I have known in years gone by of people who have accepted handouts from their parents, considerable ones. It has enabled them to buy a house, or buy a car, or do this and do that. Sadly, in their case, the parents were also buying something. Their parents were buying obligation, and they were unfortunate enough to have parents who had bought them, and they were going to have to arrange their lives at their bidding, and serve them and do what they required because their parents were their patrons and benefactors. Now, somebody may be very fortunate and have parents of whom that would not be true. But be careful. Keep your spiritual independence, for yourself and your wife, or for yourself and your husband. Do not give away your lives through it. Oh no, we have got to do this. We have got to live in such-and-such a place. We have got to be available for this and for that because we have accepted so much. That is just one example.
You accept a job because that job is going to give you an advantage and be such a step up, but it is also going to want every minute of your time, and take all your emotional energy and exhaust you. When you take it, you think it is a grand step up, but it is going to wreck your service for the Lord, even perhaps your devotional, spiritual life. Be very careful. ‘The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.’ There was a young man some years ago, and he was very keen on being an army officer. He was the very athletic, active type, and he explained this is what you had to do. He could get a commission easily enough; he read about it and found out all the advantages if he did certain things. He asked: ‘Is it alright to sign a contract for 22 years?’ 22 years! It is like a prison sentence. It is a long time to commit your life. If you make yourself indebted, be very careful. Does the firm say you have to go anywhere at a moment’s notice? You have just built up your Bible class and they say, ‘You have got to go to Timbuktu.’ Be careful, your spiritual independence is very important.