“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to
trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should
be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
(I Timothy 6:17)
Thoughts… I suppose this is akin to closing the barn door after the cows got out, but God’s Word has been telling us all along about the uncertainly of wealth and the foolishness of our obsession with amassing a financial fortune. Both the crisis on Wall Street as well as the fear and loathing on Main Street that are the headlines du jour were predictable, not only because of the greed and incompetence that led to this economic mess, but because the eternal Word of God said it would be so.
Obviously, the timing of this current crisis on the eve of a national election gives Americans their best opportunity to put people into positions of power who are true public servants: people of integrity, wisdom, responsibility, foresight, courage, conviction, and selflessness. This is arguably our best chance in a long while to get government right—and we need to rise up as citizens and demand it!
However, the more important opportunity tucked away in this current economic storm is for believers to rethink their financial philosophy. My suspicion is that most of us—and I include myself—have gotten a little too cozy with the economics of a world system that is fundamentally corrupt and inexorably headed for divine judgment, without remedy.
I want to challenge you to put your financial philosophy as well as your current economic practices through the filter of I Timothy 6, and see what kind of a grade you come away with. Reread Paul’s advice to Timothy in light of this current mess; pay particular attention to what he has to say about money and our attitudes toward it. And most important of all, recalibrate your personal economic system to come into line with God’s Word!
We will get through this current financial mess—I have no doubts. It might be painful and long, who knows, but we will endure. But it will happen again—mark my word. So why not prepare for it by simply and ruthlessly living according to God’s precepts.
I am not an economist, by a long shot, but I will bet on God’s storehouse principles any day over the Treasury Secretary’s advice!
“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” —I Timothy 6:6
Prayer… Father, what a painful reminder our nation is now experiencing that love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Remind your church during this time of that indestructible financial principle that godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. Help me to put all my trust, including my financial trust, in you.
One More Thing… “The real measure of our wealth is how much we should be worth if we lost our money.” —J. H. Jowett
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