This year for lent our InterVarsity group at Georgetown challenged each other to try to "buy nothing"--meaning to cut out all unnecessary spending.
Situated in a city, especially an area like Georgetown, our students are bombarded by opportunities to go out to eat, buy new clothing, or pay for movies or other entertainment. My coworker and I spoke at large group last night, challenging the students--even if they didn't think they were addicted to money or stuff, often using these things to fill the emptiness in our lives--they should still consider taking a step back "just to find out."
We framed it as choices--choosing to bring your own water rather than always buying coffee, going to the dining hall rather that out, playing a game at home rather than out to a movie.
We began the talk by considering how much the Bible talks about money (the 2nd most frequently mentioned topic next to love!). Next we went into how scripture over and over reveals how the money we have in our wallets--is not ours, our parents, our families--but in fact God's. This is a hard concept to grasp. Where are his holy wallets?
It can be deceiving when we work jobs and "earn" our keep/worth and then take home our wages.
After this I led the students in a prayer exercise where I spoke out phrases and questions and gave people a few moments to think and pray. Some examples:
When did I last buy something? What was it? Did I need it?
Where do I spend most of the money in my care?
Thank God that you are blessed enough to be able to choose where to spend money.
What about my food buying choices—where is there excess? Where am I buying unnecessary snacks or going out rather than doing something less costly?
When do I seek to fill emptiness with stuff—clothing, addictions, food. ---Confess this to God and ask him to come in and fill this space for you.
What do I fear about accepting the call to fast from buying? Can I trust that God will meet me and help me be creative? Especially in dealing with other people?
Ask God how he would have you respond.
God. Do I need to give up one specific thing in my life—buying coffee? Ordering pizza? God, are you asking me to fast from buying completely during lent? Until spring break? For a week?
***It was a great exercise--I think a lot of students committed and will start this 6 week journey of attempting to not spend money. We're in it together--meeting to pray and discuss alternatives. I'll continue to update on what we're all learning abour our relationship with money.
Situated in a city, especially an area like Georgetown, our students are bombarded by opportunities to go out to eat, buy new clothing, or pay for movies or other entertainment. My coworker and I spoke at large group last night, challenging the students--even if they didn't think they were addicted to money or stuff, often using these things to fill the emptiness in our lives--they should still consider taking a step back "just to find out."
We framed it as choices--choosing to bring your own water rather than always buying coffee, going to the dining hall rather that out, playing a game at home rather than out to a movie.
We began the talk by considering how much the Bible talks about money (the 2nd most frequently mentioned topic next to love!). Next we went into how scripture over and over reveals how the money we have in our wallets--is not ours, our parents, our families--but in fact God's. This is a hard concept to grasp. Where are his holy wallets?
It can be deceiving when we work jobs and "earn" our keep/worth and then take home our wages.
After this I led the students in a prayer exercise where I spoke out phrases and questions and gave people a few moments to think and pray. Some examples:
When did I last buy something? What was it? Did I need it?
Where do I spend most of the money in my care?
Thank God that you are blessed enough to be able to choose where to spend money.
What about my food buying choices—where is there excess? Where am I buying unnecessary snacks or going out rather than doing something less costly?
When do I seek to fill emptiness with stuff—clothing, addictions, food. ---Confess this to God and ask him to come in and fill this space for you.
What do I fear about accepting the call to fast from buying? Can I trust that God will meet me and help me be creative? Especially in dealing with other people?
Ask God how he would have you respond.
God. Do I need to give up one specific thing in my life—buying coffee? Ordering pizza? God, are you asking me to fast from buying completely during lent? Until spring break? For a week?
***It was a great exercise--I think a lot of students committed and will start this 6 week journey of attempting to not spend money. We're in it together--meeting to pray and discuss alternatives. I'll continue to update on what we're all learning abour our relationship with money.
1 comment:
love the pics--get to see kate in action!! and i'm jealous that you're soo good at actually updating your blog--I think my lenten commitment needs to be to blog--seriously!
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