This summer at camp, my Bible Study read a book entitled "Radical" by David Platt. If you haven't read it before, I HIGHLY suggest it. Warning: it will make you rethink the way you live your life down to the itty bitty details. One thing that has stuck with me since this summer from that book was about how we spend our money. This has come back to convict me several times, and today was no different!
Platt talked about how as Americans we waste money on many things that do not matter at all. We spend money on things that don't have any positive effect on our lives and that don't bring God glory. Ultimately, our money is a gift from God and He has entrusted us with that. He doesn't give us this money in order for us to buy things that will make us happy, He gives it to us to bring glory to Him.
I've mentioned a few times about wanting to get a nicer camera. My digital camera that I have right now is old and the screen is cracked. It's not in the best condition, but it serves the purpose that I need it for. Still though, I wanted a nicer camera. I tried to validate the reason I needed one by saying I could take better pictures when I went to Honduras, and that my photos would be nicer and higher quality. On Black Friday they are having HUGE sales on these cameras, and I decided that I would go look at cameras and think about getting one.
I walked into Best Buy today and was excited to look at them and play around with them. I had no idea what I was doing or even looking for. By the time I walked over to the cameras, I instantly began thinking about the book Radical. Yes, the cameras were going to be on a VERY good sale. What was originally a $900 camera was going to be marked down to $450. For these kind of cameras that is an insanely good price. But did I need a $450 camera? Would I get enough use out of that camera? Was it worth it? Ultimately, the answer was "no". I immediately began thinking about how I've been convicted about the education of children in 3rd world countries, and how recently my heart has been moved for them. I thought about how many books I could buy for those children, and what other things that I could use that money for. I could go on another mission trip, I could volunteer in an orphanage, I could do so many other things that would have a better use for that money than using it to buy a camera that I didn't have a real need for.
So, lesson learned -- I'm not getting a new camera. I had texted Carley when I decided not to get one with the simple words "I'm not getting a camera". She replied "thinking about the kids that could have a better use of that money?" She knows me so well. But ultimately, I can't buy something that nice for myself and know that there are kids who could get so much more out of it. I think I'll save the money for now, and use it next year to go on another mission trip!
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