31 Days: Marriage Devotionals
31 Days: Marriage Devotionals
Login

Day 7: Two Pathways to Riches: Have More or Want Less - 31 Days: Marriage Devotionals

Login

Getting Started

Getting Started

Day 1: The Destructive Power of Harmful Words

Day 1: The Destructive Power of Harmful Words

Day 2: The Constructive Power of Helpful Words

Day 2: The Constructive Power of Helpful Words

Day 3: Ceasing Our Harmful Thoughts: Time for Some Brain Surgery

Day 3: Ceasing Our Harmful Thoughts: Time for Some Brain Surgery

Day 4: Building a New Habit: The Power of Positive Thinking

Day 4: Building a New Habit: The Power of Positive Thinking

Day 5: The Unifying Power of Common Experiences

Day 5: The Unifying Power of Common Experiences

Day 6: Key to Preserving Your Marriage: Being Intentional About Your Focus

Day 6: Key to Preserving Your Marriage: Being Intentional About Your Focus

Day 7: Two Pathways to Riches: Have More or Want Less

Day 7: Two Pathways to Riches: Have More or Want Less

Day 8: Working Together in Harmony Produces Beautiful Music

Day 8: Working Together in Harmony Produces Beautiful Music

Day 9: This Honorable Estate

Day 9: This Honorable Estate

Day 10: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 1

Day 10: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 1

Day 11: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 2

Day 11: Other Dimensions of Faithfulness: Part 2

Day 12: Faithfulness: The Foundation of Trust in a Relationship

Day 12: Faithfulness: The Foundation of Trust in a Relationship

Day 13: Be Angry – Yet Do Not Sin

Day 13: Be Angry – Yet Do Not Sin

Day 14: Solve It Before the Sun Sets --- or at Least Before Bedtime

Day 14: Solve It Before the Sun Sets --- or at Least Before Bedtime

Day 15: The Wisdom We Need Is Peaceable

Day 15: The Wisdom We Need Is Peaceable

Day 16: The Wisdom We Need Is Gentle

Day 16: The Wisdom We Need Is Gentle

Day 17: The Wisdom We Need Is Willing to Yield

Day 17: The Wisdom We Need Is Willing to Yield

Day 18: The Wisdom We Need Is Full of Mercy

Day 18: The Wisdom We Need Is Full of Mercy

Day 19: The Wisdom We Need Is Without Hypocrisy

Day 19: The Wisdom We Need Is Without Hypocrisy

Day 20: What? Me Worry? Husbands Edition

Day 20: What? Me Worry? Husbands Edition

Day 21: What? Me Worry? Wives Edition

Day 21: What? Me Worry? Wives Edition

Day 22: Marriage Builder Tip: Be Patient with Each Other

Day 22: Marriage Builder Tip: Be Patient with Each Other

Day 23: Marriage Builder Tip: The Beauty of a Clean Slate

Day 23: Marriage Builder Tip: The Beauty of a Clean Slate

Day 24: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Perseverance

Day 24: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Perseverance

Day 25: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Prayerful Hope

Day 25: Marriage Builder Tip: The Power of Prayerful Hope

Day 26: The Destructive Power of a Restless Spirit

Day 26: The Destructive Power of a Restless Spirit

Day 27: The Contagious Power of Relentless Contentment

Day 27: The Contagious Power of Relentless Contentment

Day 28: A Quiet Life: Learning to Guard Your Privacy – and Your Partner’s Privacy

Day 28: A Quiet Life: Learning to Guard Your Privacy – and Your Partner’s Privacy

Day 29: Minding Your Own Business --- What One Young Wife Decides

Day 29: Minding Your Own Business --- What One Young Wife Decides

Day 30: Earn Your Own Living – What Does This Mean to You?

Day 30: Earn Your Own Living – What Does This Mean to You?

Day 31: Winning the Respect of Others --- Your Marriage Matters

Day 31: Winning the Respect of Others --- Your Marriage Matters

Discipleship Place
John ComstockJul 21, 2021 10:13 pm GMT

Scripture Focus: Keep your minds focused on things above; not on things of this earth. Colossians 3:2

 

At a recent contest for advertising agencies, somewhat like the Academy Awards of commercial messages, the categories were not the typical television, radio, internet, or print. Instead, the competition divided the entries into these three broad categories: fear, sex, and greed.

 

Apparently there actually is truth in advertising! The underlying message of the awards competition was that most (or all) commercials use one of those three main appeals. Their goal: Motivating you to want something, so that you purchase something. To get you to want something, advertisers typically prey upon you using fear, sex, and greed as primary motivators. They want you to buy and spend, spend and buy.

 

Contemporary culture relentlessly tells us that we need more; we are incomplete unless we have more. We cannot escape these kinds of messages; they are everywhere.

 

Paul takes a very contrarian approach in his letter to the church at Colossae. “Don’t get so caught up in things of this earth,” Paul advises. “Instead, focus on things above.”

 

It’s good advice for all of us in marriages. Out-of-control spending and massive credit card debts are major issues for today’s young couples --- and couples of all ages. Our culture has molded us according to its values; what we need is a shift in our focus.

 

The old adage tells us that there are two ways to become rich: We can have more, or we can decide to want less. Especially in a challenged or struggling global economy, that second route may be the pathway that most of us should take. When we pay less attention to “things of earth” we want less and we need less. When we are focused on things above, we are rich in what really matters.

 

For your personal reflection:

  • Has your marriage been impacted by over-spending, or by high credit card or other debt?
  • Is it time for a shift in focus, so that your values are shaped in the heavenly realm, rather than by advertisers using fear, sex, and greed?
Prayer: Father, You know how easily I can get caught up in this material world! Help me avoid the traps and pitfalls of commercialism, so that I can focus on what really matters. Help me to look up, and live according to godly values and scriptural truths. Guard me against allowing advertising messages to distort my view of what I need.
likeShare
  • Follow & Post
  • Post as Guest
  • Login
  • 9,514