Don't Get Caught Up

When I was younger this couple I knew was on the urge of a divorce. The woman was upset because she felt her life was lacking because of her husband. She was very disrespectful to her husband and we knew it was a matter of time before her husband would respond to her actions. Her actions were as if she was superior to him. The one thing she did that got to him the most was making financial decisions without him.

Once he was preparing to pay the bills and when he checked their account $1000 was missing. The husband was furious. He approached his wife and she free from care responded, “Oh, I bought myself some boats, they were on sale.” “On sale,” the man said disturbingly, “on sale for whom, not us! That money was for rent.”

In due time, this couple separated because of her desire to spend grew to an extreme. Splurging money can break up a home and cause despair.

There is a parable that tells of a man whose heart treasure was of material things. "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them,” (Luke 15:12).

After getting his share this son set off to a far away country. He lived doing things his way and spent all his money. Once he spent everything, there was a famine. It is interesting that when he used up all his money, then something detrimental occurred; but isn’t it always that way. As the famine was going on the man “began to be in need,” (Luke 15:14.)

He went to work in a pig sty. He was so hungry that, “He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything,” (Luke 15:16).

Then he realized he should return home. He set out to go back home and ask his dad, if he would hire him as a servant. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,” (Luke 15:21). However, the father embraced him and celebrated the retuning of his son.

The young boy and father, like the married couple, remained together. It was after separation that the woman was able to see she had sinned against the Lord. Sometimes a person can get so caught up in blaming others for their situation that they lack seeing they are being disrespectful. This woman like the young man placed wealth superior to God. They looked for wealth to give them joy and fix their problems.

What do you look at to help you through the bad times? When a famine comes do you look to what you used to have financially or do you know that you have a friend in God? Are you asking man to do what only God can do? Have you been selfish only thinking of yourself?

Having money is a wonderful thing yet not being in control is what causes division. Ask God to help you focus back to Him. Pray to the Lord to restore what your actions have catered to destroying. Call upon the Lord to forgive you for being disrespectful, to not only the Lord but your loved ones. Ask the Lord to help you be respectful, so others may know you are His child. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain,” (1 Timothy 6:10).