The Scene:
I return home from a busy day of attending classes and studying. I desire rest and peace, relaxation, and a safe shelter after a long day of work. After a few minutes of surfing the net, I find myself faced with a choice point: to check my stocks or…? I decide that on this day, I need to know how my stocks are doing. I just need to know!
Slowing it Down:
The Bible doesn’t explicitly mention how often I am to log into my E-trade account. However, it does speak to me concerning my heart and my treasure. My habit of checking my portfolio is not as harmless as it appears; it has been a distraction from godly living and contentment in Christ.
Why is the desire to know the status of my portfolio so strong? I want to feel secure– unafraid of the future. I seek comfort in knowing that my needs will be met; I believe that money can buy me what I need. I use money like a drug, to forget my worries and cover up my neediness. It is an escape from my troubles and sorrows. I treat money as a deity. I run to my portfolio, because I want it to tell me, “All will be well for tomorrow. Fear not!” Uncovering the thought pattern of my escapist tendencies will help me in my pilgrimage of life. I should be running to the Lord for refuge, not to distractions such as money, food, the internet, etc…
When my wealth increases, I experience euphoria. I find a reason to live. I feel important– that I have self-worth. It is I who made an excellent choice on a particular stock. I can thank myself for my good fortunes. Others who are not as successful as me are puny.
Madness! Where do I think my fortunes come from?
Other times, my idol is not so kind. My idols of wealth and security toss me around. A misplaced treasure is really no treasure at all. Stocks fall and I become disappointed at my losses. Anxiety and worry about the future overtake me. I am not happy and am tempted to find happiness in other puddles of mud, in other idols. Oh the folly of serving false gods! God is gracious to let me know that I am building my house on sand. If where my treasure is is something that can be taken away, I have a house of cards.
The Lord shows me that my soul is not well and peaceful within. The Lord would have me be productive, and not worry about things outside my control. The choice point is rather simple, either I trust in God or I trust in an idol: things or myself.
I am a 22 year old, third-year law student on track to graduate in 2008. I would love to go to seminary in the near future. There is good fruit in my life. There are signs of love for people. I want to use my talents and gifts to serve people. I am hospitable with my talents and time, my house and vehicle, the food in my refrigerator, etc. I have a girlfriend, a small reserve of money, and big visions for the future. I want to start a family next summer and begin using my cash for my seminary education, my future wife’s education, and family necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance, etc…
Money is a means to fulfill my ambitions. I don’t want to be rich, but I want to have enough cushion so that I can concentrate on God’s work. I desire a safety net. After all, having a reserve of cash is wisdom, isn’t it? I desire to be a good steward. God wants me to be responsible and provide for a family, right?! I desire to be a good husband. To start a family, I will need to be able to provide financially. Starting a family is God-glorifying, right and good! With money, I can be educated and equipped for gospel service. The bills will add up. In the near future, I will need perhaps 60k for seminary, 40k for insurance, 50k for my wife’s education, etc….
The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much. – John Calvin.
My idolatry isn’t simply the idolatry of money. I am an idol factory. I long for the comfort, security, and joys that money promises. An idol is something other than God that we set our hearts on. It motivates us, masters or rules us, and enslaves us.
God Meets Us as We Are, but Changes Us:
God wants to change me more than my circumstances. He wants me to trust in Him for my needs, not in my own abilities. My escapist tendencies are met by a God who is described as a good shepherd, one who lays down his life for the sheep. I need not fend for myself. I am led by a God who will not quench a faintly burning wick. If I let the Lord be my shepherd, I shall not want. God encounters me in my fear and worry and lets me know that worry is foolishness. My desires for worth are met when I remember that I am rich in Christ! (2 Corinthians 8:9.)
This God who calls me to trust in Him is the God of comforts, safety, and rest. He is a Solid Rock on which to build my life. He does not promise an easy life, but he promises us Himself. “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God proclaims to me that he is the treasure and that he is more than enough! True rest can only be found in the solace of God. In the parable of the rich fool, Scripture reminds me that placing my trust in this world is foolishness. (Luke 12:13-20.) My soul is much more important.
To counteract my self-trust, Scripture proclaims the Mighty Fortress. “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2.
To counteract my pride, Scripture puts me in my place. It reminds me that wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 11:4.) It reminds me that every thing I have is a gift from God. “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7.) Scripture reminds me to seek first God’s kingdom. (Matthew 6:33.)
To counteract my false joys, Scripture reminds me that God is the source of joy and that godliness with contentment is true gain. (1 Timothy 6:6.)
To counteracts my self-sufficiency and self-dependency, Scripture reminds me that my heavenly Father knows my needs (Matthew 6:32), that He will supply every need of mine according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
To counteract my fear, Scripture reminds me to fear not, for I am of the flock and God is a good shepherd. He desires to give me the kingdom. (Luke 12:32.)
To counteract my fear of loneliness or abandonment, Scripture reminds me that God will never leave me nor forsake me. (Hebrews 13:5.)
To counteract my selfishness, Scripture commands me to store up treasure in heaven and give to the needy. (Luke 12:33.)
Remembering the promises of God and recognizing my idolatry will be helpful in other vignettes of my life. I need to watch my tendency towards worry and discontent when spending money or when paying bills. I need to ask myself where my trust is when I desire a refuge– when I am bored and wandering or when I seek safety in a stressful time.
If you are hung up on money you may not even be a Christian, because people in Christ’s Kingdom are laying up treasure in heaven — investing in eternity. – John MacArthur (http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg2245.htm)
A practical way to fight my love of money is to fast from E-trade and to guard against substitute idols and escapes, such as facebook.com.
Good fruit will result in even more hospitality and giving. It would result in me enjoying what God has given me and not being fretful about spending money. I would run to God in times of stress, not to his good gifts. I would show people where my treasure is.
I would not worry about tomorrow, but would work diligently and steadily and give God the glory for what He has provided. I would trust God and not my own abilities to meet my needs. I would seek the balanced third-way, avoiding love or disdain of money. Everything created by God is good if it is received with thanksgiving. I would live life with a faith that works itself out in love. I would use what I have received to love others and build God’s kingdom. I would share what I have and help the hurting and suffering. I would love, fear, and trust in God above all else.
just remember what I said to you last time.