Indulgences were once thought of as the practice of setting aside a sacred time to really pour on the love towards God, to make sacrifices that demonstrate our commitment to Him and our gratitude for His forgiveness. These days, indulgences are no longer about Christ, but about self. Back in the day, we’d splurge occasionally but now luxurious, selfish indulgence has become a habit for those who feel entitled. In fact, many single women today call it the “princess treatment” and indulge it on a regular. They have made self-pampering a way of life, but everything has a price, and it’s costing us way more than money. Although most try to escape it, the reality is that we cannot have it all. We can only have what God has for us, and if we’re not on board with that, life will not yield the blessings we expect.
For many women, that’s a bridge too far to cross. We can become so boxed in by our way of thinking that we can’t discern selfishness from selflessness, and that speaks volumes about our level of spiritual maturity. It also puts our level of faith on blast. Some of us say that we are believing in faith to find the spouse that God has ordained to walk with us through life, but Romans 10:17(NKJV) tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith is the right way of believing, and it comes where the Word of God is honored and obeyed. Some of us are under the impression that we can believe and do anything we want and still walk in faith. That’s not what the Word of God tells us.
2Corinthians 13:5(NLT) is a very important verse for keeping believers in check. It tells us to “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.” We have to be as honest as we possibly can about what God sees when He looks into our hearts. He knows if we’re more self-interested than Christ-interested, because our actions tell the true story. Our actions send an accurate message about who and what we truly value, and if God isn’t number one on the list, we are not walking by faith.
2Timothy 3:1-4(NLT) says, “1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.”
This passage is incredibly relevant today. Sadly, it defines the times we’re currently living in. It describes some of the attitudes that many single women have because they don’t understand that love requires sacrifice. Jesus Christ demonstrated this by the way he lived. Spas, exotic vacations, and expensive dinners and accommodations are wonderful rewards, but we would do well to seek the Lord’s timing on those things. We love being spoiled, who doesn’t? But if we’re not balancing being spoiled with a level of giving and generosity that precedes it, we’re not laying up treasures that can be stored in heaven. We’re expecting way more than we’re giving out, and that is not enough Christ-love energy to move us from single to married.
Some of us have been blessed to have biological fathers that spoiled us with love and gifts, as it should be. That kind of love is meant to prepare us with a heart that lavishes this level of love and giving on others. When we don’t see it that way, we might expect men to spoil us undeservedly, and that’s not a heart that mirrors the heart of Christ. In Luke 14:28(NLT), he tells us about what he requires of all his disciples, and he also warns us about out of whack expectations. He said, “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” Again, there’s a price for everything, and before we set our sights on a blessing, we need to understand that personal sacrifice, giving, and service are necessary to build and preserve anything of value.
We have to ask ourselves if we want to be married for the treatment that comes with the title, or do we want to be married to pour out the love and blessings of Christ on the person God sends? The answer is in our hearts, and God sees it. Love requires sacrifice and the royal title of princess in the Kingdom of God is not one we can bestow upon ourselves. God said in Jeremiah 17:10(NLT), “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” So, we should look to God to give us the royal treatment and we should do everything within our power to make sure we deserve it.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Princess Treatment”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.