Money can't save us

The legal tender of the world

This world is looking less and less secure. The recent natural disaster in Japan only accentuates the already tenuous plight of all the world's citizens.

In flipping through the channels of the TV recently, the words of a popular financial "expert" drifted into my ears and played with my thoughts.

This particular money guru was speaking emphatically to her audience that, when newly married, a couple should show their love for one another by committing to spend at least an hour a day working on finances!

This struck me in particular because I know that most people do not spend an hour a day reading the Bible or in prayer, not even pastors can be found on their knees very often, even in these challenging times.

But spending an hour a day dealing with money matters? It smacked to me of that old religion of worshipping Mammon (money).

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

(Matthew 6:24)

Folks are rushing in droves to listen to speakers such as these. One fellow has billboard signs posted all over our community as well as adds on television which portrays his seminars to be as exciting as rock concerts.

Patience and Lorilee playing

There's nothing wrong with being frugal and thrifty. God requires us to be good stewards with what He has given us. Neither is there anything inappropriate with saving money for a rainy day.

There is something terribly wrong when we put our trust in money, to the exclusion of trust in our great, and loving, Heavenly Father.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

(1 Timothy 6:6-10)

As I pray for our dear Japanese neighbors, I am reminded that no amount of money could have saved them from their current distress. The force of water, unleashed, is an amazingly powerful element and there is nothing that could have stopped its destructive rampage as it plowed across the landscape; no amount of engineering could have devised a plan that would have held back the massive energy of a 9.0 earthquake!

The economy is sure to be affected, with people losing their life-savings, their livelihoods, their investments, not to mention losing their homes and loved ones, all because of this one terrible disaster.

And if it could happen in Japan, it could happen to any of us, anywhere, at any time. There is nowhere on earth to hide—except under the shadow of the Almighty!

Lorilee having fun

Our family has never been "secure" in the financial sense.
I used to chuckle to myself when I listened to the trendy financial advisers, even the Christian ones; our stats never seemed to fit their recommendations for monetary obligation and "future security" methodologies. The percentages we use from our net income each month for our food and housing costs do not lie within the suggested norms, and I'm sure they would never have recommended for us to continue adding to our family size unless these numbers changed, and they may have even lectured us for our "irresponsible" decisions!

So as the whole world is reeling from one shock wave after another, we are just as confident in Him as ever. We have already trusted the Lord through so much, and seen Him provide for us in so many wonderful ways. As we see this world wind down, the Bible has foretold that we would see these days, with one calamity after another; they are just the birth pangs that point to His imminent return!

Jesus told us not to worry, however, because He would be with us:

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b)

The Apostle Paul told us that nothing on earth or in heaven could ever sever us from the sweet comfort we have in Christ:

Jesus calms the storm

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

(Romans 8:35-39)

Instead of investing in the Market, Jesus recommended that we invest in the Kingdom of Heaven:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

(Matthew 6:31-33)

When our treasure is in the right place, there is no rust, moth, or even tsunami that can ever touch it or take it away—and it's from this treasure in heaven that we will experience peace on earth as we walk on our way to that better city, the New Jerusalem.

Little Miss "P"

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

(Matthew 6:19-21)  

Many of today's popular TV-evangelists seem to equate prosperity with having a great deal of money or possessions. Listen to Jesus' instructions to us,"...and having food and raiment let us be therewith content."