This is a true story. The names have been omitted, not so much to protect the innocent, but to tell this account in a more objective way.

In a major southern city there was a fine family. The father and mother were both Christians with two fine small children. They all attended faithfully at a nearby church of Christ. They were a big asset to the church. They were all happy and the church was happy with them.

Things changed. He decided to take an early morning paper route in addition to his nine to five job. This was the beginning of sorrows. To get up in the wee hours in order to deliver his papers he had to go to bed very early and family life was interrupted in the evenings. On Sundays the delivery was very time-consuming due to the size of the paper. He started getting home too late to get ready to go to services so he sent the family on without him and he attended the evening service.

Things changed again. She decided to help out on their bills by taking a job also. She needed some new clothes and another car. This necessitated the need for a maid to come in and take care of the children. So in order to make more money it cost more and more to live thus increasing the need for more and more money. The rat-race was on.

The family life began to disintegrate. They hardly saw each other except to wave at each other in passing. Then the children became more and more unruly and would obey only the maid. They wondered why they loved the maid more than themselves. Well, the maid was there. That's why.

They became irritable and edgy and had quite a few family spats. Church attendance was relegated to the background in spite of the urgency of the elders for them to be faithful. Others from the church went to see them to encourage them to once again take their proper place in the congregation. All of this did not avail.

Finally, thank the Lord, they became so tired that they could hardly make it from day to day. Then, like the prodigal son they came to their senses. Once more they would allow the elders to help them figure things out. Here's what happened.

He quit the paper route. She quit her job. They sold the second car. They discharged the maid. They got their family back. They decided to live within their means on his salary, maintain a proper family life, regain their children, and came before the Lord and the church asking forgiveness for their covetousness and resulting unfaithfulness. They cried for joy when they came forward and brethren cried with them. This case turned out all right in the end.

I am thinking now of many other cases here and there. It is evident that some are making the same mistakes as those we have mentioned. They are on a tread mill which gets faster and faster. Some cases have already resulted in a broken home and leaving the Lord and His people. Others will soon be there as well. Unless they heed the Word of God and the advice of faithful brethren.

Some of the most enriching times of our lives were when Wilma and I had less of this world's goods. That's when the family really has to pull together. That's when the family is truly close. That's when we learn truly what happiness and contentment is all about.

Let's now hear from the Scriptures on this. Hebrews 13: 5 says, "... be content with such things as ye have..." Proverbs 15: 16, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is then a stalled ox and hatred therewith." Again in Proverbs 17: 1, "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife."

Less is better than more if more leads you away from the God of Heaven and the family goes down the drain. I plead with the young families to heed the warning. We who are now older can see where you are heading. Will you take heed?

- Searching the Scriptures, October, 1991