by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Proverbs 27:23,24
Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever.

In most marriage studies I've seen, couples say their finances cause the most frequent disagreements and arguments. Often the problem is the simple but addictive habit of overspending. Just as a sheep owner must know the condition of his flocks, so many of us do not keep track of the condition of our budgets.

In our society we are surrounded by advertisements trying to convince us that we need a product to be fulfilled or happy-as though mere things are the real source of contentment.

One credit card company wants you to believe you can't leave home without it because you need the privilege of being one of its members. Another credit card commercial suggests that it can bring you the whole world at the flick of a piece of plastic. Analyze these commercials and you soon see they are ploys tempting people to escape from reality through the fantasy of getting whatever they want right now.

Ask the average person if he (or she) believes he is a materialist and he will say, "Of course not." He doesn't purchase things from want but because of need. "The kids needed new shoes, I needed the sport coat, and my wife needed a new dress. Last Christmas we definitely needed the new color TV, and now it's pretty obvious we need a new car."

As we pursue what we think we need, the real needs of our families often go unmet. Much of what we think we need we don't need at all. I've heard Bill Bright exhort staff, "I must warn you, wear the cloak of materialism loosely."

Prayer:

That God will give you a heart to appreciate the material means He has given you, and the discipline to manage your resources responsibly.

Discuss: Are budgeting and spending issues a common source of disharmony in your family? Think about materialism-to what degree does it have a grip on you and your family?

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