Judah went into exile, orphaned from her land. (2 Kings 25)
Orphan: deprived of such protection or advantage
This is one of those interesting little verses.
Judah went into exile. Judah is the subject, being forcibly removedfrom her native country. So this means the people of Judah, not the land inside its borders.
Orphaned from her land. We associate orphan with the loss of parents; but for the people of Judah, separation from the land was worse than losing a parent.
In a time and culture connected "God" with their land, leaving their homes almost felt like leaving God. No wonder God told Jeremiah (who was among the people left in Jerusalem) reminded them, "Am I only a God nearby, and not a God far away?" (P,S. That's a nugget from a study I did on the questions that God asks us. Look at them some time.)
They had left their God. . .or so some of them felt.
They had left the land promised to them by God. Those who didn't believe they left God might have felt God had left them.
Whatever protection or advantage that Judah had from living in the country where God had chosen to dwell. . . gone. Stripped. They had seen God perform miracles over and over again, but none of Josiah's descendants had the same faith he did, to stall exile for a few more years. They had filed their final appeal, and the court had ruled against them.
You know, come to think of it, I could feel "orphaned" here in the nursing home. It certainly isn't my promised land.
But instead, this space has become a place of blessing for me. Abundant, packed down and flowing over. (in between bouts of pain and allergies, that is. or in spite of.)
And Babylon became like that for Judah, as well. The end of 2 Kings (chapter 25) reports that Jehoichin, Judah's final king, was released from prison and was given a higher place of honor in exile.
God is indeed a God far away, the one true God whom the exiles learned to obey in meticulous detail. (all 613 rules)
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2 Kings. Show all posts
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
JOSIAH'S JIHAD (2 Kings 23)
Today has been an exceptionally bad difficult day. So let's see if I can make any sense.
At least I get to talk about one of my favorite Bible heroes, Josiah (I even named a character after him, Josiah Tuttle in Prodigal Patriot) . He led Judah in national repentance that postponed exile for his people during his lifetime.
Like Joash, Josiah became king as a child. However, Joash only obeyed God as long as his uncle lived. Josiah took his first steps toward serving God as an adult of twenty-six. He instructed the priests to repair the temple. Since all idol worship had been brought to the temple, he may have worshipped idols in addition to or instead of God.
Whomever he worshipped before the repairs, his heart for God becomes clear when the priest found the book of the Law. He led his people in national repentance and renewed commitment. He celebrated Passover for the first time since the judges. And he destroyed all the idols and Asherah poles.
Then he went on a Jihad. He tore down the golden calves at Bethel and continued through Samaria, smashing the hilltop shrines and Asherah poles. By then, Samaria was no longer an independent country, but part of the Assyrian empire. Perhaps the Assyrians didn't care about the destruction of local shrines, but I wonder how the Israelites who were left felt about what
Josiah did.
In other words, Josiah went on the rampage, deciding that the people of Israel as well as of Judah, should worship Jehovah God in Jerusalem. The kind of thing that militant Muslims do today and that Christians have tried in another time (remember the Inquisition? The Crusades?) He stopped with Samaria (Israel), however. He didn't impose the law on anyone other than the original twelve tribes.
Of course, from a biblical perspective, Israelites were God's chosen people every bit as much as the people of Judah, and even when God split the kingdom in half, He still intended for the northern kingdom to worship at the one Temple. Instead, Jeroboam I built golden calves in Samaria, and Josiah was the first king of Judah to do something about it.
Unfortunately, Josiah's reform came too late, and his son reverted to idolatry as soon as his father was in the ground.
I should be excited about this story. Plenty of drama, a strong hero, a lot at stake . . .
But my mind instead is taken up with everyday concerns. I am in bone-grinding pain, nearly 24/7, for several days now.
And my friends have it even worse than I do. One person's husband lost his job right after she quit hers. Another friend confessed she has been having an affair. Here at the nursing home, one of our sweet guys died last night--leaving a woman who was as devoted to him as a wife. Her grasp on reality is tenuous at best; I hate to see her go through this.
I admire Josiah, and rightly so. But I am so very thankful I don't live in his time, and that we live in a country with religious freedom. Josiah could influence his people to worship God--but still, they chose between righteousness and sin every day of their lives.
I am thankful that God has called me to influence my small world. That my friend struggling with sin felt free to tell me, knowing I would listen, that I would lecture her on her sins but encourage her to do well. I am thankful that my ministry tends to mercy and not to judgment. That I am me, and not Josiah.
At the same time, I thank God for the Josiahs--and pray for more of them.
At least I get to talk about one of my favorite Bible heroes, Josiah (I even named a character after him, Josiah Tuttle in Prodigal Patriot) . He led Judah in national repentance that postponed exile for his people during his lifetime.
Like Joash, Josiah became king as a child. However, Joash only obeyed God as long as his uncle lived. Josiah took his first steps toward serving God as an adult of twenty-six. He instructed the priests to repair the temple. Since all idol worship had been brought to the temple, he may have worshipped idols in addition to or instead of God.
Whomever he worshipped before the repairs, his heart for God becomes clear when the priest found the book of the Law. He led his people in national repentance and renewed commitment. He celebrated Passover for the first time since the judges. And he destroyed all the idols and Asherah poles.
Then he went on a Jihad. He tore down the golden calves at Bethel and continued through Samaria, smashing the hilltop shrines and Asherah poles. By then, Samaria was no longer an independent country, but part of the Assyrian empire. Perhaps the Assyrians didn't care about the destruction of local shrines, but I wonder how the Israelites who were left felt about what
Josiah did.
In other words, Josiah went on the rampage, deciding that the people of Israel as well as of Judah, should worship Jehovah God in Jerusalem. The kind of thing that militant Muslims do today and that Christians have tried in another time (remember the Inquisition? The Crusades?) He stopped with Samaria (Israel), however. He didn't impose the law on anyone other than the original twelve tribes.
Of course, from a biblical perspective, Israelites were God's chosen people every bit as much as the people of Judah, and even when God split the kingdom in half, He still intended for the northern kingdom to worship at the one Temple. Instead, Jeroboam I built golden calves in Samaria, and Josiah was the first king of Judah to do something about it.
Unfortunately, Josiah's reform came too late, and his son reverted to idolatry as soon as his father was in the ground.
I should be excited about this story. Plenty of drama, a strong hero, a lot at stake . . .
But my mind instead is taken up with everyday concerns. I am in bone-grinding pain, nearly 24/7, for several days now.
And my friends have it even worse than I do. One person's husband lost his job right after she quit hers. Another friend confessed she has been having an affair. Here at the nursing home, one of our sweet guys died last night--leaving a woman who was as devoted to him as a wife. Her grasp on reality is tenuous at best; I hate to see her go through this.
I admire Josiah, and rightly so. But I am so very thankful I don't live in his time, and that we live in a country with religious freedom. Josiah could influence his people to worship God--but still, they chose between righteousness and sin every day of their lives.
I am thankful that God has called me to influence my small world. That my friend struggling with sin felt free to tell me, knowing I would listen, that I would lecture her on her sins but encourage her to do well. I am thankful that my ministry tends to mercy and not to judgment. That I am me, and not Josiah.
At the same time, I thank God for the Josiahs--and pray for more of them.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Pride's Fall*
Hezekiah was like David in more ways than one. Both of them, late in their reigns, made a mistake that smacked of pride and led to disastrous results for Judah.
We spent some time discussing David's decision to have Joab number the army. Hezekiah's mistake was more subtle. The king of Babylon sent his son to wish Hezekiah well after his recent illness. And Hezekiah showed off, giving him "a guided tour of all his prized possessions."
God sent Hezekiah a message through Isaiah (yes, the same Isaiah who wrote the book of the Bible). Babylon would take everything Hezekiah prized so highly, and his sons' progeny (grandsons? greatgrandsons?) would become eunuchs in the palace of Babylon.
Looking at everything other kings had done, Hezekiah's error seems so small. He didn't worship idols. Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he valued his things over God. Instead of bragging on his God to the envoy, he bragged on his things. After all, God had healed him from a deathly illness and given him fifteen additional years of life. Yet instead of talking about that, he showed off his palace.
I played piano in churches for many years, and felt uncomfortable when people praised my playing. For a long time, I would say something like "praise the Lord." But that felt like I was rejecting the gift God had given to me. God's gift, returned to Him. So I would simply say "thank you." In music, I have seen God clearly use in ways beyond my limited abilities.
In some ways, writing is one of the most solitary professions. But I have, with delight and pride, watched my resume grow from one page--to five. My first book has multiplied, to where I need more than one drawer to hold a single copy of each volume. When I invite people to look, am I indulging in the same pride that caused Hezekiah's fall?
Where does a healthy self-esteem and joy in my God-given gifts end and pride begin?
I challenge you to ask yourself the same question.
*Pride's Fall is the title of my historical romance set in Mesa Verde, Colorado, in 1900
We spent some time discussing David's decision to have Joab number the army. Hezekiah's mistake was more subtle. The king of Babylon sent his son to wish Hezekiah well after his recent illness. And Hezekiah showed off, giving him "a guided tour of all his prized possessions."
God sent Hezekiah a message through Isaiah (yes, the same Isaiah who wrote the book of the Bible). Babylon would take everything Hezekiah prized so highly, and his sons' progeny (grandsons? greatgrandsons?) would become eunuchs in the palace of Babylon.
Looking at everything other kings had done, Hezekiah's error seems so small. He didn't worship idols. Or perhaps he did. Perhaps he valued his things over God. Instead of bragging on his God to the envoy, he bragged on his things. After all, God had healed him from a deathly illness and given him fifteen additional years of life. Yet instead of talking about that, he showed off his palace.
I played piano in churches for many years, and felt uncomfortable when people praised my playing. For a long time, I would say something like "praise the Lord." But that felt like I was rejecting the gift God had given to me. God's gift, returned to Him. So I would simply say "thank you." In music, I have seen God clearly use in ways beyond my limited abilities.
In some ways, writing is one of the most solitary professions. But I have, with delight and pride, watched my resume grow from one page--to five. My first book has multiplied, to where I need more than one drawer to hold a single copy of each volume. When I invite people to look, am I indulging in the same pride that caused Hezekiah's fall?
Where does a healthy self-esteem and joy in my God-given gifts end and pride begin?
I challenge you to ask yourself the same question.
*Pride's Fall is the title of my historical romance set in Mesa Verde, Colorado, in 1900
Monday, May 13, 2013
BETTER THAN DAVID!
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel. He ruled in Samaria for nine years. As far as God was concerned, he lived a bad life, but not nearly as bad as the kings who had preceded him. (2 Kings 17:1-2, MSG)
Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. there was no king quite like him, either before or after. He held fast to God--never loosened his grip--and obeyed to the letter everything God had commanded Moses. And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures. (2 Kings 18:5-6, MSG)
The two kings I've quoted above are unusual in all the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. Can you guess what it is?
Hmm. Hoshea had the misfortune of ruling Israel at the time her sins came home and she was taken into exile in Assyria. I say "misfortune." This record suggests Hoshea wasn't bad, as far as Israel's kings went. He is one of the few (the only one?) who wasn't compared to Jeroboam I, the king who set Israel on the path to sin. If God graded on a curve, instead of pass/fail, Hoshea might have managed a C.
On the other side, Hezekiah was compared to David favorably. The author goes so far as to say, "There was NO KING quite like him." Not even David! Hezekiah also took the final step that the earlier "good" kings had failed to do: he smashed the altars to Baal and the Asherah poles.
Of David and Hezekiah, I think Hezekiah had the harder job at following God's laws. Imagine Americans trying to go back to 1776 and living by the laws and cultural mores of the times.
Of course, he might have relied on the wisdom of the priests to understand what the laws looked like in his time, much as we have the Supreme Court to help us interpret the Constitution.
Still--he was a traditionalist bucking the trend. I'm sure people opposed his reforms.
I'm a person who will rarely rate anything a 10 (or a 1). I'm not comfortable with extremes. But look at the extremes used to describe Hezekiah:
Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. there was no king quite like him, either before or after. He held fast to God--never loosened his grip--and obeyed to the letter everything God had commanded Moses. And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures. (2 Kings 18:5-6, MSG)
The two kings I've quoted above are unusual in all the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. Can you guess what it is?
Hmm. Hoshea had the misfortune of ruling Israel at the time her sins came home and she was taken into exile in Assyria. I say "misfortune." This record suggests Hoshea wasn't bad, as far as Israel's kings went. He is one of the few (the only one?) who wasn't compared to Jeroboam I, the king who set Israel on the path to sin. If God graded on a curve, instead of pass/fail, Hoshea might have managed a C.
On the other side, Hezekiah was compared to David favorably. The author goes so far as to say, "There was NO KING quite like him." Not even David! Hezekiah also took the final step that the earlier "good" kings had failed to do: he smashed the altars to Baal and the Asherah poles.
Of David and Hezekiah, I think Hezekiah had the harder job at following God's laws. Imagine Americans trying to go back to 1776 and living by the laws and cultural mores of the times.
Of course, he might have relied on the wisdom of the priests to understand what the laws looked like in his time, much as we have the Supreme Court to help us interpret the Constitution.
Still--he was a traditionalist bucking the trend. I'm sure people opposed his reforms.
I'm a person who will rarely rate anything a 10 (or a 1). I'm not comfortable with extremes. But look at the extremes used to describe Hezekiah:
- He put his WHOLE trust in the Lord.
- He NEVER loosened his grip on God.
- He obeyed EVERYTHING God commanded Moses
(By the way, I doubt he was that perfect, but he would have received an A+ on a curve.)
Instead of bemoaning the state of the nation in his day, Hezekiah set about changing it. Of course, he was king. He wielded influence we can only imagine.
But . . . we can't let the daunting task before us keep us from attempting the impossibly difficult. Like Hezekiah, we have the same responses available to us. We can trust God, we can hold on to God, and we can do His will.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
IT CAN ALWAYS GET WORSE (2 Kings 14)
God was fully aware of the trouble in Israel, its bitterly hard times. No one was exempt, whether slave or citizen, and no hope of help anywhere was in sight. But God wasn’t yet ready to blot out the name of Israel from history, so he used Jeroboam son of Jehoash to save them. (2 Kings 26-27, MSG)
When I first lost my daughter to suicide, I felt like nothing could be worse. And so I began a game of thinking of situations which could be worse . . .
When I first lost my daughter to suicide, I felt like nothing could be worse. And so I began a game of thinking of situations which could be worse . . .
She disappeared and we never knew what happened
She was murdered and the murderer was never caught
Those two situations struck me as even worse ways to lose my daughter.
Of course, that kind of thinking didn't alter my pain and grief.
That's the way this verse about the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel strikes me. The writer describes the current situation as "bitterly hard times." The disaster spared no strata of society, from the lowest slave to the wealthiest landowner. Even worse, they had no hope of things getting better.
If they followed my line of thinking, as bad as things were, the only thing that could be worse would be total defeat and rule by another country.
Yes, things can always be worse.
What I find oddly comforting is the thought that even if this abismal situation, when the Israelites saw no hope, God showed them mercy. Instead of allowing the "even worse" to happen, he used a wicked king (Jeroboam II wasn't any better than Jeroboam I) to deliver them.
I take great comfort in the knowledge God will not blot out my name from the Book of Life. I belong to him today, tomorrow, and always. That even in my current circumstances, God measures the amount of grief I bear and surrounds me with hedges of protection.
Interesting that this blog post should come up on the day before Mother's Day. My son will probably spend the day with his wife and her mother. I have come to accept it. But Mother's Day has become a holiday I would rather ignore. I've lost my mother and my daughter, our three-stranded cord that worshipped and celebrated together. Without them, I feel naked.
Even on mother's Day--God fences me inside His green pasture and gives me cool water for my soul.
Friday, May 10, 2013
MONEY PART 2: Jehoida's Achilles' heel
Today's chapters deal with the ugly, gory, ending to Ahab's family. 70 sons (?!), his relatives aligned with Judah's royalty, everyone aligned with them in any fashion--all massacred. It makes me uncomfortable, but I admire Jehu for removing Baal worship from Israel.
The passage with the hopeful story of the priest Jehoida's courage and saving the young Joash and Joash's return to worship of Israel's true God. I have often thought that Joash was only "good," however, until Jehoida died.
Today I noticed something I hadn't seen before. The priest I so admired, Jehoida, had feet of clay after all. (well, we all do. And the Bible never holds back in showing people's faults.)
Joash decided to repair the temple. He handed responsibility for handling the finances, from the offerings at the temple, over to the priests.
23 years into his reign, the temple was still in ruins. And he took control of the money back from the priests.
The priests--Jehoida is specifically mentioned. A statement that no more money would be spent on unnecessary things like silver candle snuffers suggests how the money had been spent instead.
Oh, Jehoida. You hit such a home run for God by protecting David's line and destroying Ahab's and restoring temple worship. And then, you failed over how best to spend the money. He didn't have to intend to rob the treasury. He probably bought things of quality, things that would honor God in their use.
At worst, his crime was lining his own pockets. At best, he didn't see the big picture in terms of temple repair.
Perhaps the priests as a group should have sought a man who was a good accountant at heart.
Joash was a good leader; he recognized the problem and corrected it.
The most obvious application? Find the right person for the right job. Admit your weaknesses and seek help.
The passage with the hopeful story of the priest Jehoida's courage and saving the young Joash and Joash's return to worship of Israel's true God. I have often thought that Joash was only "good," however, until Jehoida died.
Today I noticed something I hadn't seen before. The priest I so admired, Jehoida, had feet of clay after all. (well, we all do. And the Bible never holds back in showing people's faults.)
Joash decided to repair the temple. He handed responsibility for handling the finances, from the offerings at the temple, over to the priests.
23 years into his reign, the temple was still in ruins. And he took control of the money back from the priests.
The priests--Jehoida is specifically mentioned. A statement that no more money would be spent on unnecessary things like silver candle snuffers suggests how the money had been spent instead.
Oh, Jehoida. You hit such a home run for God by protecting David's line and destroying Ahab's and restoring temple worship. And then, you failed over how best to spend the money. He didn't have to intend to rob the treasury. He probably bought things of quality, things that would honor God in their use.
At worst, his crime was lining his own pockets. At best, he didn't see the big picture in terms of temple repair.
Perhaps the priests as a group should have sought a man who was a good accountant at heart.
Joash was a good leader; he recognized the problem and corrected it.
The most obvious application? Find the right person for the right job. Admit your weaknesses and seek help.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
LOCKED, LATCHED, OR OPEN--DOORS (2 Kings 6-7)
The words that jumped out at me today struck me by their poetic extravagance. I'm not sure where I'll go with this, but we'll find out together.
Israel was in the middle of a 7 year famine (and still rebelling against God, but no surprise there). Unlike the dramatic showdown at Mt. Carmel between Elijah and Baal's prophets, Elisha casually walks up to the palace one day. The king was talking to Elisha at the end of chapter 6: "This trouble is directly from God! I'm fed up with God."
So perhaps chapter 7 is part of the same confrontation, or perhaps not. But one thing is clear: there was no love lost between the king and the prophet.
It does feel like poetic justice that Elisha's response to the king (I hate God!) was to announce, "The famine is over. Tomorrow one handful of meal or two handfuls of grain will cost a shekel."
The king's advisor scorned him. (any more than Ahab believed the drought was over when Elijah announced it.) Here is the phrase that caught my attention: "You expect us to believe that? Trapdoors opening in the sky and food falling out?"
Maybe he should have studied Israel's history better. Because God did exactly that during the Wilderness Wanderings, providing quail until everyone was sick of meat. And manna showed up each morning like dew.
I'm arrested by the visual imagery of his complaint. A trapdoor in the sky and food falling out. Can you picture it? The closest I can come to imagining it makes me laugh.
Do I need to point out that Elisha's prophecy came true?
Look at the juxtaposition of the two chapters. The king says, "I hate God!"
God responds--not with a dire warning, but with compassion and concern and love. "I'm stopping the famine."
The king's advisor, like the second thief crucified with Christ, made fun of God doing the impossible. The king himself? He at least enjoyed telling tall tales of Elisha the prophet. Alas, he didn't repent, but he gave God's spokesperson a grudging respect.
Today I have been greatly discouraged. A door that hoped would open wide for my writing instead only opened a crack. I have been mourning/ranging/crying about it all day.
Perhaps that's why I need this message tonight. When God moves, things can happen instantaneously. If God so chooses, the trapdoor that now remains latched although cracked, can swing wide open. Tomorrow.
If it does - praise God.
If it doesn't - still praise God. And realize that God is causing that the famine with that publisher for His own reasons.
Israel was in the middle of a 7 year famine (and still rebelling against God, but no surprise there). Unlike the dramatic showdown at Mt. Carmel between Elijah and Baal's prophets, Elisha casually walks up to the palace one day. The king was talking to Elisha at the end of chapter 6: "This trouble is directly from God! I'm fed up with God."
So perhaps chapter 7 is part of the same confrontation, or perhaps not. But one thing is clear: there was no love lost between the king and the prophet.
It does feel like poetic justice that Elisha's response to the king (I hate God!) was to announce, "The famine is over. Tomorrow one handful of meal or two handfuls of grain will cost a shekel."
The king's advisor scorned him. (any more than Ahab believed the drought was over when Elijah announced it.) Here is the phrase that caught my attention: "You expect us to believe that? Trapdoors opening in the sky and food falling out?"
Maybe he should have studied Israel's history better. Because God did exactly that during the Wilderness Wanderings, providing quail until everyone was sick of meat. And manna showed up each morning like dew.
I'm arrested by the visual imagery of his complaint. A trapdoor in the sky and food falling out. Can you picture it? The closest I can come to imagining it makes me laugh.
Do I need to point out that Elisha's prophecy came true?
Look at the juxtaposition of the two chapters. The king says, "I hate God!"
God responds--not with a dire warning, but with compassion and concern and love. "I'm stopping the famine."
The king's advisor, like the second thief crucified with Christ, made fun of God doing the impossible. The king himself? He at least enjoyed telling tall tales of Elisha the prophet. Alas, he didn't repent, but he gave God's spokesperson a grudging respect.
Today I have been greatly discouraged. A door that hoped would open wide for my writing instead only opened a crack. I have been mourning/ranging/crying about it all day.
Perhaps that's why I need this message tonight. When God moves, things can happen instantaneously. If God so chooses, the trapdoor that now remains latched although cracked, can swing wide open. Tomorrow.
If it does - praise God.
If it doesn't - still praise God. And realize that God is causing that the famine with that publisher for His own reasons.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
MONEY MANAGEMENT (2 Kings 4)
I would rather not touch today's topic. Not because it's too difficult; but because it's an area I have struggled with.
Tucked into the middle of all kinds of miracles that proved Elisha had a double portion of Elijah's spirit we find the story of the widow of one of the guild of the prophets.
Ah, but this prophet had a bad habit. He died broke, in debt, unprepared. The debt was so great that the debtor was going to claim her two sons as slaves.
This might not have been so bad for the boys, providing the slave owner followed the law. They would be released after six years. They couldn't be mistreated. They would have worked, but they would have been provided for.
But the poor woman--and her sons--faced with losing both husband father, mother and home, all in a matter of days. My heart goes out to her. A tragedy beyond comprehension.
All because the father didn't manage his financial affairs properly. Ouch. Neither have I.
Looking at the father's debt, Elisha's final words to the widow take on new meaning:
Sell the oil. Make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what is left. (2 Kings 4:7, MSG)
Collect your resources. Pay your debts first. Then come up with a plan on how to live on the remainder of the money. Unstated is the implication: don't get into debt again.
I can't change the past. But I can try to learn to live on what is left.
I have several measure struggle areas. Money is one of them. We all have have areas like that.
And I suspect that money management is a problem area for a lot more people than me.
Provide for my family after my death--first of all--financially.
The same principle applies in other areas as well. Think on it. What can you do to better prepare your family for your death or illness?
Let's do it before it's too late.
DEBT
Tucked into the middle of all kinds of miracles that proved Elisha had a double portion of Elijah's spirit we find the story of the widow of one of the guild of the prophets.
 |
| Debt Indenture |
This might not have been so bad for the boys, providing the slave owner followed the law. They would be released after six years. They couldn't be mistreated. They would have worked, but they would have been provided for.
But the poor woman--and her sons--faced with losing both husband father, mother and home, all in a matter of days. My heart goes out to her. A tragedy beyond comprehension.
All because the father didn't manage his financial affairs properly. Ouch. Neither have I.
Looking at the father's debt, Elisha's final words to the widow take on new meaning:
Collect your resources. Pay your debts first. Then come up with a plan on how to live on the remainder of the money. Unstated is the implication: don't get into debt again.
I can't change the past. But I can try to learn to live on what is left.
I have several measure struggle areas. Money is one of them. We all have have areas like that.
And I suspect that money management is a problem area for a lot more people than me.
Provide for my family after my death--first of all--financially.
The same principle applies in other areas as well. Think on it. What can you do to better prepare your family for your death or illness?
Let's do it before it's too late.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)