Living with Margin: Wisdom in a World of Consumption
We live in a world that doesn’t know when to stop. We’re surrounded by noise, pressure, and the constant push to do more, buy more, achieve more. Schedules are packed, bank accounts are stretched, and many hearts are weary. In a world that seems to run on empty, margin feels like a luxury we can't afford.
But Proverbs 21:20 paints a very different picture:
“Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”
This verse reminds us that wisdom creates margin, while foolishness consumes everything in sight. Margin is not a luxury, it’s a mark of godly wisdom. It’s the space that allows us to live with peace, purpose, and generosity in a world that’s constantly promoting consumption.
The Wisdom of Margin
The first half of Proverbs 21:20 gives us the image of a wise person: a wise person’s home contains “precious treasure and oil.” In biblical times, oil was a symbol of prosperity, blessing, and preparedness. This wasn’t about stockpiling for greed, it means that when the time came when oil was needed, there was oil available. There is margin.
Margin means we’re not running at our limits. It means there’s extra in the tank:
Financially, there’s savings.
Emotionally, there’s space to process.
Spiritually, there’s time to read God’s word and to pray.
Relationally, there’s energy to be hospitable and loving towards others.
Margin is what allows us to respond to needs with compassion instead of panic. It’s what gives us room to rest, reflect, and recover. In a culture that praises hustle and busyness, margin is a form of holy resistance. It’s living in a new way in God’s kingdom.
God Himself models this. He didn’t create for six days and then launch into the next project. He rested. He commanded His people to rest, to celebrate Sabbaths, and even to have a full year of rest every 50 years during the year of Jubilee. God values margin. He built it into creation and into the law.
The Folly of Devouring
The second half of the proverb warns us about a life without margin: “but a foolish man devours it.” The word devour is strong, it paints a picture of immediate consumption, no thought for tomorrow, no sense of stewardship. Everything is used up the moment it arrives.
Many of us know that feeling. Paychecks disappear before the week is over. Calendars are booked solid. Our emotions are stretched thin. We run at full speed until we burn out. That’s not wisdom but survival. It’s not the life God invites us into.
The devouring and consumption filled life is reactive. It spends everything, commits to everything, says yes to everything. And underneath that way of living is often fear: fear of not having enough, of being left behind, of not being seen or valued.
But when we live without margin, we can’t be generous. We can’t be present. We can’t hear God clearly because our lives are too loud. Devouring leaves us empty, not full.
Creating Space for What Matters
So how do we begin to live with margin in this world of consumption?
1. Financial Margin
Start by making a plan for your money. Budgeting is an act of faith, it’s acknowledging that all we have belongs to God and that He cares about how we use it. We are to steward our resources and treasures, but also to be generous. Avoid debt where possible. Save and build a small emergency fund. Having financial margin allows you to respond in generosity when an opportunity arises. (Consider the widow that modeled generosity to Elijah in 1 King’s 17.) It’s not about hoarding, but about stewardship.
2. Time Margin
Your calendar doesn’t have to be crammed full. Practice a Sabbath and take time off from work. Block off time for rest, family, and silence. Don’t apologize for margin—it’s where your soul catches up with your body. Also, Having time margin will allow you to spontaneously serve others or practice hospitality. When a need arises with a friend, or through the church, you have the margin to say yes, instead of “no, I’m just too busy.”
3. Emotional and Spiritual Margin
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Build rhythms of prayer and Bible reading into your week. Say “no” to some good things so you can say “yes” to the better things God has called you to. Protect your energy. Prioritize your soul.
Living with Margin is a Witness
One of the best ways the church can witness to a watching world is by living differently. When we live with margin, we show that our security doesn’t come from how much we can consume, but from trusting the One who provides all we need. We reflect the peace and wisdom of Christ in a culture that is constantly overwhelmed.
Margin makes room for generosity, hospitality, and ministry. It lets us be interruptible, available, and present, and that kind of life stands out.
Build Wisely
Proverbs 21:20 isn’t just a proverb about money, it’s about wisdom and foolishness, stewardship and consumption, peace and pressure. What kind of life are you building?
Take a moment to reflect:
Where do you need more margin?
What in your life is being devoured that needs to be stewarded instead?
What small change could you make this week to walk in wisdom in these areas?
Living with margin isn’t about doing less—it’s about living wisely, purposefully, and freely. It’s about aligning your life with the rhythms of a God who never runs out.
So breathe deep. Slow down. Ask for wisdom. Begin building a life that stewards the treasures God has given you, not just consuming them for today.
