by: Allen Domelle
2 Kings 12:7
“Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.”
The king asked Jehoiada the priest, “Why repair ye not the breaches of the house?” Money had been set aside to repair the temple, but no work had been done to fix the breaches. There were good intentions by Jehoiada to repair the house of God, but good intentions won’t do the work. Somebody had to take the time to do the hard work for the breaches in the house of God to be repaired.
The word “breaches” means, the state of being broken; a rupture or a gap. This definition and this story is sadly a documentary of many homes today. Many marriages are in disrepair because couples won’t face the problems they have. Many homes are in turmoil, and sadly people just settle to leave their home in disrepair. I believe we find in this story the solution to fixing any breach you may have in your marriage or home.
Let me first point out that throwing money at your marriage and home will not fix the breach. We have this idea that if we just buy our children or spouse things that it will magically repair the problems. We think if we spend money to have extravagant vacations or activities that this will repair the breaches in our homes. I have yet to see money fix any breach in a home. You can throw all the money in the world at your marriage and family, but money will cause more problems and it will not fix the breach.
Moreover, ignoring the problems will not fix the breach in your marriage and home. Jehoiada ignored the breaches in the house of God, but that didn’t fix them. You can bury your head in the sand about your problems in your marriage, but that only causes the cancer to grow. Many parents have ignored the problems they have with their children which resulted in them having children who’ve become disruptive and selfish. You can ignore your problems, but that will only lead to greater problems.
It takes time, hard work and a willingness to face each issue you have if you are going to repair the breaches in your marriage and home. There is no substitute for time. Money can’t replace time with your spouse and children. Time together has helped fix the breaches in many marriages and homes. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to be together, you just need to spend time together.
Furthermore, you will never resolve the breaches in your home until you face your issues. This takes honesty. You have to be honest with yourself that you have issues. I ask you, are you willing to be honest about your problems in your marriage? Are you willing to face the issues you have with your children? You have to be willing to face the issues and take the time to work with them if you are going to repair the breach.
Friend, every marriage has breaches that need to be repaired. Every home has something it could work on to make it better. Are you willing to do it? Don’t let another day go by that you don’t look at the breaches you have and start working on them one by one. It is worth the honesty and hard work to repair them if you are willing to invest the time necessary to do it.