OT, but do you think God punishes us financially?

[C.Ann]

I don't think God punishes us.. However, I believe that God always answers our prayers.. We just may not like the "answer" that we get.. Whatever that answer is, there is a reason for it - and it's up to us to figure out what that reason is and act upon it accordingly.. If you look back at your entire life, there have been many twists and turns - all of which have brought you to where you are today.. We can't see the future, but whatever is happening now, will lead us somewhere else down the path of our lives..

Continue to pray for guidance.. The "answers" will come - in one form or another - and then it's up to you to decide how to respond to them..

Hang in there.. There really is a "reason" for all of this..

 

[pilgrimage]

It helps me to remember the scripture that proclaims
"God causes the rains to fall on the just and the unjust."
Pain/calamity/storms hit us all. I'm praying for your family now.

 

[loco4dis]

I think God expects us to show gratitude, every day, for what we DO have and accept what we do not, knowing it will come in good time. A little perspective might be in order here. No one, at the end of his or her life, ever said, "It was a great life, I just wish my car had run a little better." Deal with your troubles, but focus on your blessings, and thank God for them every day.

 

[Chicago526]

Well, I'm not religious so feel free to ignore my post!

I don't believe we are nessesarily being punished when bad things happen to us. I do believe in Karma, if you do something bad, something in turn will happen to you (same with doing good things, a good thing will happen to you). But, I also believe that just because something bad is happening, it doesn't always mean it's karma bitting you in the butt. There is such a thing as bad luck and coincidence, after all. If you've truely searched your heart and can't find anything you've done or are doing that might be causing God/Karma to be upset with you, then it's likely just rotten bad luck. In short, poop happens!

Unfortunatly, there isn't much we can do when it's just plain ol' Murphy's Law that's causing our lives to be turned inside out, other than to hang on and do our best to weather the storm. In your case, I'd do my best to focus on the relationship with your spouse, if you can come together to fight all the other crap that's happening in your lives, you'll be much better off for it. Pain shared is pain halved, and if each of you know the other is there for comfort and support, it will help you get through all of your other problems.

good luck!

 

[pumpkinfish]

I feel like Jonah, getting so much wind and storm in my life lately. Mostly we are dealing with one financial blow after another. First it was second car needing a new starter to the tune of $600, then it was the $14K we didn't expect to owe in taxes, then it was my husband's relocation package abruptly being cancelled and the new plan covers about $20K less for our move (now out of our pocket..). etc. etc.

Then today, our primary car's starter went out. We just sucked it up to age (it's a 97 with 130K miles, what do you expect, I guess) and took the car in. Then the repair shop calls to give us the bad news that the car needs new brakes front and back, has an engine leak that must be addressed, all on top of the starter. Total cost: $2000 we just weren't expecting and DO NOT have.

It makes me wonder something about God that I never wondered before: can this much calamity be God's punishment for something? I have always thought, no God doesn't work that way. But it feels like this is just more than I've ever had thrown my way in all my 40 years, all at the same time. My husband is sick with something for the past month, our marriage is just about strained beyond repair. I haven't done anything Biblically bad but I have complained to my family that I don't enjoy teaching my Sunday school class, and won't sign up again for it next year. I guess we don't tithe like we should and I could do alot better in my prayer life.. could it be showing up in my financial life like a 'if this, then that' correlation?

I know this probably is a weird question on this board, but it IS budget related!! I just feel like we are in a hole financially that is just getting unbelievably deeper from one unexpected blow to the next. I feel like hunkering down in a fallout shelter somewhere. Can anyone relate or offer words of advice?

Oh Little Roo...haven't we all been there before! I'm sorry you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. I know you asked for some words of advice and I wanted to share mine.

I do not beleive God punishes us. He may test us at times...he only gives us what he knows we can handle. When I have times like yours I always think of that.
Yesterday at church several members reinacted Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I have read this several times in Matthews but listening to the church member who portrayed Jesus actually speak to us (the congregation) as if he were Jesus speaking to the followers...it really hit me in the face--in a good way!
Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Not to worry about food. Not to worry about clothes. He will provide and take care of us.

Money
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Don't worry about food
For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Don't worry about clothing
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Don't worry about tomorrow
Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Often when I have financial hardships fall on me, I wonder where I am lacking in my life. What am I missing. God tries to show us and teach us in various ways. I tend to listen most when money becomes an issue. He wants to teach us life lessons. I know several other posters said the same thing. Just keep reading the above exerpt from the Sermon on the Mount...I hope it helps you.
Good luck Little Roo...you will prevail through this! Stand tall and don't allow the weight to bring you down!

 

[snowman1035]

I don't believe God punishes us in that way at all. When I was growing up, my grandmother would alway tell us "God will not give you more then you can handle". Well the last couple of years I really have been through alot and some really bad! So then I thought about this saying and have decided, God is seeing how much we can handle. We have had money issues so many times some of it totally out of our control and some of it to our own fault, but have always come through. Just yesterday we were faced with a issue. We were getting ready to go and get grass seed, I went to throw something in the trash and heard a noise from our frig, all of a sudden the frig caught fire. My husband was able to put it out. If we would of left, our house would of caught fire and we would of come home to nothing. Instead we had to get a new frig! We really didn't have the extra money, but what it's a need. So there went $600.00. But I thank God for keeping us home those extra minutes. You will make it. Just remember God doesn't want to hurt us! Good Luck and pray that God will help you through the rough times.

 

[pumpkinfish]

A pastor once told me that the devil gets awfully busy trying to disrupt the lives of the faithful. If you weren't making progress in your spiritual life and your relationship with God, the devil wouldn't need to waste time trying to get you to fall into a trap or unbelief!

I love this! So very true!

 

[ceecee]

God doesn't punish you with money problems. God gives you free will to spend $ how you see fit. The same thing is happening here, my 99 Windstar went in and it was 1800.00!!! For the third time in 3 years, it has 90,000 and we wondered about fixing it or getting a new one. Fortunately, we had a car fund already set aside to replace DH's 97 Oldsmobile with 190,000! We pulled in the drive and DH's car was smoking!!! Sympathy pains I guess. We decided to get mine fixed and he is looking for a new one.
I hate buying new cars they depreciate faster than anything. Good Luck!!!

 

[Smileybug]

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading all of your post. They have truly touched me!!

 

[flakypuff]

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading all of your post. They have truly touched me!!

me too!!!

Isnt it good to know that complete strangers are here to give you hugs like little angels God is sending to let you know..things will be ok

 

[MiMi2Three]

I don't believe that God punishes us financially or with illness or hardship. I do believe in God's mercy, grace and power. Please turn to him in prayer, ask for His mercy and grace--ask him to guide and direct you and then believe that He will answer your prayer. God has a plan for each of us and his timing and answers may not be exactly what we think they will be, but He knows what is best for us and loves us perfectly. So, we need to seek his will and strive abide in it.
I was a single mom for almost 11 years, working for little more than min.wage. My prayer was that God would help me be the best mother that I could be, that he would keep us safe and healthy, and that if it be His will send the "right" man at the "right"time. We never went without food or shelter, both of my girls completed college on scholarships, and He did send Mr."Right". He takes care of us if we allow Him to, but it is in His time and His will.
Seek His will and have faith in Him to take care of you.

 

[mpls_mm]

If that were true, it would seem that atheists and criminals would never profit, and we know that isn't the case. I know plenty of devout people who seem to struggle.

 

[sk!mom]

No, I do not believe that God is punishing you.

Maybe your mechanic has been praying for a windfall.

Hang in there- this too shall pass.

 

[HopingToGetEngaged]

I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading all of your post. They have truly touched me!!

I have to agree! I have thought these same thoughts.

In August, my live-in boyfriend of 5 1/2 years decided that he no longer wanted to be with me - and a 25 year old divorced mother of a 3 year old (who is his co-workers sister) was waaaaay better than me (yeah - they got married in December). Believe me, we had our fair share of problems- and the problems were the same ones time and time again. I thought that my world had ended. Now I know that it was God's way of saying "wake up you idiot- he's not the one!" I needed what happened in order for me to "move on", and I'm still struggling with it. Not because I lost my boyfriend, but because I lost my best friend. The person with whom I've shared EVERYTHING with for years... that's what hurts.

Oh yeah - and I got 9 days to move out! I have my fair share of credit card debt, so I didn't want to pay a lot for an apartment. Well, the only cheap housing is near the University where we went. And where he's currently a cop for... so that was out- plus I'm 27... I'm done with the college stuff. So, I totally blew my family away by signing a lease on an apartment that was about $200 more a month- still affordable for me... but more that I wanted to spend... but I knew that it was the right decision - and I haven't looked back. I knew that it was "for me" and that God would guide me make ends meet if necessary.

I can say that with my situation, it's made me look at myself, and how I was living. I've gotten involved with the Youth Group at church as a leader- and have seen that I needed it! I needed to be reminded of all the wonderful things the Lord does for us. Like other people have said - I've really taken a liking, so to speak, to the Footprints poem. I was at my parents this weekend, and did not feel well yesterday and was all around having a "bummer week". So, I didn't go to church. And Mom said - that's ok God understands- You might only see one set of prints, but they aren't yours...

Good luck, and just remember that when you only see one set of footprints- you are, by NO means - alone.

 

[daisax]

I'm on the "bad luck and bad choices" side of the equation.

If you're like me, part of the financial problem is not having paid enough attention (a "surprise" $14,000 in taxes, not expecting that a car with 130,000 miles might go kerplooey any day and an emergency fund sufficient to deal with it).

I had to replace my 148,000 mile car last year and yes, it took me by surprise. But I used it to really take a hard look at my finances so that I'll never ever find myself in that position again. I definitely intend to continue banking the "payments" every month after it's paid in full so that
pay cash for the next one.

If it helps, look at it as a wakeup call rather than a punishment.

 

[OnourwaytoWDW]

I believe that God is not a punishing God. He wants nothing but the best for us. I do believe there is a Devil that wants nothing but crap in our lives. There will always be that battle. We just have to remember that God is with us through it all.
on a side note-
When I first opened my store 3 years ago, I carried a line of bath product called Angel/Slut. It played on the one side of the bottle it had a cartoon angel, for the angel in you. The other side a lotion with glitter in it, for the naughty side. My friend at the time said that is was pornographic and she was praying that my store would not do well so I could see the wrong I was doing in carrying such product. Why would a person pray for something bad? Needless to say, we don't talk any more.
But with the ups and down with the store (Thank you Webkinz!) I know that God is there through the bad and good, the devil can kiss my lily white butt.
And as Dory said "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"
Hold on, it'll get better.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Wow, I'm blown away by all the posts! Thank you for all the good sound advice!

I went to pick up the truck today, and it was $400 instead of $500. Small blessings!! Better than $500 though. I called another shop and found the brakes for $250 less, so I think we can work through the most urgent fixes for the car.

I hear loud and clear about the bad choices~ our tax bill was out of whack last year b/c I returned to work and claimed married with 5 exemptions and DH was only claiming married with 1 exemption. Back in the days, when I stayed home, we always got a sizable refund if we filed married 5, so married 1 was fine then. I don't know why DH didn't change it when I went back to work... I can live with that too, since that was money that flowed into our household prematurely, if you want to think of it that way.

And the car. Sigh. I'm just spoiled to not having a car payment, so we don't bank that money away like we should. We're just waiting to exit Northern VA as quickly as possible and relocate to the midwest/south for a much needed lower cost of living. (we're from TX and hope to get back asap).

Lots of people quoted "God will never give you more than you can handle". I heard a pastor say once, that's not from Scripture that people say that. No where in the Bible does it say you won't get more than you can handle. But this is so widely quoted, I wonder if anyone does know where in Scripture this promise is made?

I personally don't believe it, b/c people do commit suicide, do break mentally and physically... but I think God will be with you nonetheless, so maybe that's what people mean by more than you can handle. And trust me, I would NEVER jinx myself or give the devil a blueprint by saying "it can't get any worse"! Because obviously it can get wayyyy worse. Always can too.

I think my focus just needs to be on finding ways to help add to the family finances. And more importantly for me, I need to focus on helping other people who need help more than me. That has the side benefit of helping both of us feel better!

Logically, I know God doesn't punish us here, because like someone said, there's plenty of malicious people making loads of money. But of course, he does allow us to go through the same struggles everyone else endures, no exemptions! I don't see valleys and hilltops either. I liked the idea about the parallel tracks of good and bad. That's much more appropriate. As soon as I call this circumstance a 'valley', I'll get smacked on the head with another drop down the mountain and find a deeper 'valley'!! No thank you!

Thanks again for the encouragement!

 

[MrsPete]

It makes me wonder something about God that I never wondered before: can this much calamity be God's punishment for something? I have always thought, no God doesn't work that way.

No, I don't think God punishes us in this way . . . but I do think it could be related indirectly:

Sometimes God allows us to reap the consequences of our actions; for example, if we buy a house we can't really afford, He isn't going to save us from the too-high mortgage payments.
Always God puts us in the position that's likely to bring us to Him; that doesn't always mean living happily in a nice house with a white picket fence and no problems. In fact, sometimes when we're too comfortable we forget that we need Him; when we have nothing else, we're more likely to turn to Him for help.
And Satan or his demons can influence our lives too; they aren't omnipotent, but they are smart enough to know ways to hurt us.

Regardless of what may or may not be going on, I wish you the best with a difficult situation and will pray for you.

 

[MrsPete]

Lots of people quoted "God will never give you more than you can handle". I heard a pastor say once, that's not from Scripture that people say that. No where in the Bible does it say you won't get more than you can handle. But this is so widely quoted, I wonder if anyone does know where in Scripture this promise is made?

"God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" 1 Corinthians 10:13

I've heard loads of stories -- though I can't tell one myself -- about people losing money, then realizing that they weren't "right with God" and suddenly that exact amount shows up in a rebate check or something else unexpected.

 

[MrsPete]

If that were true, it would seem that atheists and criminals would never profit, and we know that isn't the case. I know plenty of devout people who seem to struggle.

Well, Satan can prosper people for his own ends, and some people will be financially successful through their own efforts. And some people turn away from God AFTER they've become successful, perhaps because they don't see that they need Him now that they've accomplished so much.

What's the name of that preacher in Texas who's making such a name for himself? He preaches that God wants to prosper all Christians financially, but that idea isn't Biblical. In the Bible you can find examples of men of God who were rich and powerful (Abraham, David, Saul), and you can also find examples of righteous men who were poor (Jesus and most of the disciples). Obviously God doesn't have the same plans for all of us.