The Purpose of Being Frugal

Last night before I went to sleep I was thinking about being frugal and taking time to save money. I was thinking about how much I have been talking about CVS on here, and that you might start to wonder what the point of all this is. Is it just my hobby? Something I enjoy doing? Or, maybe more of you are thinking, is this girl crazy? Why does she feel the need to do research before she goes shopping and all that coupon-clipping?
Well, although a few of you might still think I'm a little weird, I do enjoy saving money for my husband and I; however, that is not the main reason we are doing this. The ultimate reason for this season of a simpler lifestyle is L-O-V-E.
Let me explain. If I use the money (or any other resources for that matter) that God has blessed me with thought and wisdom, then I will have more resources to show love to others with. However, this is a fairly new concept for me. I always gave money and time to my local community, but as far as the other 90 or so percent, that went solely to the here and now (I am referring to the time before I got married). I bought clothes every other day, ate out at least once a day, bought 2 coffee drinks a day, etc. Most of it was focused on one thing: ME!
Now I am almost the opposite, in some aspects. I know that there are many of you out there that read my blog and think of ways that I could be a lot more frugal, and that would be true (I welcome those comments by the way - as long as you say it nicely!). However, what I was thinking about last night was that frugality can also be a "god" if not done for the right reasons. I could get so wrapped up in saving money for my own personal ends, that I wouldn't see the needs of those around me. Today I felt that someone that always hears me talking about CVSing could use a little sunshine, so I looked in my purse and found one of those FREE Lumene Body Aktiva tubes that I bought last night, and I gave it to her. I know she's not considered a "needy" person, but in some ways we all are. Not only will the "other" people around us benefit from our frugality, but first we must take care of another group - our families. If we are frugal, God-willing, we should be able to provide not only for the here and now but even put some aside for our future children and to take care of our parents in their latter days. That's why the Bible says that the Proverbs 31 woman can "look smilingly toward the future, and laugh at the days to come" and "she has no fear for her household."
We all could use a little more love in our lives. And that, my friends, is the purpose of being frugal.
I will end with the most masterful piece of literature, poetry, and Scripture on LOVE ever written (in my humble opinion):

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.(NIV)