In The Beginning: Creation Appreciation #10

Remembering our previous discussion about the world's scarcity of resources, we began this class session with the parable of the rich fool from Luke 12.13-21. From that story I tried to reframe how we might usually think of the terms greed and frugality. We sometimes think of frugality as a selfish, penny-pinching type of lifestyle but actually, being frugal with the earth's resources is exactly what we need to do.

Suddenly, the efficient life of my grandparents doesn't seem so strange. The generation that lived through the Depression came to know how to squeeze every last bit of utility out of every resource because they had to. The challenge for 21st century Americans is to learn how to use resources efficiently even though we don't have to. It's a matter of loving our neighbors, both global and temporal.

So this class provides some hands-on ways to use resources more efficiently:


Speaking of my grandparents, it's amazing to me that they produce about 1 bag of trash per month. Table scraps go to the compost pile in the garden. Most things are reused. Some trash is burned. Only plastic and a few other items make it to their garbage cans. My family produces about 5 bags of trash per week.


National Geographic has a site set up that gives some great tips as well. Here is important information about water conservation in the bathroom:


Great ideas for home cleaning without the use of harmful chemicals:


Cut your utility bills and save energy:


Many more tips are available at National Geographic's The Green Guide.

I'm encouraging the class to be thinking about some lifestyle changes they would be willing to share with the class in a couple of weeks. Leave a comment to share what you are doing to be frugal with the resources God has given us.