A Conversation on How We Ought to Live Out Matthew 6:25-33

ME:
For the past few days, I've been trying to take advantage of the Back to School and End of Summer Clearance sales to purchase my girls some shoes and some clothes...For the younger ones, it's to replace items that have been worn and thrown out...For my oldest, it's to purchase new because she has no hand me downs...I think about how I "scramble" and make time for these sales because I know that if I don't act while the sales are on, then I will spend a lot of money!!! For example, I saved about 98% at Old Navy a few weeks ago because I patiently waited for a good sale to purchase our oldest daughter's clothes and instead of spending $200, I only spent $5 (rounded)...Tonight, I saved 72% at The Children's Place and instead of spending $95, I only spent $27...Matthew 6:25-33 is the passage on not worrying and to put God's Kingdom first and all these other things will be given to me...I don't necessarily worry about where my family will get their clothes or their shoes, but if I don't take concern about these things and just whimsically purchase these items without thought, I would spend thousands of dollars on clothes and shoes...So, just because we are told that all these other things will be given to me if I put the kingdom of God first, does that mean that I do nothing?...Well, I think of the Proverbs 31 woman and how she makes sure her family is clothed...That's part of a woman's call to take care of her family...So, does that mean I can still take action and practice wisdom in acquiring these things just as long as these things don't become my God?

COMMENT 1:
I see this as one of those things that's between the individual and God - Proverbs speaks about the importance of planning, so obviously that is an element. I also feel that stewardship is an important part of a Christians' life - but that applies to ALL resources, not just money (i.e. time). I take the time seek out sales for my children's clothing, but do not WORRY about it. Is your planning crossing over into anxiousness? Bottom line: seek God first and foremost, and everything will fall into place. And yes, sometimes He provides through clearance racks!

COMMENT 2:
We would all be wise to remember that it's God's money anyway. However we spend it - we would be wise to spend it as unto The Lord, not as unto the world.