My wife claims to have been taught to be frugal by her mother. It is a good and admirable attribute to possess. I will admit, however, that sometimes frugality irks me. You see, frugality is applied even when it causes inconvenience or more effort. We have to squeeze the last little bit out of the toothpaste tube before using a new tube. This is not a big deal, but sometimes I feel like it is not worth the effort.
Although it is not a term that I would apply to God, He is “frugal” when it comes to the experiences in our lives. By that I mean that He doesn’t waste anything that we experience. Whether big or little, or pleasant or unpleasant, God uses everything we go through to prepare us for a greater work in the future. We should view every circumstance, even suffering, as God’s training grounds for the future. He has given us these experiences to prepare our character and give us wisdom that we will need to fulfill His purposes for our lives.
So, in the good times and the hard times, let us rejoice and be thankful that God cares enough about us to teach us and train us for greater works. Let us be faithful to learn and grow from these experiences.
Reluctant Retiree 