Bishop Katherine Finegan, Journal columnist

Dear neighbors and friends, I have a confession to make…I am a bargain shopper. I very rarely will pay full price for something as I first go to the clearance racks, the St. Vinny’s store, or shop at Kohl’s only on those days when I have a 30% off coupon on top of the clearance price and the current sale. And then, if I receive Kohl’s cash in the bargain, I’m back at the store again, in search of the best deal. My husband laments the effectiveness of their marketing strategy on me as I happily anticipate the next opportunity to save money by spending it.

Whether it’s at the gas pump or with grocery store coupons, I am a thrifty shopper. After once again using my Jubilee Pump Perks to save 30 cents a gallon on gas, I wondered how much I might save over a lifetime.

Wouldn’t it be great, I wondered, if some angel in heaven were tasked with keeping track of the nickels and dimes that I did not spend? How fun it would be to not only enter into the presence of God’s glory, but then to be told that over my lifetime I saved $57,423.46 that could have been wasted but was instead put to good use elsewhere. All those pennies and dollars that were saved with careful attention and prudent spending, I would love to know how it might all add up.

But then, I thought, wouldn’t such an angel also keep track of my excesses, the impulse buys, the times I was not careful, or too impatient, or just wanted something that I did not need?

And wouldn’t such an accounting include the times I was not generous, when I could have put saved money, or more money, towards someone else’s needs? Sure, I might be saving money, but to what end? Just to stretch my own dollar? As people of faith, are we not called, indeed even commanded, to more than that?

It’s no secret that many are in need. As we continue to recover from pandemic disruption, as inflation continues to have an impact, the demands on food pantries and feeding programs has increased.

We are indeed blessed to give – whether it is out of our own abundance, or from the savings carefully and intentionally carved from careful spending and good stewardship of a stretched dollar.

And the good news is that there is no heavenly record keeping of our failures. Psalm 103 proclaims,

10 [God] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.

I can live off the joy of a good bargain for some days. But life extends into eternity because of God’s steadfast love and mercy. I am thankful that I can enjoy both bargains in this life and God’s promises for the next life while still responding to God’s call in Christ Jesus to be generous and to put those unspent nickels, dimes, and dollars to good use for needs other than my own. After all, when we all give, nickels and dimes and dollars add up to quite a sum, a sum that can make a difference to a neighbor in need.

Yours neighbor,

Bishop Katherine Finegan

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Rev. Katherine Finegan is bishop of the Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.