to others that are struggling just to live.
Open my heart and mind to your gift of giving that YOU may be glorified through me. Amen.
AMEN! Wonderful post.
ReplyDelete:) ! Thanks Katie.
ReplyDeleteThank you Katie for this!! I am so sorry I have not commented on your post before(something I plan on changing). You have the gift of writing, I appreciate so much you being real, and how you intertwine scripture throughout. Thank you for reminding me to focus on what is most important this holiday season! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I often fight this urge as well, so I try to never go out shopping without a list (even for Black Friday). Then, unless I truly forgot to write something down, I try hard to really stick with it. I'm more successful some times than others, but overall it's much more successful than jut going out to get things!
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