I’ll Never Be Broke Again!

 It’s been a few years since I’ve heard that sermon ("I'll Never Be Broke Another Day In My Life") across the pulpit and the congregation gets all emotional thinking about those meager days when food wasn’t plentiful and laboring more than your share of hours at work seemed like the answer. Exhausted with sore feet, we still believed that we were going to come out of it smelling like a rose by giving our family the best life they could have. It all seemed worth it when there was something to give for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and affording a new Easter outfit for the children allows sighs of relief and satisfaction. Thank you Jesus.

So, why did you have to go through that? God saw you struggling. God saw you when you were frustrated and about to give up (Philippians 4:6-8 AMP). What were the words that came out of your mouth when you didn’t think anyone cared and it felt like you were doing this all by yourself? Did you stay positive believing there is a ram in the bush or did you allow the frustration to take over? Did you think, once you come out of the not enough ditch, that you are going to make sure your children would never go through anything like this again? Are you still making that promise a reality? How are your children appreciating all of your hard work so they won’t ever struggle (Matthew 11:28-30 AMP)?

There was this news report some years ago about this extended family. The parents looked in their late 70’s. They could have been younger, I couldn’t tell. They were sitting in front of their house late at night. A camera man and news reporter were questioning them while the family watched their home be engulfed in flames. I don’t know what the reporter was asking them. I thought it was more interesting to see their grown children and grandchildren standing around them. The fire glowed on their faces. The parents were stunned that the large home they worked their whole lives for was gone. Nothing but ashes. Their children probably in their mid-thirties and wrapped in blankets never stopped looking at their parents. The grandchildren were finding it difficult not to play. And then one of the family members said something. It wasn’t profound but it culminated the life lessons that taste like liver and onions or like brussels sprouts. He said, “Daddy, what are we going to do now?”

It took some time for that image to be removed from me. How can any man feel whole not being independent or providing for himself and his family? What will happen to him if his parents are no longer his resource (1Timothy 5:8 AMP)? 

A very famous philanthropist’s granddaughter was on a talk show. I didn’t understand the purpose of her

being there, at the time. They referred to her apartment in New York and what she decided to do as a career. She is an artist. She mentioned that her grandfather told her to choose a college and he will pay for the tuition of her undergraduate and graduate degrees. After that, she was on her own to live independently, void of him footing the bill. I thought it interesting at first, she could choose any college when the rest of us would have to apply with transcripts, references, along with a waiting period to see if we would be accepted or not. Second, that he would have to let her know she would be living independently and void of his financial support. Why wouldn’t that be understood? She told this to the host of the talk show and that her career choice was art appreciation. She claimed that she lives off of her paintings. She must have thought the audience was stupid. A loft in New York is not cheap. She wasn’t very talented. So now we understand that grandfather was still paying for everything. He had to be and she wasn’t struggling for nothing. She wouldn’t know what financial struggle is even if it hopped into her lap and licked her face. Who did she think she was kidding?

It is written, for every man will be tested (1 Thessalonians 2:4 AMP). What do you believe men are being tested for? The Word tells us of the fruit of the Spirit. We would all like to believe that we have all of those gifts because of Jesus being the greater within the believer; however, even Jesus said He was being about His Father’s business when Mary and Joseph were looking for Him (Luke 2:40-49 KJV). Jesus was studying about what He had been called to do. Track Him yourself. He didn’t have a Batmizpha and immediately go into ministry leaving His family behind. He studied for 18 years for a 3 year ministry before His crucifixion. In ministry, He went among people speaking to them and telling them of the New Covenant. There were those that received the Good News while others sought His demise. How would you react? Would you retreat, seek a new profession, or get them before they had a chance to get you? Those are the feelings that each man must know that will advance him or be the death of him (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV).

For instance, in the example written above of the 30-something year old man living with his parents and has no plan when his parent’s home goes up in flames, the elderly parents are devastated. They should be looking at their adult children for assistance. But they allowed everything to be easy for them. The children struggled for nothing. And because of no hardship anywhere, some steps were skipped. Crucial steps that help build character, problem solving skills, confidence, and the desire to help someone else. These are the attributes that causes advancement in a man’s life and I believe makes God smile.

A farmer was showing a group of children the hatching of some eggs. The children saw each egg break apart and what came through were the little chicks. The children were so excited as well as wanting to touch the newborns.  When they saw a chick struggling to get out the last bit of shell, the farmer admonished, “God provided what the chicks needed to live except for that last little bit of development in their legs, wings, and lungs. That last bit of development comes with the struggle in getting out of that shell. The chick might look like it’s tired and won’t make it without help. That’s not true because if you help that struggling chick, the chick will stop trying for himself.  The struggle is good. It’s only takes a little while.” The children listened and watched.

There is a reason why we all need some kind of struggle. We don’t need to marry someone to go through it together. To some degree, it’s inconsiderate to put someone in such a predicament; however, according to the Word, it is not a sin. Just remember in your journey, being down to your last penny isn’t always a bad thing though it feels uncomfortable, it allows you to build your faith, recall your strength scriptures, take a deep breath and speak those positive affirmations. God is a good Father and He has not left you comfortless.