Frugality and Christianity

I'm interested in knowing how being frugal and a Christian, go hand in hand for you, and how.
Thank you~

In my opinion God made us stewards of this land and all that's on it. Being frugal is being a good steward of what God has given to us. It also opens the door for us to have more to give to others.

I'll try not to be too windy, but this is a great question in that it gives us pause to think about the why, as well as how.

In Genesis God gives man dominion over all creatures, and every seed bearing plant. But why? Chapter 1 in Genesis (I am sadly not where my Bibles are so forgive the vagueness here) God creates all things, but there is not a creature to tend to Gods garden, so from dirt he creates man, Adam. Adam is to tend the garden and gets to commune directly with God. Adam owns nothing, and desires only companionship, which God provides by creating Woman (Eve).

This simple innocent beginning, and the peace and joy we get from doing simple things, like tending a garden, raising animals, cooking (at times it is enjoyable), sewing, etc. I see around me people who live simple lives devoted to God and their work, who are happy and enjoy an inner peace. I see also those obsessed with worldly things whos happiness is fleeting. They always need more of everything, except Christ, except family, except time to reflect on lifes blessings...

Which group do you think you will find on the small to medium sized homesteads, happily living frugally?

Just my personal opinion

Sonshine wrote:In my opinion God made us stewards of this land and all that's on it. Being frugal is being a good steward of what God has given to us. It also opens the door for us to have more to give to others.

That's very true, isn't it Sonshine; we have to be wise in how we use what God has provided us with.

12acrehome wrote:.

I'll answer yours, 12acre, after breakfast. It's 7:45am here.

12acrehome wrote:

.....Just my personal opinion

I agree that being frugal and living simply does give you peace and time to enjoy life properly.
The funny thing is, being simple and frugal is work. The difference is, it is purposeful work, isn't it?

I was also thinking how we tire and overwhelm our brains and lives with materialistic things. As you said, people are always wanting more of everything. They are looking for fulfillment and satisfaction. They never find it in 'things'.

I believe this too, that being frugal helps us to be humble and this is very important to God.
I grow as much food as I can, I shop at thrift stores/charity shops, our garden furniture came from someone's trash pile, and my dresser was a cast off in someone's front yard.
I know many people look down on this and even on me, so it is humbling.
I believe that God wants us to be wise with our money, not wasting it or leaving us to to owe money.
I also believe we need to take care of this earth that He created and use our resources carefully.

When we get too involved in the material things of this world, they become like idols to us. Store up our treasures in Heaven. So often people get so involved in accumulating things that they work longer hours never having the time to spend with their loved ones. This is why, in many cases, you see families where both parents have to work and someone else raising their kids. It's a shame because they never realize that the true treasures cannot be bought.

[quote="Miss Lillia"]

12acrehome wrote:

.....Just my personal opinion

I agree that being frugal and living simply does give you peace and time to enjoy life properly.
The funny thing is, being simple and frugal is work. The difference is, it is purposeful work, isn't it?

Yes it is.

I was also thinking how we tire and overwhelm our brains and lives with materialistic things. As you said, people are always wanting more of everything. They are looking for fulfillment and satisfaction. They never find it in 'things'.

I believe this too, that being frugal helps us to be humble and this is very important to God.
I grow as much food as I can, I shop at thrift stores/charity shops, our garden furniture came from someone's trash pile, and my dresser was a cast off in someone's front yard.

Nothing wrong with this, we just bought a used bed for 1/10th the price of new. A "Sleep Number" bed. So many times we have bought used appliances and furniture from people who simply must buy something new just because

I know many people look down on this and even on me, so it is humbling.

You have a good heart. I would rather be judged for being a simple man instead of a worldly man.

I believe that God wants us to be wise with our money, not wasting it or leaving us to to owe money.
I also believe we need to take care of this earth that He created and use our resources carefully.

As do I

Miss Lillia wrote:I'm interested in knowing how being frugal and a Christian, go hand in hand for you, and how.
Thank you~

Being frugal is taught in the scriptures:

(Proverbs 21:20) There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. (KJV)
Here the Scripture talks about the foolish spending all their substance while the wise save, and I might add, live frugally and have some left. Oil was considered part of their wealth and treasures in the land at the time this was written.


(Matthew 14:20) And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (KJV)
Notice that at the miracle of feeding the five thousand with two fish and five loves that the disciples gathered up the fragments and had 12 baskets full left. Even though all the people had their fill of food yet they gathered up the fragments. This tells me that even when the Lord blesses us with more than we can imagine we need to not waste those things He has given us.

Then there is this verse that I like also.
(Ephesians 4:28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (KJV)

God has helped us more times that I can begin to name when we have done our best to take care of what He has allowed us to be stewards over. God answers prayers for our needs and we must use what he gives us wisely.
We need to pray for God's guidance before we spend our money on big purchases and as we spend on our daily living. God has helped us many times on the purchase of automobiles - supplied our need for the $$ and shown us what to buy. He has helped us on many other areas also as we carefully and prayerfully seek His will.

Thank you all for the wonderful responses!

A tip of the hat to Rohn for what I think is the most thorough documentation of the frugal christian.

Thanks Keith.

Great thread and responses everyone.

We try to live as frugally as we possibly can partly because of desire and partly because we have to living on a limited income.

I enjoy playing in the dirt, growing our food and processing it for future use. I'd rather have homegrown and preserved food that I know is safe to eat than to have an over abundance of questionable food.

One thing that speaks volumes to me is the phrase in the Lord's prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." He didn't ask for weekly bread for monthly bread to fill the cupboards. His example was of a day to day existence.

Now that's frugal!

That is frugal, but remember when Moses' people were wondering for 40 years God would give them Mana daily too

To me, it brings to mind the parable about the talents. I believe we are to use well that which we have been given. God has trusted us with the blessings He has given us. I don't think any of them should ever be taken for granted.

As others have said, living "simply" is - in a lot of ways - a lot of work! But we were created from the beginning of time to work. Once one gets to the point in life (usually after those teenage years, lol) where they actually *enjoy* the work...now, that's the good stuff.

I really enjoy being frugal and stretching things as far as I can. We live in a humble home as well, but it's ours...it's home...and one we were able to pay for. We have one vehicle. It's really not that hard for us to make that work. Do we ever have unexpected bills and have times that are "tight?" Oh yes, but we make do and find a way. Frugality always helps us through those times.

PlainFolk wrote:.....

The lifestyle gives a peace and happiness that many look for and can't find.

What wonderful responses.

this was a good thread, wasn't it

When you run into problems is when you have one spouse that's frugal and the other that wants to spend, spend, spend. The one that's frugal ends up being hurt by the others wasteful spending.

dizzy wrote:When you run into problems is when you have one spouse that's frugal and the other that wants to spend, spend, spend. The one that's frugal ends up being hurt by the others wasteful spending.

Couples must learn to work together on every phase of married life. I know that this may be easier for some couples than for others but it is important. Both parties must agree to agree on spending money and saving money. I remember once when I was wanting to buy a certain automobile but my wife didn't feel good about it. I almost bought it anyway but in the end I didn't. I am so glad I did not buy it. That was quite a few years ago and I look back on it and am thankful that I stopped the deal. Now we are totally debt free and plan to keep it that way. Working together is what brought us to where we are now.

My wife and I have had to work through some spending / budgeting issues over the years. We still have times where one of us (sometimes both of us) want to spend too much. We are both pretty good at making a budget, but following it long term is one of our short comings. It is both of us, not just one or the other. We manage to stay nearly debt free, and both agree to no credit cards.

Rohn, that only works if both parties are willing to do that. When you have one that will go out and spend what they want regardless-especially if they're the only wage earner-it makes things very tough for the other person.

dizzy wrote:Rohn, that only works if both parties are willing to do that. When you have one that will go out and spend what they want regardless-especially if they're the only wage earner-it makes things very tough for the other person.

Yes, I agree. It does make it very difficult. In that case you just have to pray that God will help them to both get on the same page and begin working together. God is able to change people and their habits.