What do you spend your disposable income on? For me, it is often books or for the last year or so, material costs for remodelling and home improvements. Don't think you have any disposable income? Are you sure?

In 2007 we in the U.S. spent almost $17 billion dollars on bottled water. For most of us, it is because we simply prefer the taste of it. Few communities actually have dangerous water, so for most of us we simply choose to spend the extra money. How much extra? Depending on your taste buds, buying bottled water can cost from $400 to $1,000 a year per person if you drink anything close to the recommended daily intake.

From the tap the same amount of water would cost you about 51 cents a year!

Ok, so you drink water rather than purchasing soda or other options...still a choice isn't it? How many other things are we spending money on that could be limited if we weren't caught up in the easy-spending ways of our culture? Fewer watts in our new stereo (it's the same music and they don't need to hear it 2 blocks away), a smaller screen on the tv (is the whole neighborhood watching through your window?), a less luxurious car (maybe a practical choice, not a "look at me" choice) -- does your 2 year old really need a cell phone?.

The fact of the matter is that many of us complain about our economics without really looking at how well off we really are,it is easy to do until you spend time in a culture that has much less. As thousands of summer and full-time missionaries prepare to set out to serve here and all over the world, maybe we should re-examine how we are spending our money if we think that we have nothing that we can contribute to the cause. It is sad that one may not be able to go where they feel called because they can't afford to go.

Why not pray that the Lord lay on your heart both where you can save and how He would like to see those savings used? For me, I just need to imagine that my well water is a new flavor of Fruit 2-O.

Have a great day,

Brad