Calvin's Thoughts

It seems that occasionally, Matt and I find ourselves in a discussion with others about the balance between enjoying God's generous provision for us and being fiscally conservative with our spending. When it comes to budgets, everyone is different, but I hope we've found a good balance. We'd like to be able to enjoy His gracious gifts to us, but also want to still be able to go above and beyond in our giving (especially to missions!).

My aunt sent me this quote from John Calvin which kind of reminds me that I shouldn't feel that a nice luxury every now and then is sinful:

"If someone begins to doubt whether it is lawful for him to use linen for his sheets or shirts or handkerchiefs… he will go on to become uncertain…about using even canvas. For he will think to himself, “…Do I really need to carry a handkerchief?” If it should occur to a man that some rather pleasant food was unlawful, he will get to the point of not being able to eat black bread or common dishes without an uneasy conscience before God, for it will occur to him that he could nourish his body on food yet more humble. If he is doubtful about a fairly good wine, he will then not be able to drink some rot-gut with a good conscience, and in the end he will dare touch no water that is sweeter and purer than usual. And at last such a man will think it a sin to step over a straw on the path, as they say…” (referenced from T.H.L. Parker’s John Calvin: A Biography)