“A Humble Meal”

Sunday, August 10, 2014

     My husband is a good christian and a kind man.  He is an attorney and works very hard, but he just can't seem to attract a steady flow of income.  My mom and I pray for him every day.  It makes me wonder, after twenty-four years of marriage, why God does not answer our prayers.  I don't know what to do if we are somehow blocking God's blessings somehow.  I don't know how to help my husband.  Obviously, God must be waiting for some good reason, but it is difficult when the lights go out or we can't afford even the basics.  He will get good clients for a while and then have a long dry spell.  Do you think the Lord is trying to teach him something?  So many thoughtless people have money and security.  It seems the Lord is looking the other way (although I praise Him for His blessings every day).  What can I do?

Sincerely,
Lawyer’s Wife

Dear Lawyer’s Wife,

We all have our struggles, and it sounds like this one is your family’s.  It would be easy to give you advice if your husband was unwilling to work, but as you said, that isn’t the case.  Sometimes, good people struggle with burdens that seem very unfair.  After all, the righteous David had to hide in caves and mountains while wicked Saul lived in luxury.

In Ps 73:3-12, the psalmist, Asaph, ponders why it is that wicked people prosper and the righteous are downtrodden.  The question vexed him deeply because his enemies succeeded while he, a godly man, was constantly in pain (Ps 73:13-14).  Eventually, Asaph went to the temple and thought about the end of a wicked man’s life (Ps 73:16-17).

A life of wickedness is a slippery slope – one lie leads to another until all you have is a tangle of lies and deception (Ps 73:18).  The wicked man has no peace because he is totally dependent upon his own strength and wiles for success… every moment of life is lived upon a precipice (Ps 73:19).

Contrast that life to one of a righteous man.  God holds the hand of the righteous, so they will not despair (Ps 73:23), and God is a righteous man’s counselor and friend (Ps 73:24).  Ultimately, the righteous go to heaven, and the wicked spend eternity in hell (Ps 73:25).

It may seem like wicked people prosper, but eventually, their wickedness becomes their downfall.  Sometimes, their sins take years to catch up with them (pay attention to some of the latest headlines in politics and Hollywood), but they always do.  If a man becomes wealthy through evil… he may have money, but he won’t have peace.  As Pr 15:17 points out, a wealthy feast filled with hatred isn’t nearly as enjoyable as a humble meal eaten with loving friends.  Financial prosperity is not synonymous with happiness.

You are doing the right thing.  Continue to encourage your husband.  You are learning one of the most valuable lessons in life – to be content with what you have and place your trust in the Lord (Php 4:11-13).

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