“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” Proverbs 27:23-27
Aren’t we sometimes like an ostrich who buries their head in the sand to escape reality? I think the “ostrich” way of living is an easy trap to fall into, especially relating to finances. Solomon said we should be diligent to know the state of our flocks and to look well to our herds. Sheep and herds were what distinguished people as wealthy in Bible times, so if we translate for today, we should be diligent and look well to our finances. That means we need to know what is going on and how we are spending.
As “good” Baptist Christian ladies, we, on the whole, think of ourselves as a frugal sort, and I think we are, but what does frugal mean? You might not be an extravagant spender in the least, but if you don’t know how much you have, you won’t know how much you can spend. Frugal isn’t necessarily shopping at yard sales. Frugal is finding creative ways to stick to your budget and save “for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens (to give to others)”.
So, look well to your spending this month. Pay attention to where your money is going. Don’t have a budget? Start small. Try to make a written log of everything you purchase in the next month to get a feel for where your money is going. Already have a budget? Great! Be diligent to keep at it with a cheerful heart and consider saving for the needs of others. Pay attention. Even if you are in a really hard-up time – that’s what the Lord expects of you and me.
Where are your two cents going?
Katina is wife to Graeme and mom to eight fun-loving kids. Some of Katina’s favorite hobbies are bargain shopping and couponing! She is excited to share good deals, fresh money-saving ideas, budgeting tips, and ways to use what you already have so you can best use your resources to further the gospel of Christ. She believes the first step to a healthy financial life begins with a grateful heart. American Christians are an extremely blessed people!