Daily Reflections on 1 Tim. 6:7-19 (Money, Money, Money)

Money makes the world go round. If that's the case the world must be coming to a halt or even might be spinning backward. Government bail outs, foreclosures, bank failures, stock devaluation has the world economy in a precarious position. All I know is that my wife's 401k has plummeted nearly 40% in the last year. There's now less in the fund than what we've put into it. The value of my house has also dropped significantly in the past year. The interest on my saving accounts has virtually dropped to nothing. I'm thinking about transferring my investments to my mattress.

Economies are cyclical, or so I'm told. Markets fluctuate and occasionally self correct. But the truth is that nothing financial is certain in life. If we place all our focus and energy into getting and making money or material things, we may be investing in things that are fleeting or worse. Paul tells Timothy that the love of of money is the root of all evil. Let's be honest, much of the financial crisis that we're facing today has to do with major lending companies greed. The executives love of money has led to a major disaster worldwide.

Paul challenges us as followers of Christ to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness instead of money. He said to take hold of eternal life. He says those with wealth shouldn't put their hope in it. It's uncertain. That's been apparent recently. Putting your hope in God is a much more secure place. Riches are found in doing good deeds. By doing so, we lay up treasures in heaven.

I can tell you from personal experience that financial investment don't always pay lasting dividends. Sometimes you take a huge loss, even on things that appear to be safe. The only investments that you can count on being lasting and always paying dividends are the investments you make in the Kingdom of God. God's stock never crashes. His bank never fails. His rewards out pay any here on earth.

God, I want to be rich. Not in financial terms but in Kingdom terms. I'm laying up my treasures in heaven. Help me be wise in my earthly investment, but I'm placing my hope in you. I want to be rich in good deeds.