“Money doesn’t grow on trees!”

Unless you were raised by farmers who grew tree crops (oranges, apples, etc.) it’s quite likely you heard your parents (probably dad) say that at some point in life. Some new thing caught your eye and you just had to have it, but your mean ol’ parent said no, and then dropped the bomb on you – “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Okay, go ahead and admit it. You’ve dropped the bomb on your kids too, haven’t you? It may hurt a bit, but it’s funny.

However, there are times when it isn’t funny. Such as when a husband controls the purse strings in marriage and uses that line as a means of asserting control over his wife. Money should never be a means of control in a healthy marriage partnership, and any use for that purpose damages or indicates an unhealthy relationship.

Sometimes, though, the relationship can become so broken that the disciplined partner must take control and cut off access to the purse strings. One such example is found in the OT book of Hosea. Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary is working through the text and we’re in a section where God must remind His unfaithful spouse (the nation of Israel) her money doesn’t grow on trees.

“For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, and lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time and My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax given to cover her nakedness.” Hosea 3:8-9

He went on to add how cutting her off will result in the exposure of “her lewdness” and “ an end to all her gaiety, her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths and all her festal assemblies” (Hosea 3:10-11). He will do that by actually destroying the nation’s money growing trees. “I will destroy her vines and fig trees” (Hosea 3:12).

Why, we ask? Simple – because they took what God provided and gave it to the false god Baal. “I will punish her for the days of the Baals” chasing after him like an illicit lover “so that she forgot Me” ( Hosea 3:13).

Whether we like it or not we must admit God controls our purse strings. In His generosity we Americans are blessed beyond measure in our bounty. Are we using it for His glory, or to selfishly pursue our own lovers (that is things other than God)? Do we remember it all comes from Him? Don’t wait until He takes it away to remember “money doesn’t grow on trees” it comes from the generous hand of God.