Loaded Living

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.

Psalm 68:19

Joseph Leek, a ninety-year-old British man, was a tightwad. He regularly sauntered to his neighbor’s house to watch television in order to reduce his own electricity bill. He shopped at secondhand-clothing stores and put off home repairs. It was a shock to everyone when, upon his death, he left 1.5 million dollars to an organization that provides guide dogs for the blind.

Too bad he never met the English spinster Mary Guthrie Essame. She was a retired nurse who also wore hand-me-downs and lived in a ramshackle house. Friends were amazed when she left ten million dollars to charity upon her death.

These kinds of stories—and there are many of them—remind us of two things. First, from a material perspective, we should live simply and wisely so as to be faithful supporters of God’s work. But second, in a spiritual sense, how sad to live as paupers when we’re the children of the King. Our God loads us with blessings every day, and we should fully enjoy the peace and pleasure of His promises and presence.

Let’s live frugally—but joyfully!

You are weak unless you are glad; you are not glad and strong unless your faith and hope are fixed in Christ.

ALEXANDER MACLAREN^a