My father used to say, “one mans garbage is another mans gold.”   He taught us as kids to be resourceful, creative, and find ways to make a lot out of a little.    There are many examples in the Bible of people being resourceful.

When the apostle Paul’s life was in danger, but a resourceful person found a new way to get him out of there by helping him escape by lowering him down the side of a wall in a basket (Acts 9:24-25).

In Mark 2:1-5, Jesus was teaching inside a crowded house. A severely disabled man couldn’t get through the doorway. The man’s friends cut an opening in the roof and he was gently lowered into the house, right in front of Jesus.  These were folks who knew how to creatively solve problems and make something out of nothing.

The skill of resourcefulness is key to success.   My daughter Sierra has been making money this year. We’ve been teaching her to live off 80%, save 10%, and give 10& generously.  After several months earning money, she set her sites on buying a computer. She hoped for a Macbook.   She had saved several hundred dollars, but not enough for a new computer.   This became an exciting chance to be resourceful.   My daughter and I began a father/daughter search of ebay and cragislist. We found several computers in here price range.  We made contact. We negotiated them down to $400.  My daughter has used the computer for several months and loves it. She learned how to make her own money.  She learned how to save before making purchases. She learned how to get the most for her money.

I took the kids jet-skiing last weekend.  The kids saw me get a great deal on a used jet ski years ago.  We wanted one of those giant 100 cm tubes to pull behind the jet ski. These tubes allow 3-5 kids on the tube at the same time. The problem occurred when we discovered those tubes cost $400.    We decided we wouldn’t be getting one.   I kept my eye out.  One of my neighbors threw away a giant four person tube 5 years ago.  I remembered my dad, “One man’s garbage is another man’s gold.”  I went to the neighbor and asked if I could have the tube he threw out. He said that was fine.  I took the garden hose to find the leak in the tube. It was small. I bought a patch kit for $3.00.  I fixed the tube.  We’ve used that $400 tube for four years now.  And it only cost us $3.00.

There is something powerful about creativity. Something powerful about the art of resourcefulness. Something incredible about Godly contentment.