April 2
Steady and Honest
Gains
"Wealth that is gained quickly will dwindle away. But anyone who gathers it little by little will make it grow."
Proverbs 13:11 (NIrV)
Giles sat in the dim light of his kitchen, head in his hands, staring at the stack of unpaid bills. The debts loomed over him like a storm cloud, suffocating and inescapable. It hadn’t always been this way. A harmless bet with friends during a sports match had ignited a flame of excitement that quickly spiraled out of control.
At first, it seemed easy—one lucky win led to another. But over time, the losses began to outweigh the wins. Giles found himself chasing the thrill, hoping for the one jackpot that would erase his problems. Instead, he was left with mounting credit card bills, strained relationships, and a sinking feeling of hopelessness.
His wife, Kat, had reached her limit. The night before, she sat across from him, her face etched with a mixture of sorrow and resolve. “Giles,” she said softly, “I love you, but I can’t let you keep gambling everything away. If you don’t stop, I’ll have to take the kids and leave. You need help.”
Those words echoed in Giles’s mind as he walked into his children’s room that night. Their peaceful faces, oblivious to the chaos around them, brought tears to his eyes. He realized he was gambling not just with money but with the stability and love of his family.
The next morning, Giles hesitated as he passed the casino on his way to work. He felt the familiar pull but clenched his fists tightly on the steering wheel. “God,” he whispered, “I don’t know how to stop. Please help me.”
Later that week, a friend invited him to a support group for people struggling with gambling addiction. The stories he heard resonated deeply, and for the first time, he didn’t feel alone. Giles also began diving into Scripture, where he came across Proverbs 13:11. The verse struck a chord—he realized his pursuit of quick wealth had led him down a destructive path, but God was showing him another way.
Step by step, Giles committed to rebuilding. He found odd jobs to chip away at his debt, and he poured his heart into his family. Though the journey was slow, he began to see the beauty in working faithfully and trusting God to provide.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unending patience and love, even when we stray.
Teach us to trust in Your timing and provision, gathering little by little and honoring You with our choices.
Help us to overcome the temptations that pull us away from You and to rebuild what has been broken with faith and determination.
Thank You for giving us strength in our weakest moments.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
