Apr 14, 2010

Security?



With the crumbling economy our country has been experiencing lately, it seems like every time I turn the TV on there is another commercial about investing in gold.

G. Gordon Liddy, who has a colorful past as one of the main planners of the Watergate scandal which led to the resignation of President Nixon, currently advertizes for Rosland Capital. While he stands before thousands of TV viewers jingling a handful of gold coins, he authoritatively proclaims, "that's the sound of security--that's the sound of gold..." Really?

The subject of money is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible. We are instructed not to let the love of money consume us and warned that it will not lead to contentment. Yet even as believers, we often struggle with wanting more of it, as if it truly could bring us the security we desire.

Jesus held a much different view. Recorded in the Gospels is an account of some skeptics who tried to trap Jesus with his words. They asked him if it was right for the Jews to pay taxes to Caesar, as it was the time of the Roman occupation. "Should we pay or shouldn't we pay?" they asked. Jesus of course knew their hearts and called them hypocrites. When one of the hostile questioners produced a Roman coin, Jesus asked him whose picture and inscription were on it. He replied, "Caesar's." Jesus then said his infamous words, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." (Mark 12:17 ESV) Timeless advise, especially as we find ourselves facing April 15 here in the United States.

Proverbs talks about finding security in this way: "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." (3:9-10) Did you catch that? The Bible teaches that we will have plenty when we first honor the Lord by giving out of our substance.

In these tough economic times it is not hard to look around and see people who need hope for their lives. Everyone of us knows someone who is out of work or has lost their home or is trying to make financial ends meet due to circumstances out of their control. What an opportunity we have to not only offer practical help, but offer the hope that is found in the truth of God's Word.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckharvey/2362022277/page2/


"...my soul silently waits for God...
He only is my ROCK and my salvation."

Psalm 62:1-2


10 comments:

Jess said...

Good Morning Jacque!
What a powerful post! Thank you for reminding us about our TRUE Security... and the Hope of Glory that is found only in JESUS CHRIST!
((Hugs)) and Blessings my friend-

Janet Metzger, Artist said...

Much needed food for thought...thanks Jacque!

Anonymous said...

Good words.

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Morning Jacquelyn,
What a great post, you are so right, if we want security, the only security we will ever have is found in our relationship with Jesus himself. I remember the Lord giving my husband a verse some years back when he was laid off for 10 months.
It was "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you",(Matthew 6:33)
I have to say we did just that, and God took more than good care of us!! He is able and He is awesome!
When all these financial woes started the Lord gave me a verse
too. It is from Proverbs 11:28
"Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."
I keep it on my fridge as a constant reminder of where to put my hope and trust!!
Thanks for such a good and timely
post.
Hope you are doing well hon!!
Blessings Galore, Nellie

Rose said...

Jacque, it's interesting all the places and things we are assured will give us security. I could on think when I read this, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God(Psalm 20:7)".
Now that is security!

Dar said...

The very center verse of the Bible says something about God's perfect will for us.
Psalm 118:8 reads, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
That says it all.
BlessYou

Jacquelyn Stager said...

Thank you all friends for these comments. I will be over to each of your blogs soon for a little visit!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome post and reminder of where our true security is.

Carol Flett said...

It's a reminder we all need over and over in these days. I enjoyed the post.

prashant said...

I keep it on my fridge as a constant reminder of where to put my hope and trust!!
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