Saving and Giving by P. W. Paulson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

Saving and Giving

By P. W. Paulson

P. W. PAULSON

[The following article contains suggestions worthy of careful consideration. We believe, however, that others should be careful in endeavoring to apply in their experience the principles enunciated by the writer. Some might find such a rigid dietary as here proposed altogether too restrictive or unsuited to their needs. The experience of one man cannot be made the gauge of every other man's experience. Each must study for himself and adapt to his own peculiar temperament, physical condition, etc., the principles of healthful living. The danger of an impoverished diet is equally as great as the opposite extreme.—Ed.]

As there has never been a time in our history when it was so extremely urgent for us to give liberally of our means to the gospel cause, therefore it is more important now than ever to learn how to economize in every possible way in order to be able to give freely. If we deny ourselves some useless and even hurtful indulgences, and earnestly try to save to give, then God will surely bless our efforts financially.

One expression in the Morning Watch Calendar, in “My New Year's Resolve,” which has been a great help to me, is this: “Exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, . . . and a childlike trust in God.” Our dear Master left us a good example in careful economy, when feeding the great multitudes, by saving all remnants.

We also should be careful not to waste any morsel of food that can be used in some way. Above all, we should learn to select only such foods as the body really needs for its sustenance, and to reject such foods as are commonly eaten merely to please a perverted palate,—rich, sweet desserts, pies, cakes, pastries, candies, etc. Each time you sit down to eat, just ask this question: Does my system really need this food to make pure blood, a sound body, and clear brains, or am I eating it just as a matter of habit because it tastes so good and sweet?

For several years I have been experimenting on various ideas in regard to diet, especially with the object of learning how to live in perfect health on the lowest possible cost. To me it has become a most interesting study. To keep the body and mind in a perfectly healthy and harmonious condition should be the first study of our lives. See “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, pages 164, 485. It is a study that brings rich reward to us in every way,—physically, financially, mentally, and spiritually.

About ten years ago I was a physical wreck from wrong living, and had been given up by my doctors to die of Bright's disease and other ailments within a few months. I went to one of our sanitariums, and the superintendent said to me, “You have one foot in the grave, young man, and cannot last much longer unless you change your way of living.” He told me what foods to discard, how to live a more natural life, and advised me to go South, and to live out of doors as much as possible in the warm, salubrious climate near the Gulf of Mexico, and to drink plenty of the pure, soft water found there. I followed his advice, and not only recovered, but found better health than I had ever before enjoyed. Two things especially I have learned:—

First, that it is possible to live year after year without any pain or disease (except from accident) if we obey the laws of nature, so clearly revealed to us in the abundant light God has given us on healthful living. While ancient Israel was living on the wholesome diet God prescribed for them, there was not a feeble person in that vast multitude; but when they murmured and demanded flesh, thousands of them died. God holds out the same promise to his present Israel, that he will allow no disease to come upon us if we hearken diligently to the instruction he has given us. See Ex. 15:26. And not only we, but many others—Christians, non-Christians, and even heathen—are accepting the light of health reform. If we all fully obey the laws of nature, there need be no sick or feeble person in Israel today. I know from my own experience that this is possible. Although I was formerly often ill, I have not had a headache, toothache, sore throat, cold, or any organic disorder for years. The only exception was during a few months, while eating with some workmen whom I was feeding. I then deviated from my simple, natural way of living, and my health began to fail.

Second, that it costs so little to live a natural, healthy life that it is almost incredible. Years ago I heard of a pamphlet entitled “Living on Ten Cents a

Day.” At that time I thought it was impossible, but since then I have proved in my own experience that it is possible to live well on even less than that. In some of my diet experiments the cost was as low as 3 cents a day. Owing to peculiar circumstances, my earnings for the last few years have been very meager. For July, August, September, and October my net earnings averaged below twenty dollars a month, and for several months previous much less than that. But with my experience and ability to economize in every way, I have been able to feed and clothe myself well, and still be able to have a share in the Lord's great work in the world today. I submit these extracts from my expense account for the four months already mentioned:—

MONTH	EARNINGS	TITHE	S. S. DON.	FOOD
July	$10.00	$1.00	$2.06	$3.07
August	9.00	.90	2.18	2.36
September	24.50	2.45	3.35	2.06
October	33.25	3.33	4.20	1.67
	$76.75	$7.68	$11.79	$9.16

In years past I occasionally spent fifty cents or more for a Sunday dinner, and squandered considerable money during the week on sodas, candies, etc. Then I would drop a nickel into the collection on Sunday and feel satisfied that I had contributed my share to the Lord's cause, although I was earning about ten times as much as of late. How sadly the Lord must have regarded such offerings! But now the order is reversed. I can get enough wholesome food for a good meal for a nickel, and drop the half dollar into the collection. I cannot afford to spend 15 cents or 25 cents for a meal, for then I could not give so much to missions. You have probably heard the story of the penny which claimed it was more religious than the quarter, in spite of the quarter's religious inscription, “In God we trust,” because the penny went to church oftener.

At our last camp meeting my expense for food was just about five cents a day, and my diet while there was mostly grapes—then about two cents a pound—and wheat flakes, which I make myself with a hand-flaking machine. The weather was wet and cold, so that many were sick and some had to leave; but I felt perfectly well. Although I shivered from cold and from wet feet, I did not catch cold. I fasted a few days before camp meeting, in order to feel at my very best, so that I could receive every blessing the Lord had in store for me. And why should not I feel well on such a heavenly diet, the delicious fruit of the vine and the flakes of the noble wheat, the most perfect food? See Ps. 81:16. These delicious wheat flakes are very suggestive of manna, the bread of heaven. Instead of paying twenty or twenty-five cents a pound for corn flakes, etc., I buy the corn and wheat by the bushel (about two cents a pound), and with the flaker and other machines I make a large variety of palatable, wholesome foods of these grains, and combine them with nuts and fruits. The only drink I use is water, freely, but not at meals. We should not buy package foods at exorbitant prices, but buy in bulk or make our own. I never eat any pie, cake, pudding, jams, candies, sugar, or other harmful and expensive dainties, nor any kind of animal food. The more I deny myself such things the keener my appetite becomes for the simple, natural foods, and I enjoy my frugal and wholesome meals better than I formerly did those fine dinners. Many make the mistake of taking a supply of rich, sweet, and dainty foods with them to camp meeting, in order to have a good time, but it often results in a bad time.

O, what a great blessing it is in every way to live a simple, natural, self-denying life, and enjoy such splendid health, and at such a small cost! What a sweet joy it is to be able to give liberally even on such a small income! Just think of it, my Sabbath school donations exceeded my board bill, and with the tithe more than doubled it! It seemed like a big sacrifice at first to put a quarter or a half dollar in the collection out of my meager earnings, but now I feel it is a glad and blessed privilege; and if the Lord blesses my efforts so that I can earn more, as formerly, may he help me to contribute correspondingly to his cause. It surely pays to save when we can invest our savings in such “gilt-edge” securities.

I feel impressed to mention these personal experiences, in the earnest hope that they may be an encouragement and inspiration to others to strive more zealously to live right and give right.