Some people think bargain shopping is beneath the privilege God wants for their life. So, they enter stores with the mindset they’re going to pay whatever price is requested for merchandise they desire. They don’t recognize that clearance racks sometime have items they need or want at drastically reduced prices. The merchandise being of as much quality as if they had paid the higher price. It could be that the LORD moved store personnel to put that item on the sale or clearance rack because He knew you were going there today.
No wrong is done paying higher prices for merchandise, unless your budget is simply in no shape to do so or for that matter to purchase it at all. However, before making a purchase many people fail to wait the short period of time until merchandise is marked down because in their minds paying a higher price for merchandise is prestigious and a display of their financial wherewithal. Their insecurity or desire to be somebody special in the eyes of others pushes them to immediately obtain the latest advertised designer brand item no matter the cost.
We should always be first in line and be willing to pay any price to enter the presence of God because we will receive many spiritual and natural blessings & rewards. However, we should restrain our impulse to be first in line and pay the highest price for material items until after we’ve measured our ability to handle the purchase without debt, are able to maintain an adequate emergency fund, savings, and investments and have put the proposed purchase before the LORD and felt His peace about it. Otherwise, we may find we are worshipping the created instead of the Creator. This type of worship lead us out of the presence of God because it’s focused on pleasing self and it often causes addiction to credit instruments and debt and leads to lack of adequate emergency funds, savings, and investments.
I would much rather spend less and still have quality material items and have more money to plant via the Church to evangelize and make disciples of other people, than to try to impress myself or others with how much money I can spend on material things. Therefore, I peruse clearance and sale racks before going to the regular price aisles. I look for bargains to ensure I’m not letting satan and the world get more of the money the LORD entrusted to me than is absolutely necessary. For if I do, money that could have been given for the LORD’s purposes will often be spent by sinners who received it to fill their ungodly appetites. Being a good steward doesn’t mean you live like a pauper. Rather, it motivates you to manage money expediently so as much as possible goes to kingdom work and quality endeavors.
Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!
Proverbs 10:22, Matthew 25:24-28, Mark 11:1-7, Luke 16:8-10
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