Covid-19 The Balance

Covid-19

The Balance

The Coronavirus has caused us to think about others

To care for those afflicted and protect the healthy

This is called loving one another, it is called relationships 

We have discovered that caring for others cost

Everybody is trying to balance these two issues

Relationships and Finances

As America goes back to work

As we work to relieve the financial pressure

Remember the reason for work and money

We work so we will not be a burden on others

We work to make friends with the money we earn

Why do we do what we do?

Whether we stay at home or we go to work, we do it

To have healthy relationships 

The Balance

There are 2 big issues at the top

of the list in this World Pandemic.

Two issues that we all face every day of our lives.

 

Handling these two issues is not easy.

The Coronavirus has caused us to think about others.

To care for those afflicted and protect the healthy.

This is called loving one another…

 It is called relationships.

 

We have discovered that caring for others cost.

For many, it is the loss of employment.

For others, it is a loss of time for themselves

and family as they work the essential jobs.

Everybody is trying to balance these two issues…

Relationships and Finances

Everything in life cost.

As I am writing this devotional, my roof is getting

older, my cars are depreciating even though they sit.

We don’t always think about it until

these things need to be replaced.

Finances play a major role in everything we do.

My daughter, Julie, is getting married

and they are looking to buy a house.

The cost of that house plays a huge role

in the relationships of their new family.

They can buy more house now

and enjoy those amenities.

 But the more they spend, the less

they will have each month after

paying the mortgage…

 To spend on vacations and other

relational things with each other.

    

The Coronavirus Pandemic is making us

face caring for others and our finance.

It is not just our government who

is facing tough decisions…

 You and I are facing some tough decisions…

Balancing, making money and

having caring relationships.

I was not born into money.

I have always had to work hard for money.

There were a lot of times in my life I felt

the pressure of not having enough money. 

Balancing the need for money and those I love,

the relationships in my life, has never been easy.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 says…

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Eating is both necessary and enjoyable.

So working makes sense.

Then the Bible says…

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Some people, eager for money,

have wandered from the faith

 and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:10

And…

Keep your lives free from the love of money

and be content with what you have.

Hebrews 13:5

Let’s go back to the context of 2 Thessalonians 3…

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

The example of Paul, the writer, was to

work day and night for the purpose of

not being a burden to others.

Jesus tells a parable about a money

manager who was being fired from his job.

The money manager before he turned

in his time card for the last time used

his position to make friends.

In the end Jesus says this…

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves,

so that when it is gone,

 you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Luke 16:9

So as “the stay at home orders” are lifted,

 because we care about the health of others…

And we go to work to meet our needs.

How do we do this?

Remember the greatest commandment…

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart

 and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment .

 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:37-40

Relationships are the most important.

Relationships are more important

than working and money.

If you have to choose between the two, money

or relationships, error on the side of relationships.

As America goes back to work

As we work to relieve the financial pressure

Remember the reason for work and money…

We work so we will not be a burden on others.

We work to make friends with the money we earn.

Why do we do what we do?

Whether we stay at home or we go to work we do it…

To have healthy relationships.  

Scripture Reading

2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 NIV

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Luke 16:9 NIV

9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'   38 This is the first and greatest commandment . 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."