Extreme Couponing and Priorities

Several weeks ago I decided to watch the show Extreme Couponing. This show has received a lot of media attention and I’ve heard some people talk about it, so I decided to check it out. I clip coupons from the Sunday paper when we get it, and I enjoy coupons I receive from the store, but that is about the extent of my couponing. I tried checking coupon sites for a while but it got to be too time-consuming for my taste.

I was truly amazed to watch these people buy hundreds of dollars of groceries for less than $50, all because of coupons and sales. I admit I was envious. When I went to the grocery store the next day, I was depressed because my measly two coupons only saved me $2! But now that I have watched several episodes, I’ve begun to realize that some of these people are placing a very high priority on couponing—in my opinion, too high! Some of these people are spending the equivalent time to a full-time job (or more) to coupon. Those that have full-time jobs, then, are working two full-time jobs. The question that popped into my head was: when do they have time for their spouses or children? One story in particular struck me as the woman said she would leave from dates with her husband if she was notified about a good sale!

However, as I began to write this blog, a verse came to mind: “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?” (Luke 6:41). Is there anything in my life that is consuming my time to the point that I am sacrificing my relationships with my husband, daughter and God? Are my priorities in the right place? Right now, outside of my job at AiG and all the numerous duties of being a wife and mother, I am teaching children’s Sunday school and directing the VBS at our church this summer. I try to make sure that I don’t work on these things until after our daughter is in bed and I try to make sure that I spend some time with my husband either before or after I work on these things. But then it’s 11:00 PM and I still have lunches to pack, and I need to get some sleep before getting up at 5:45 AM the next morning.

So when do I have time to spend with God? It’s easy to think, “Well, I’m doing things for God—teaching SS and leading VBS—doesn’t that count?” Or, “God will understand because I’m doing His work.” But it’s not the same; I need that quiet time with Him. When do I pray and have devotions when I’m not dead tired and can actually think about what I’m saying and reading? To be honest, that’s what I’m struggling with right now. I know I need to re-prioritize, and I need to do it soon.

Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). I can get my priorities in order if I start by making time for God and putting Him first—then everything else will fall into its proper place. Let’s pray for each other as we struggle to keep our priorities in the right place in this crazy, busy world.