Responsible Stewardship??

Not a very "Oh COOL... I can't wait to read this one" title here, right? :)

Fact is, some of us should work harder (yes) at budgeting and planning ahead than we often do. I'm talking about stewardship of our money, time, cars, resources we already have or could either for free or at quite low-cost get for our use. Then of course a hard issue, that being dividing our actual needs from our wants.

A lot in that paragraph, 'eh? Yup.

My wife and I purchase new, food, various items and indeed some of them are not necessities -but we also are careful to plan, budget, do what I've just listed above and I can tell you we still have more than what we need!

Scripture speaks of sharing, giving to the poor, that God provides us abundance so that we can SHARE with those in need. One of the best blessings in any life is the ability to give something that truly uplifts, blesses, encourages others. This goes for practical talents, spiritual gifts and a wide range of things such as hospitality- but it also goes for material goods, etc..

Then consider much of what Americans spend BILLIONS on sit on shelves, closets, storage lockers never used. Think deeper- many dictatorial, corrupt government leaders often live as millionaires due to their nation's poor and controlled daily workers, often in sweatshops while we prop them up by our purchases. This isn't a maybe...

So maybe thrift stores, garage and yard sales, home do-it-yourself projects, gardening and other elements of our lives could (should??) be applied, our thoughts and choices re-structured and planned out in a more sane and caring-for-others-too manner. Perhaps the massive debt so many of us incur (currently over 60 percent of people in the U.S.) might learn from the poor, immigrants and migrants.

Further, feel free to label me woke, the reality is we truly ARE killing the environment for our "standard of living" and not continuing to spend what we don't have on what we don't need adds to the local and global dump we're creating by it. I'm -not- saying everyone must jump on the -no buy new for 1 year- approach, but it wouldn't take long for a very positive affect to result regarding all the mess I've talked about here if we did.

I can hear folks saying "But Glenn, what about the economy if so many people quit spending?" to which I reply "What about YOUR economy, the negatives in impulse and out-of-control loot you lay out"?

I read a daily devo from a conservative church person yesterday who spoke of a Russian immigrant who was amazed at the variety and mass of items in American stores. As she became a naturalized citizen and had found a solid job, in time she had to spend plenty on a storage unit for all the things she ended up buying -and never used.

I'm typing on one of several old laptops with a free operating system (Linux) which I use on all of them. All of these were gifted me.

Fuller disclosure: most -not all- guitars and amps I use, the car I steward and the very desk under my office laptop were given me. Relationships. God's calling and provision.

Others work daily day-jobs to support what I do in mission. I KNOW it's the grace of God and many amazing friends and co-workers that I have been so blessed.

Part of how I steward my life and small, shared income is by doing what I've mentioned so far. Most of my clothes are second-hand. The car I mentioned is 2007 but hanging in there! I have use of a Grrr Records vehicle for longer trips to do shows and jail/prison gigs.

The late friend and amazing example Ron Snider wrote and often said "Live simply so others may simply live"!

Think "used", "cheap or free", do-it-yourself and creative ways to find or make what you need and you'll find not only what lessons and growth God can give you by all this but also likely a peaceful conscience about not incurring ever-more-drowning in debt and guilt!

May God guide you, may you follow as He leads in stewardship of your life, that of your family, our planet and in loving Him and our neighbors with the excess!

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn