We Ain’t Begging!

Just a few moments ago I posted a “Life Lesson” on FB that reflects on the misconceived notions of most people regarding their finances. I feel that, perhaps, I may not have done justice to the subject at hand so I’ll elaborate a little further here. I believe it is relevant.

This little Swede, that I’m married to, and I have witnessed and experienced some amazing seasons together in life. Like in any other relationship, we have known some tremendously high moments and some exceedingly tough times. Like this current season for instance.

Swede is a computer programmer and software developer and she’s good at it. I can’t even speak her language when she talks shop. Without her doing her computer voodoo in our office I couldn’t function or perform any of the tasks that I do on the computer. In short, she’s brilliant at what she does. Well, she works on a contract basis for various governmental agencies and she has been without contract since the first week in May this year. No fault of her own mind you. We all know that government gets in no hurry. That means, basically, that she has been unemployed with only little trickles and drips of work coming in intermittently. Just so you know, her income amounted to about two thirds of the total income for this household. That’s a pretty big loss in income. During this holiday season, Christmas to be exact, our little Christmas tree is not as heavily packed as it has been in previous years. Oh, the gifts are there, but the extravagance of the gifts has dramatically taken a nose dive. That’s okay.

Nor will our table be as extravagantly stocked as it has been. That’s okay too. Why is it okay? Well, we are all happy. We are all healthy. We will have plenty to eat. We are warm and comfortable. We have love that will be expressed to one another with fewer and much less expensive gifts than usual.

Our bills are paid. We haven’t missed a meal. So many this season can’t pay bills, are not healthy, and don’t have enough to eat. That’s a given. The poor will always be among us. However, that’s not what I’m getting at here, at this time.

Psalms 37:25 states, “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.”

Swede and I aren’t perfect people. I admit that. We pray individually, together as a couple, and corporately in our church. We are faithful and devoted to the tithe and giving gifts joyfully. Not because we feel as if we have to but we do so with joy and thanksgiving. For us, it is a form of worship.. By the way, just because money is really tight at this time, in this season, we do not forsake the tithe or our giving of gifts. We feel that strongly about it. Christmas is not about “stuff” or material things. We are teaching our family about that and I believe that’s a good thing. Do I want to give extravagant gifts? Absolutely! We believe in extending mercy and grace to others. Therein we receive mercy and grace. In righteousness I obtain God’s favor.

Now, let’s get back to this lost income situation. The loss of two thirds of total income is a big hit to take. Now let’s get back to Psalms 37:25. I was once a young man. Currently, I’m not exactly an old man either. But by Christ’s sacrifice I am made righteous. Psalm 37:25 states EMPHATICALLY “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.” I take that as a FAITHFUL PROMISE from God conveyed through David!

Now, things may not be exactly as I would like, at this particular time. However, I take it as a season of training for something GREATER in my future, a future that lies just around the corner. If I knew exactly what that future was then I wouldn’t have to have the hope, or faith, that it exists. Who hopes for, and has faith for, what he already possesses?

Life Lesson: Things are tough right now, at this moment. However, I have not been forsaken and, the last time I checked, my children are NOT begging for something to eat!

For those who do not believe, who have lost hope, whose faith is waning, consider this:

King David said, if I may paraphrase, “In all my life I have never seen those who choose to walk with God abandoned nor have I seen their children go hungry.”

Kinda leads me to believe that being righteous according the mercy of God has definite benefits attached. Think about it.

God Bless!

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