I'm a tightwad. A.k.a. pennypincher, frugal freak, cheapskate, and so on and so forth. I use the term "tightwad" because I first came to this lifestyle through the book The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzen. It's a word with lots of negative connotations, just like all the others. There are some people who think that to try to save money is tasteless, or even low-class. Amy goes into this a great deal in her book so I won't get into that here. What I do want to talk about is the idea that by actively trying to save money we are somehow doubting or refuting God's ability to take care of us. This attitude is similar to the one that believes that since God gave us this world to manage we can do whatever we want with it. Clear-cut logging and slash-and-burn farming would be two well publicized examples of that attitude.
There is an old joke that goes like this: There was a massive flood in a town and all the homes were in water up to the rooflines. The town's residents were huddled on rooftops waiting for rescuers in boats to come for them. A boat with rescue workers came to one man's house and tried to get him into the boat. The man refused saying, "God will rescue me." A little while later another boat came by and again the man wouldn't get in and said "I don't need you, God will rescue me." This happened 3 times, and eventuall the flood waters overcame the man and he died. When he got to heaven he asked God "Why didn't you come rescue me from the flood?" and God replied "Who do you think sent all those boats?"
Like the man in the joke, we too often don't recognize God at work in our lives. We tend to view money, it's aquisition and spending, as something apart from God or even unholy. Some even feel that if we really need something we shouldn't spend money on it, we should wait for God to miraculously provide it. Poof! A new stove appears in the kitchen, or the car is suddenly fixed! In the meantime we spend our money on McDonald's, that really cute sweater or seeing a movie. Personally I don't think God really appreciates this kind of treatment (even though I am sadly guilty of it myself).
The truth is that God did give all of creation to us, and instructed us to use it wisely. That responsibility runs the gamut from not polluting our air to not wasting money. Being a tightwad positively affects that whole range, from environmental concerns to personal debt management. As tightwads we are taking good care of the money and ability to make money that God has blessed us with.
