24 Jan Spirit-Led Partnering

A woman struggles with spending too much money.  She is an out-of-control shopaholic and it is wrecking her family’s financial health as she keeps going deeper and deeper in to consumer debt.  Her husband has asked her to stop spending many times but she just can’t seem to quit.

She is reading Matthew 6:19-24 in her quiet time.  As it is prone to do, God’s Word, convicts her.  On her lunch hour that same day, she goes to the mall.  She is tempted to buy yet another pair of ballet slippers.  She already owns at least ten pairs but these would be so cute.  She rationalizes why she should buy the shoes in her mind, and off to the register she goes.  But, as she is walking, if she listens to the Holy Spirit inside of her telling her that she doesn’t need those new shoes just to impress other people, she is recognizing the tempting thoughts.  She can stop them before they birth sin, spending money, and going further in to debt.  Now she needs to replace the thoughts of “why spending money they don’t actually have is ok” with what God’s Word says.

Romans 13:8 “Owe nothing to anyone- except for your obligation to love one another.”

Proverbs 22:7  “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.”

With prayer and much honest introspection, she realizes she is spending money for many reasons other than actually needing shoes.  She can have self-control over her spending habits if she looks to Jesus to fill her instead of these worldly things.  1 Peter 1:13-16 says  “So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. ¹⁴ So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.”    Cooperating with the Holy Spirit inside of her gives her self-control and the freedom that comes with it.  She is now able to be intentional and active in partnering with her husband in their finances.  She can persevere and be patient when it is required instead of acting impulsively.

For reflection:

• • What about you?  Where do you need self-control in partnering with your husband?
  • What about partnering with your boss?  Do you talk about what a slacker he is behind his back in order to make yourself look better?

Lord, thank you for the many ways your Word comes to life and teaches us how to live for you every day.  As we seek to develop the fruit of your Spirit in our lives, help us remember that you promise not to leave us the way we are but to continue the good work that you began within each of us until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.