QCP | In the Last Days: When Family, Finances, and Faith Collide

 QCP | In the Last Days: When Family, Finances, and Faith Collide

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous…”

— 2 Timothy 3:1–2 (KJV)

In recent days, a viral clip from Married to Medicine sparked intense conversation online—not because of

drama for drama’s sake, but because it held up a mirror many families aren’t ready to look into. At the center

of the moment was Dr. Simone Whitmore, a highly accomplished physician, and a tense dinner-table

conversation with her adult sons about money, responsibility, and expectations.

What unfolded wasn’t just about a car, law school tuition, or credit card spending. It was about entitlement,

power, covetousness, and what happens when provision replaces preparation.

The Situation: What Happened at the Table

According to reporting by Essence, Dr. Simone’s 22-year-old son Michael—who is preparing for law school—

expressed the need for a new car because the Jeep given to him in high school was no longer “cool.”

When Simone pushed back, she revealed that Michael had spent approximately $60,000 in one year on a

credit card she provided, while not paying for tuition, housing, or major living expenses.

When asked how he planned to pay for law school, Michael responded plainly:

“I do have a mother who makes pretty good money.”

That statement ignited backlash online—not simply because of what he said, but because of what it revealed:

an expectation that his mother’s labor automatically entitled him to her resources, without equal ownership of

the sacrifice required to earn them.

Dr. Simone, visibly frustrated, explained that she paid for her own education through scholarships and loans

and worried that continuing to fund everything for her adult sons would prevent her from planning for

retirement. Instead of unified parental support, the moment escalated when her husband Cecil appeared to

side more with the sons, leaving Simone feeling isolated, unheard, and disrespected in her own home.

Entitlement vs. Empowerment

Here’s where the conversation becomes deeper—and more uncomfortable.

Dr. Simone repeatedly emphasized what she has accomplished, what she pays for, and what she owns.

While all of that is true and earned, the dynamic exposed something else: power that was never transferred.

When parents provide without empowering, children may grow up resourced but not responsible, comfortable

but not capable, supported but not self-sustaining.

Empowerment says:

• “You can do this too.”
  
  

• “Here’s how money works.”
  
  

• “Let me guide you while you still live under my roof.”
  
  

Provision without empowerment says:

• “I’ll handle it.”
  
  

• “I’ve got it.”
  
  

• “Just depend on me.”
  
  

Over time, that imbalance doesn’t produce gratitude—it produces reliance, and eventually resentment when

the safety net is removed.

A Biblical Lens: What Does It Mean to Be Covetous?

The Bible warns us clearly that in the last days, people will be covetous.

Covetousness, biblically, is more than wanting something nice.

It is a disordered desire—a craving to possess what belongs to another without regard for the cost, sacrifice,

or obedience required to obtain it righteously.

To covet is:

• To desire results without responsibility
  
  

• To want inheritance without investment
  
  

• To seek reward without reverence
  
  

In this moment, it did not appear that Dr. Simone’s son admired her discipline, her years of study, or her perseverance. Instead, he seemed to desire the benefits of her success without the burden of her journey.

That is the heart of covetousness.

When Coveting Turns Into Contempt

The Bible also speaks strongly about contempt—a spiritual posture of deep disrespect and disdain that flows

from pride and entitlement.

Biblically, contempt shows up when:

• Authority is dismissed
  
  

• Sacrifice is minimized
  
  

• Provision is treated as obligation rather than blessing
  
  

When Michael attempted to shut down the conversation once it no longer favored him, it crossed from

misunderstanding into disrespect—not just toward his mother, but toward the very principles that built the

life he enjoys.

Contempt doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it sounds like:

• “You can afford it.”
  
  

• “Other parents do it.”
  
  

• “Why can’t you just help?”
  
  

Why This Matters: When Entitlement Becomes Dangerous

This conversation matters beyond reality television.

Across the country, there is a troubling rise in cases where adult children harm or kill their parents when

financial expectations are unmet. While not every entitled child becomes violent, unchecked entitlement

paired with disappointment, resentment, and dependency can become combustible.

When children are taught—directly or indirectly—that provision equals love, then withdrawal of provision

can feel like betrayal.

That is spiritually and emotionally dangerous.

The Lesson for Families

This moment is not about shaming Dr. Simone or vilifying her son. It’s about learning.

Parents:

• Teach children how to earn, not just how to spend
  
  

• Transfer wisdom, not just wealth
  
  

• Empower early, so boundaries later don’t feel like punishment
  
  

Children:

• Honor sacrifice
  
  

• Respect boundaries
  
  

• Understand that inheritance is not entitlement
  
  

In the last days, Scripture tells us families will be tested—not just by outside forces, but from within the home.

Covetousness fractures families.

Empowerment strengthens them.

Faith must guide both.

Final Reflection

Providing for your children is love.

Preparing them to live without you is wisdom.

And in these perilous times, wisdom is not optional—it is survival.