Although the end of the semester is in sight, my life is still a tornado of writing papers, which has unfortunately left me little time for personal/fun writing on here. That said, I thought I would re-post a piece I wrote this time last year. Since I posted this last December, God has continued to teach me about shopping in ways that are both honoring to Him and loving to my neighbor. As you face the crowded malls this season, I hope this will give you the same Jesus-centered perspective that it gave me!

*****

Over the years I’ve written a lot about the temptation to find comfort and release from shopping. When you’re having a bad day or feeling down on yourself, shopping can be an easy pick-me-up. In fact, it can be just as addictive as a drug. Shopping, clothes and outward appearance can all become idols upon which we depend for security and confidence. These indulgences can also prevent us from being generous with our money–you might want to give some money to that family at church whose house just burned down, unfortunately you just blew a ton of cash at the mall and now you don’t have any to spare.

What makes this idol so difficult for me to fight is that I don’t think about God when I’m at the mall. When I walk into Target my brain immediately becomes absorbed in the plethora of goods before me, and the last thing on my mind is the state of my heart in relation to them. God gets pushed out of the thought process pretty quickly.

In light of this problem, I’ve continued to think about how to submit my spending habits to Christ. Of course one way to do this is to go cold-turkey. Just cut out going to stores altogether. But for me, the problem is not that I spend too much, or even all that often–the problem is my heart behind the spending. While there will be times when I have to buy things, how can I change my perspective on the whole process? How do I shop in a way that is Christian?

There are a number of possibilities, but one solution is to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider where your money is going when you spend it. What sorts of practices are you supporting? Is your money going to organizations that oppress their workers and the environment? If these questions matter at all to you, then it’s going to affect the way you shop.

As Ike and I have wrestled with these questions and the degree of our responsibility toward them, we’ve been considering buying more products that come from Fair Trade. You might have heard this term before but in case you’re unclear about what exactly it means, it is a system of trade that ensures the makers of a product are treated fairly, that they are paid adequately for their labor (rather than being exploited), that their working conditions are humane, that the rights of children are protected, and that the environment is well-stewarded. Put in Christian terms, Fair Trade is an extension of our call to respect the image of God in every human being and treat each person with dignity, protecting the weak from forces that might abuse and marginalize them. It is also an extension of our call to exercise good dominion over the earth.

Now before you accuse me of being a bleeding-heart tree hugger and immediately tune out, it’s important to remember that we live in a time unlike any other in history. Within the last century we have been completely disconnected from the makers of the products we buy. We don’t know who made our shirts or who grew our corn. Because of this disconnect, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to any injustices in the workplace, assuming that if we don’t know about it, our hands are clean.

I don’t think God will be so nonchalant. Consider these verses in Scripture about God’s views on trading fairly:

Proverbs 11:1–The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

Proverbs 16:11–Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 20:10–Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.

Proverbs 20:23–The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

In case you’re wondering why God is so preoccupied with weights and scales, they were an ancient means for determining the value of a product. The scales were meant to provide a uniform standard of value so that sellers would be paid fairly for their products, and buyers could trust they weren’t paying too much. However, a dishonest trader might fix the scale to his advantage, which is essentially stealing.

Notice how strong the language is in those verses. God isn’t simply displeased by economic injustice; He abhors it. From these verses we are reminded that God cares deeply about the way we shop. He cares about both the sellers and the buyers. He wants us to buy and sell in ways that reflect his character and treat others fairly. And that is the heart of Fair Trade. In a world that will pay Indian factory workers pennies for their labor, simply because we can, God has an opinion. And it is not a favorable one.

As Christians we need to consider where our money is going and whether it reflects the character of God. This reality adds a new dimension to how I think about shopping, and it challenges me to step outside that temptation and examine its larger implications. It’s not just about personal idolatry–it’s also about my responsibility toward other human beings and the world.

One family at our church tries to buy all their Christmas presents from Fair Trade sellers, and we’re thinking about trying that out ourselves this year! As I try to submit this area of my life to God, the values behind Fair Trade certainly give me some positive ways to fight the idol of shopping and conform my heart to Christ’s. I still have a lot to learn about Fair Trade (and I’m sure some of you reading this know a lot more than I do!) but Fair Trade certainly gives me some food for thought. It challenges me to be a good steward of my money, not only in what I buy and how much I spend, but where my money is going.

*In case you’re interested in your Fair Trade shopping options, just Google it. You’ll find lots of local retail stores, as well as on-line makers of clothing, accessories, home decor, etc.

Have you ever looked back on the past year and noticed a few major themes or lessons that God was teaching you? This year, one of those themes has been stewardship. In particular, I have been challenged with how I spend the “other 90%”–that is, the money that I don’t tithe or give to charity. That money belongs to God too, and I have felt increasingly burdened by how I am spending it.

As we learn more and more about where our products come from–ie. how a company treats its employees, animals, or the environment–the above issue is one I find increasingly difficult to ignore. On the one hand, we are so disconnected from the production process that it’s easy to turn a blind eye, but the reality is that the dollars we spend can perpetuate injustices all over the world. As a Christian, that matters to me.

But there is a theological component in play as well. In particular, there is a striking parallel between buying things cheaply and the Christian response to God’s grace. I know that sounds like a weird comparison, but just hang with me a second!

Consider, for a moment, stores that sell products at bottom rung prices. When I buy those products I think I’m getting a good deal. Why buy organic food or fair trade clothes when I can get cheaper versions at a big chain grocery store or mega-mart?

Here’s the problem: That product is probably cheap for me because somebody already paid the price. The cute blouse I bought at a bargain price may have been produced in a factory in a China where employees work 15 hours a day for about $12 a week. I didn’t have to pay much because a factory worker already did. She worked long hours for low wages so that I could get a good deal.

A price tag is not always indicative of worth. Many times, a good deal is only good for me. And that is where I notice a troubling parallel with the Christian life.

In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously decried the Christian notion of “cheap grace,” the idea that saving grace can be had without a cost. Because grace is free for Christ’s followers, many Christians live as if the price tag is indicative of its worth. Salvation came cheaply to us, so we treat it cheaply. We take advantage of God’s grace by trodding over the cross and making off with the goods. As Bonhoeffer summarized, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Yet the grace we have in Christ is not cheap at all. It is an immeasurably valuable grace that cost Jesus his life. Even though the gift is free to us, it is perhaps the most costly gift ever to have been bought in all eternity.

So what does all of this have to do with bargain shopping? Several things. First, it is important to note the haunting parallel between Bonhoeffer’s description of cheap grace and our modern shopping practices. In both scenarios, someone else had to make a tremendous sacrifice so that the gift would be “affordable” for us. And in both scenarios, we are prone to assess the value of the gift solely by the price tag, not its actual worth.

Second, this parallel brings a whole new meaning to Jesus’ words, “Whatever you did for one the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40) In a very broken way, many of the people who make our clothes are modeling the grace relationship we have in Christ. These poor and marginalized individuals are bearing the cost that should have been borne by us.

Third, this economic dynamic challenges Christians to question the entire order of our relationship to the poor. Are they to be making sacrifices for us, or are we to be making sacrifices for them? As a student who doesn’t have much money, that is a particularly difficult question. My husband and I don’t have a lot of extra money to buy fair trade goods, which means we have to cut corners elsewhere and make some sacrifices. But isn’t that what it means to be a Christian? Am I not called to model Christ’s sacrifice in this world, and thereby point back to the perfect sacrifice we have in Him? (Heb. 13:16)

Lastly, I want to shop in a way that is theologically consistent with the faith I profess. I shouldn’t cheapen the sacrifice of the poor anymore than I cheapen the sacrifice of Christ. In fact, Bonhoeffer might argue that when we cheapen the sacrifice of the poor we also cheapen the sacrifice of Christ. Cheap grace, after all, manifests itself in a life without change As Bonhoeffer put it:

Cheap grace “amounts to the justification of sin without the justification of the repentant sinner who departs from sin and from whom sin departs…Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.”

When we take advantage of the poor we take advantage of God’s grace (Proverbs 14:31). So while I don’t pretend to be perfect in this area–it is an issue I am trying to think about more and more, step by step–I cannot ignore this injustice in good conscience. I hope you won’t either. While it is easy to think that stewardship is about bargain shopping, I am learning that it can sometimes be just the opposite. Stewardship is not about saving a buck, but using that buck to honor God and His creation.

One of my favorite stories from my years as a college minister came out of a conversation with a Freshman girl about singleness. We both sat in my office as she bemoaned the fact that she’d never had a boyfriend, and wondered aloud if she would EVER get married.

At the time, I was newly engaged at the age of 28. I proceeded to tell her the story of my journey through singleness, the good times and the bad. Sure, there were seasons of sadness and uncertainty, but throughout it all I had determined not to waste my singleness.

My motto as a single woman was, “No regrets!” I wanted to do as much as I could for God and His church, and experience as many things as possible in His amazing creation while I had the luxury of such freedom and time. I didn’t want to get married one day, only to look back on those years with regret. I wanted to make the most of it–and I did! I traveled the world on missions trips, got a Master’s degree, became a college minister, discipled lots of college women at my church, mentored a local teen for 8 years, and made amazing friends. I had a lot to show for those years, and I didn’t regret a thing.

I shared my testimony with my distressed student, hoping it might inspire her. “My single years were actually pretty great!” I concluded. “I wouldn’t change a thing!”

For a moment, she processed my words silently, then slowly got up to leave for her next class. But just before she closed the door behind her, she wheeled around and exclaimed, “I just hope I don’t have to wait until I am 28. That would be HORRIBLE!”

End scene.

That story makes me laugh every time I think about it. But the reality is that singleness is very difficult, especially for women entering their 30′s and 40′s. As each new friend gets married and that pool of single friends grows smaller, it can be genuinely terrifying. I don’t want to make light of that.

Married Christians have a tendency to talk about singleness as a “gift,” but it is often a gift that nobody wants, like a pink knitted teddy bear sweater from your Great Aunt Pearl. I therefore realize the risk I am taking with this blog post and I am not trying to sound like a smug married woman who knows better. That said, if you are single and have never had children, I encourage you to use the freedom this season affords. I don’t know what the future holds for you, but in the mean time I hope you will pursue God with abandon. I hope you will drain the marrow out of life so that whenever you look back, you can proudly proclaim that you were a good steward of the unique resources you had.

This year I will attend two different weddings for close friends marrying in their late 20′s. This same year, I had two friends in their mid 30′s who got engaged. Another woman in my church got married for the first time in her 40′s. I share these stories, not to strike fear in the hearts of you ladies in your 20′s who want to get married now, but as a reminder that every woman’s path is different. You don’t know when you will get married, so I hope you will not miss out on the special missions of ministry God has for you today because you are too busy looking ahead.

While I know that is easy for me to say now that I’m married, I also say it as a woman who is still learning to find contentment in the here and now. It is a lesson that will follow you the rest of your life until you learn it. Whether you are single or married, we all find ourselves tempted to worry about tomorrow. That’s why Jesus warned us against it in Matthew 6:34–he was protecting us from ourselves. We get so caught up wanting a boyfriend, wanting to get engaged, wanting to finish school, wanting to have a baby, wanting to live in a house instead of an apartment, waiting for that next big thing. But it never satisfies, and it produces a life defined by waiting, bitterness, and never fully living. Which is why, dear sister, I hope you will avoid that trap and truly live!

In verse 33 of that same chapter, just before Jesus cautions us against worrying, he exhorts us to “seek first His kingdom.” Seek FIRST His kingdom–that is your priority for today. Don’t worry about tomorrow, just seek first His kingdom today. Figure out what divine appointments and special blessings God has for you on this day. Whether you are single or jobless or struggling with infertility, seek Him today. Be on the look out for what He has for you and embrace it. Live each day with no regrets, and those days will add up to a lifetime of radical devotion to Christ and amazing adventures along the way.

Hi friends! Ike and I have been traveling all over creation, which is why I haven’t been on here the last week. This weekend we went to the mountains with some friends and we were completely disconnected from the outside world. No internet, very little cell phone service, and hardly any clocks in our cabin. I admit there was a part of me that squirmed at the inability to check my e-mail every 5 seconds, but it was also wonderful to be fully present with people I love.

Speaking of time off, the weekend provided me the opportunity to reflect on a topic I’ve been wanting to write about for some time now. Those of you who read my blog with any regularity know that I am a big proponent of keeping the Sabbath. It’s not the sexiest topic in the world so please don’t tune out just because it doesn’t rev your engine. What I’m about to share with you has been really helpful to me in talking to others about God’s command to rest.

The insight came to me one day as I talked with a friend about her boyfriend, and her frustration that he had yet to propose (since then, he has–yay!). As I listened to her, it was clear that her impatience had less to do with him and more to do with her own physical and emotional exhaustion. She was working a ton and was super involved at church in addition to taking a class. When I asked her if she was setting time apart for the Sabbath each week, she said no and that she didn’t have time.

I have run into this objection a lot over the years. Whether someone is a student or a parent there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the week to get everything done. Even though this is one of the Ten Commandments we’re talking about, it just doesn’t seem realistic to people. Take an ENTIRE DAY OFF? No way!

Well as I listened to my friend detail her schedule, and as I heard the fatigue in her voice, I decided to take a different approach to my whole Sabbath pitch.

The Sabbath is both a command and a gift from God. But one aspect I rarely considered before is that the Sabbath is also an act of trust. Consider, for a moment, how similar the objections to tithing and resting can be. Both employ a language of scarcity: “Money is too tight right now for me to tithe” or “I don’t have enough time in the week for the Sabbath.”

When pastors face these objections to tithing, they remind their church members that tithing is not simply about obedience but about trusting in God’s provision. What do you depend on more for security–your money, or God? Do you believe that God is able to make up the difference between your bills and your charitable giving? Ultimately, if you don’t tithe anything at all, even the tiniest bit (remember the widow’s mite!) you are making a statement about yourself or about God. Either you believe God can’t provide, or you simply don’t trust Him.

Our schedules are no different. God has asked us to set aside a day each week for Him. But if we don’t make time for rest and worship, if we think our schedules can’t afford the loss of those 24 hours, then we are choosing not to trust in Him. We are stating with our actions that God is not able to bless our faithfulness and use the remaining six days effectively. The schedule God has commanded is not enough in today’s fast paced world.

Granted, observing the Sabbath requires discipline during the other 6 days. It is a commitment to work hard for 6 days in order to rest on the seventh. But then again, the Sabbath is also a reminder that God is not part of this world’s rat race. God is not bound by tight schedules that value production volume over quality, skill and reflection. From that perspective, the Sabbath is not solely about trust but is also about getting back in touch with God’s way of doing things. 

So if you still resist observing the Sabbath, I hope you will reconsider it from the perspective of faith and trust. Why don’t you observe the Sabbath, and what does your choice say about God’s character and ability? In both money and time God is able to provide “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20) so let’s proclaim that truth with our lives!

Over the years I’ve written a lot about the temptation to find comfort and release from shopping. When you’re having a bad day or feeling down on yourself, shopping can be an easy pick-me-up. In fact, it can be just as addictive as a drug. Shopping, clothes and outward appearance can all become idols upon which we depend for security and confidence. These indulgences can also prevent us from being generous with our money–you might want to give some money to that family at church whose house just burned down, unfortunately you just blew a ton of cash at the mall and now you don’t have any to spare. Shopping and materialism, though seemingly unrelated to the Christian faith, can have far-reaching consequences for our relationship with God.

What makes this idol so difficult to fight is that the mall is one of the last places I tend to think about God. When I walk into Target my brain immediately becomes absorbed in the plethora of goods before me, and the last thing on my mind is the state of my heart in relation to them. God gets pushed out of the thought process pretty quickly.

In light of this problem, I’ve continued to think about how to submit my spending habits to Christ. Of course one way to do this is to go cold-turkey. Just cut out going to stores altogether. But for me, the problem is not that I spend too much, or even all that often–the problem is my heart behind the spending. While there will be times when I have to buy things, how can I change my perspective on the whole process? How do I shop in a way that is Christian?

There are a number of possibilities, but one solution is to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider where your money is going when you spend it. What sorts of practices are you supporting? Is your money going to organizations that oppress their workers and the environment? If these questions matter at all to you, then it’s going to affect the way you shop.

As Ike and I have wrestled with these questions and the degree of our responsibility toward them, we’ve been considering buying more products that come from Fair Trade. You might have heard this term before but in case you’re unclear about what exactly it means, it is a system of trade that ensures the makers of a product are treated fairly, that they are paid adequately for their labor (rather than being exploited), that their working conditions are humane, that the rights of children are protected, and that the environment is well-stewarded. Put in Christian terms, Fair Trade is an extension of our call to respect the image of God in every human being and treat each person with dignity, protecting the weak from forces that might abuse and marginalize them. It is also an extension of our call to exercise good dominion over the earth.

Now before you accuse me of being a bleeding-heart tree hugger and immediately tune out, it’s important to remember that we live in a time unlike any other in history. Within the last century we have been completely disconnected from the makers of the products we buy. We don’t know who made our shirts or who grew our corn. Because of this disconnect, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to any injustices in the workplace, assuming that if we don’t know about it, our hands are clean.

I don’t think God will be so nonchalant. Consider these verses in Scripture about God’s views on trading fairly:

Proverbs 11:1–The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.

Proverbs 16:11–Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 20:10–Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.

Proverbs 20:23–The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

In case you’re wondering what’s up with God’s pre-occupation with weights and scales, they were an ancient means for determining the value of a product. The scales were meant to provide a uniform standard of value so that sellers would be paid fairly for their products, and buyers could trust they weren’t paying too much. However, a dishonest trader might fix the scale to his advantage, which is essentially stealing.

Notice how strong the language is in those verses. God isn’t simply displeased by economic injustice; He abhors it. From these verses we are reminded that God cares deeply about the way we shop. He cares about both the sellers and the buyers. He wants us to buy and sell in ways that reflect his character and treat others fairly. And that is the heart of Fair Trade. In a world that will pay Indian factory workers pennies for their labor, simply because we can, God has an opinion. And it is not a favorable one.

As Christians we need to consider where our money is going and whether it reflects the character of God. This reality adds a new dimension to how I think about shopping, and it challenges me to step outside that temptation and examine its larger implications. It’s not just about personal idolatry–it’s also about my responsibility toward other human beings and the world.

One family at our church tries to buy all their Christmas presents from Fair Trade sellers, and we’re thinking about trying that out ourselves this year! As I try to submit this area of my life to God, the values behind Fair Trade certainly give me some positive ways to fight the idol of shopping and conform my heart to Christ’s. I still have a lot to learn about Fair Trade (and I’m sure some of you reading this know a lot more than I do!) but Fair Trade certainly gives me some food for thought. It challenges me to be a good steward of my money, not only in what I buy and how much I spend, but where my money is going.

*In case you’re interested in your Fair Trade shopping options, just Google it. You’ll find lots of local retail stores, as well as on-line makers of clothing, accessories, home decor, etc.

As you read these words I am probably flying through the air, back to the States after vacationing with family. That means the re-runs are coming to an end and the next time I post will be a fresh one! In the mean time, I thought I would end with a post that got me slammed by salon.com. Haha! It was sort of an unfair fight, but I’ll save you the details. Hopefully that will pique your curiosity just enough to read on!

I should also mention that since posting this blog about my dad, he has started his own blog. It primarily deals with economics and finances, topics on which he is legitimately an expert. He also writes about stewardship. As a successful businessman, my dad hammered into my head the importance of using your finances for the glory of God, and he exemplified this teaching with his life. For an interesting post on stewardship, you can read his writing here.

Several years ago my dad, who has extensive professional experience working with and researching on the stock market, told me the weirdest thing:

“Studies have shown that modesty is cyclical in direct correlation to the economy. When the economy is doing well, the modesty of women’s fashion declines. When the economy is doing poorly, modesty arises.”

For the longest time I was completely mystified by this. What on earth would the economy have to do with women’s fashion?

Now that our country is facing harder economic times, I’m beginning to understand the dynamics behind such a phenomenon. As more and more people lose their jobs and our financial outlook becomes more uncertain, people are exercising a lot more self-control than they used to. We’re starting to watch where our money goes, we’re cutting back on expenses, and we’re only spending what we make, not more.

By necessity, we are reacquiring the virtues of discipline and self-control. And when these virtues become a part of your mindset, they affect more than just your money–they affect every part of your life and the way you make decisions, including the clothing you wear.

That said, the story of the recession and its correlation to modesty is less about the economy and more about our character. The way we spend our money and the way we dress are both rooted in the same place: our hearts.

Just think about it–one of the main reasons we are in a recession is due to a loss of self-control. A large percentage of Americans began spending more money than they were making, so we created an economy founded on credit and debt. Everything that we had–our possessions and our lavish lifestyles–it was all an illusion. Much of it had been acquired with money that we didn’t actually have.

To treat money that way is to be careless and reckless, but that recklessness was not limited to our finances. We’ve seen it in women’s modesty, and we’ve seen it in our country’s sexuality. Our nation has become defined by a total lack of discipline or temperance.

That is a spiritual problem, not a financial one.

Fortunately, this state of affairs may begin to change in light of our economy. Americans will be forced to think about self-control for the first time in a long while, and hopefully our country will benefit as a result. But what’s disappointing is that it took a recession to get us there. Rather than leading by example, many Christians bought into the extravagance just like every other American. Many of us have been living outside of our means, racking up our credit card bills and accumulating a lot of debt.

Until now we weren’t held accountable for such recklessness, but God uses times like these as a bullhorn into our hearts and minds: God cares about what you do with your money! Not because He’s some scrooge in the sky who doesn’t want you to have any fun, but because what you do with your money is a great indicator of the spiritual state of your heart.

If you are wise with your money and exercise discernment in its use, then you probably exercise discernment in how you spend your time, what movies you see and what internet sites you visit. If you practice self-control with your spending, then you’re probably exercising self-control in your physical relationship your boyfriend, or with your kids when you get angry. If you are generous with your money, then you’re probably generous in patience with your co-workers or your spouse.

Responsible money management is not itself the end. How we spend our money merely highlights our character. It’s only a symptom of one’s heart toward God and others.

So I encourage you to examine your spending habits over the last few years, and then examine how they have changed since the recession. If there is a significant difference, then you need to ask yourself why. The way we treat money should be the same regardless of the economy because it all belongs to God. Just because the economy is doing well does not make it somehow less God’s and more ours to spend extravagantly. We will learn this lesson in the coming years, but the real test is whether or not we remember it.

A recession will force our hand, but what we really need is a change of heart.

In recent weeks I have spent countless hours scouring the internet for places to live around Deerfield, IL. The cost of living up there is significantly higher, which means Ike and I are going to have to downsize. One of the casualties of this step down–we will no longer have a bathroom that’s big enough for two sinks. This past year we were lucky enough to find an apartment with two sinks in the master bathroom, and I have to admit it’s one of my favorite things about the place. I don’t know how Ike manages to get toothpaste on both the faucet AND mirror, nor do I understand why the drain is so clogged that the water just stands still in the sink. What I do know is that I LOVE having my own, clean, pretty sink all to myself.

But those days are coming to an end. Soon enough, we will be sharing sinks. Oh the suffering.

As I have examined my feelings about the change, I’ve realized that I wouldn’t have had such strong emotions about the sharing of a sink had I never experienced the privilege of having my own sink in the first place. It’s like once you have your own sink, you can’t go back.

Interestingly, there’s actually a psychological reason for the high value I have placed on my sink, and it was described in a book entitled Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions. Written by a professor of Behavioral Economics at MIT named Dan Ariely, the book examines this phenomenon of possession: “When we own something–whether it’s a car or a violin, a cat or a basketball ticket–we begin to value it more than other people do.” In other words, when we possess something, we perceive it as being more valuable than we did before we possessed it.

To demonstrate this point, Ariely did a case study of Duke students who camped out for basketball tickets. After the lottery determining who got tickets and who didn’t, Ariely interviewed students who won tickets, as well as students who lost. And his findings were fascinating! When he interviewed a student who lost the lottery, and asked how much he’d be willing to pay for a ticket if provided with the opportunity, the student wouldn’t go higher than $175. Although the game would be a great experience, he could think of better ways to use the money while simply watching the game on t.v.

Ariely then interviewed a lottery winner, and asked how much he’d be willing to sell his ticket for. First the student said that he didn’t have a price–this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that he could tell his kids and grandkids about! But when pressed, his minimum asking price was $2400.

In total, Ariely interviewed more than 100 students. On average, the students without a ticket were willing to pay $170 for one. However, the average student who did have a ticket would accept no less than $2400. And among all the phone calls Ariely made, not a single student was willing to sell a ticket at a price that anyone was willing to pay. The author’s explanation of this was plain and simple: an aversion to loss. As a general rule, whatever we possess, we want to keep. Whether it’s a basketball ticket, or your own personal sink.

So why am I bringing all of this up? Because Ariely’s study demonstrates two important spiritual principles:

1. The more earthly treasures we add to our lives, the more important they become to us. For instance, when I was in college I lived in a teeny tiny dorm room and I was perfectly content! Now that I live in a two bedroom apartment, I can’t even imagine living in such a confined space. Our possessions are not simply a matter of stewardship but the state of our hearts. Possessions can change our hearts so radically that we literally cannot imagine living without them.

2. Our aversion to loss of possessions can ultimately hinder our relationship with God. When we lose something important to us, whether it be a job, a house, a loved one, our health, or our dreams, it’s tempting to feel that God has taken something from us. He has betrayed us, failed to make good on His promises. This temptation towards bitterness occurs because of the phenomenon Ariely describes. It also explains why Christians across the world are able to live in poverty yet still love God without bitterness. While they certainly desire health and safety, there is not always the same sense of entitlement. One is less inclined to feel that God has taken something from you if you never had it in the first place.

Ariely’s study therefore presents us with a warning. Our hearts are predisposed to instantly grip themselves around our possessions. In a very real way, we will come to value our possessions much more highly than we did before we had them. There’s almost no going back. So be discerning about what you own, and also be discerning about how your relationship to your possessions can ultimately impact your relationship with God. What seems like a gift may one day serve as a wedge between you and the Giver.

**And on a totally unrelated note, if you have any connections in the Deerfield area and can help me and my husband find a place to live, shoot me a line!!

For all you college students and recent grads out there, this post is especially for you…

Last night I had the privilege of catching up with some old college students from my days as a campus minister. These girls are on fire for the Lord and I sat with my jaw hanging open as they told me about a woman they’ve been reaching out to.

By God’s good timing, these students happened upon a woman who was in dire straights. She has two small children who were fathered by a boyfriend now in prison, and she recently suffered a stroke. As a result of the stroke, she has no use of one arm so she can’t hold down a job, let alone provide the care she wants her kids to have. She’s on disability, but the little amount of money she receives each month is hardly enough to live on.

Through a series of crazy circumstances, the students decided to “adopt” this woman and her kids. They babysit for her, clean her apartment, and they raised money to purchase clothes, diapers, a crib, and a mattress. Because she couldn’t afford diapers and barely has the dexterity to change one anyway, the apartment was filled with old soiled clothes. In response to this situation, the students gathered up all the dirty laundry, took it to a 24 hour laundry mat, and did 13 loads from 10pm until 5:30 in the morning.

All in all, the students have given sacrificially of both their money and their time.

As I listened to these two girls beam about the relationship they’ve forged with their newfound friend, I was first struck by their radical generosity. This truly is a picture of God’s design for the church! This is the kind of work we should be doing. The government can’t wash people’s clothes or provide little boys with a solid father figure, but the people of God sure can. These students are not only providing life-changing support, but they are shining like stars in the darkness. They are doing the work of Jesus.

But what also stood out to me about this story is that it was the kind of thing only college students or young singles could do. Adults who are married or have a family don’t have the same freedom to stay up from 10pm to 5:30am doing laundry. Parents can’t drop everything and go help out with a struggling mother’s kids. They just don’t have the same flexibility.

As one of the girls finished telling the story, she ended by saying, “I can’t wait to tell my kids this story!” What a shift in perspective! How many college students do crazy things and make amazing memories going on a spontaneous road trip, driving to Krispy Kreme in the middle of the night, or playing hide-and-go-seek in Walmart? Those are the kinds of hair-brained schemes that we can’t wait to tell our kids about. Those are the life experiences that define our college experience.

But what’s sad about these stories is that as funny and crazy as they are, they’re ultimately a waste of an incredible gift. College students have the most freedom they’ll have in their entire lives, and they use it to toilet paper the quad, put soap in the fountain, or put thousands of pink flamingos in the middle of the school? Yes, those are fun stories, but do you really want that to be your legacy? Is THAT what you want to define your Christian journey in college?

Listening to those two young women gave me a different vision of college insanity. What if college students used their unique freedom, flexible schedule and unbelievable energy to bless the world? Does your church benefit from the gifts that God has given you during this season of life? What about your community? While churches assume that college students can’t give much in the way of finances, they possess something equally valuable: time. So use it well and ask yourself, “What kind of stories will I be telling my kids?” Will you be telling them about the time you ate a live fish on a bet, or the time you pulled an all-nighter doing laundry for a family who needed the love of Christ?

One version makes for a good story, while the other could have ripple effects for generations to come.

When it comes to giving our money to the church, my husband and I have tried to abide by two basic principles: 1) Give generously on a consistent basis, and 2) Budget our money in a way that allows us to be generous at unexpected times. For instance, say that a family in the church has an urgent financial need. We don’t want every penny to be so accounted for at the beginning of each month that we’re unable to help them. We want to have the freedom to give if such a need arises.

Granted, we don’t have a lot of money. Many of you reading this may not either. But these two principles of generosity can apply to more than just money. They can, for instance, apply to our time as well. While a lot of Christians do pretty well on the first principle–giving of their time to the church–I’m not sure many of us allow enough breathing room for those unexpected needs. Sure, if the need is urgent enough we’ll skip Bible study or miss work, but in doing so we’re only making life more hectic. We’re adding to the chaos instead of drawing from an overflow.

This is something I’ve come to reflect on a lot as I’ve cut down on my schedule these past few months. When someone has really needed me, I can give of my time freely without having to rework a thousand tiny details. But even more importantly, I can be totally present with others. I’m not tired or stressed so I can be more attentive and caring. My patience is less easily tested and I can have the clarity of mind to channel the Holy Spirit in my words, rather than speak out of the jumbled mess in my brain.

Life’s unexpected needs and emergencies don’t always occur on a schedule, so we need to account for that in the way we plan our days. And if an emergency doesn’t come up, then that’s time you can spend with God, friends, or family just allowing yourself to rest. Resting itself is an investment in the quality of your time at work and with others.

So be generous with your time, but not so generous that you stop being generous. That sentence makes me laugh to look at it, but that’s exactly what I mean to say. We must be wise, discerning and selective with the precious few hours that God gives us each day. Otherwise, our own plans for generosity might end up conflicting with God’s.

For a great passage on this, check out Luke 10:38-42. When it comes to time management, are you a Martha or a Mary? Most of us are Martha’s and we oddly pride ourselves in that fact, but Jesus doesn’t. Busy does not equal better. Sometimes busy means little more than distracted and ineffective.

You might remember this past Spring when the news broke about insurance heavy weight A.I.G. providing its employees with $165 million in bonuses. During any other year, no one would have even blinked at that amount, but not this year. Why? Because AIG had just been bailed out by the U.S. Government, receiving more than $170 billion of taxpayer money. To the watching world, these bonuses seemed ludicrous–why reward the very people who brought the company to the brink of collapse?

It was also a slap in the face. After bailing out an undeserving company from its almost certain demise, A.I.G. was taking advantage of that generosity.

Well I was reminded of the A.I.G. fiasco last night as I had dinner with my fiancé. We hadn’t gone out on a date in a long time, so we decided to do it up right! We picked a nice restaurant that we couldn’t normally afford and got all dressed up for night on the town. As we sat down at our table, we noticed that at the table next to us sat a group who clearly attended church together, if not served on staff. One of them was, in fact, the pastor. They talked about baptism services, Bible commentaries, and church attendance. They seemed like a fun group, and I was really close to interrupting their conversation with a socially awkward, “Hey, I overheard you talking and we’re Christians too!”

But then something happened that stopped me. When the bill came the pastor paid for all of them, and I heard one of the members of the party say how nice it was for the church to treat them all. Even with their small group, the prices at the restaurant were so expensive that their bill would have easily been hundreds of dollars.

And the church was paying for it.

I’ve been processing this experience ever since, and I still feel very torn about it. Granted, I do not have all the information, but this sort of thing is not uncommon. I spoke with someone the other day who said their church pays for their pastor’s meals with church members at the local country club. But is this really how we should be spending our church budget?

In economic times like these, Christians are giving sacrificially to their churches, providing for staff salaries that are often higher than their own, and trusting that those pennies are being used to further the Kingdom of God. So while I don’t believe that a pastor should be poorer than the poorest member of their congregation, I wonder where we should draw the line of extravagance. Even if a member or potential member is a high profile person in the community, and the pastor feels it is more appropriate to meet with them at the country club than Bojangles, I would think there are a lot of cheaper options on the spectrum between the two.

Now there is an extent to which we must “be all things to all people,” but how far do we take it? My dad actually agrees with pastors who do this, and he reminded me of the importance of trusting my pastor’s judgement. That point cannot be understated. So I’m going to open up the floor to other people’s input. I’m going to be honest, I am VERY skeptical about all this–Jesus didn’t exactly schmooze people into the Kingdom with steak dinners–but I’m open to having my mind changed. What do you think?