I. Declare. Bankruptcy! - I Do Every Day - April 23

Audio By Carbonatix

I. Declare. Bankruptcy!
By Jim Mitchell

If you’re a fan of the TV show The Office, you probably remember the scene.

Office manager Michael finds himself in another pickle, this time financial. And after some questionable advice from a coworker named Creed, decides there’s no path to a fresh start except one.

So, he walks out into a room full of staff and resolutely screams, “I. Declare. Bankruptcy!”

To which in-house accountant Oscar calmly responds, “You can’t just say the word bankruptcy and expect anything to happen.”

Bad news for a guy desperately seeking a quick fix to his long-term problems.

But let me ask you: For a struggling marriage, who gave the better advice—Oscar or Creed?

According to Dave Harvey, author of When Sinners Say “I Do,” the answer from God’s Word couldn’t be clearer:

Once I know that I am indeed the worst of sinners, then my spouse is no longer my biggest problem: I am. And when I find myself walking in the shoes of the worst of sinners, I will make every effort to grant my spouse the same lavish grace that God has granted me.

In other words, the rock-solid starting point for a struggling marriage is, in fact, an unflinching and unambiguous declaration of personal (ahem, not financial) bankruptcy.

This means looking at myself in the mirror and seeing the problem, not the solution—then turning to my spouse with a renewed sense of mercy and patient grace.

Listen as Dave Harvey explains why “Love Always Forgives.”

The Good Stuff: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Action Points: When’s the last time you declared your own bankruptcy?

Visit the FamilyLife® Website