One young girl aged 24 was married to a man working in a reputed government service. She had to give one million Indian rupees and 400 grams of gold as dowry which is an illegal transaction. Yet her mother-in-law who was a widow was not satisfied. She did not allow the bride even to sit beside or eat together with his son, the husband. Going through immense mental torture, the young woman committed suicide. As the suicide happened within six months of marriage, there was a judicial inquiry. Fearing punishment, the mother-in-law also committed suicide by consuming poison. The poor man was left without his wife and mother. (Online Manorama 29 October 2024) The Bible warns against covetousness, which brings death quickly. (Exodus 20:17)
Mammon: Sadly, for many Mammon becomes a god. However, illegitimate it may be, the money enthralls a person. For this woman, money was god and it should be acquired by any wicked means.
Marriage: Marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman, as God instituted it. (Genesis 2:24) It is neither a commercial transaction nor a contract.
Possessive: This woman was possessive of her son. She did not give him the freedom to be united with his wife. Also, she wanted a regular inflow of cash, as well as absolute control over her daughter-in-law. Son was just a puppet in her hands.
Disillusioned: The young woman was disillusioned about her marriage life. Her husband forever was his mother’s son and never matured to become her husband. He could pretend to be a husband, whenever her mother-in-law permits. Sadly, without the inner resources to fight for her rights, she killed herself.
Death: Some ways seem to be good unto humans, but the end is death. (Proverbs 14:12) There will always be easy ways to make money, which is not legitimate and moral, which would lead to death.
Christian Marriage: Like Christ loves, gives, and sacrifices Himself for the Church, a husband should give all of himself to his wife, and not get dowry, which is ungodly cultural practice.
Do I overcome covetousness with godly contentment?