Don’t trust em!
During my nineteen years in the insurance business, I have interacted and socialized with wealthy people. I’m not talking about the “rich,” I’m talking about the “wealthy.” These are the ones who write the checks of the rich.
One evening as several of us lounged in a hot tub at the palace of one of the elite owners, our host made this statement about money …. “I challenge anybody to show me one thing money can’t buy.” His statement went undisputed of course, affirmed only by “yes men like” chuckles of agreement. Daring to suggest anything to the contrary in that setting would risk antagonizing our host, who also happened to be a powerful boss. But because of the then current terminal health crisis of a certain world-renowned tycoon, I was compelled to at least utter a question. So I gingerly said with a smile, “I wonder what Steve Jobs would say about that?” I didn’t lose my position in the company for saying it, but I’m sure I lost some favor points during the next uncomfortable moments of humorless silence that followed my question.
Financial security is not found in finances. No amount of money provides absolute security. If you think otherwise, the question remains, how much? Whatever your number, somebody has lost that much. Ted Turner lost six billion. Yes, he still had two billion left, but he proved that he could lose that too. Financial security, like all security, comes only from God.
Trusting in God vs. trusting in money
Money is not worthy of man’s trust. It’s demeaning to man to put his trust in money. Our trust is sacred, as is our love. Nothing is more hideous and vulnerable than investing my precious trust and love in sub worthy things.
Scripture identifies “uncertain riches,” 1Tim.6:17, and emphatically warns us to not trust in them. Trust in money will disable generosity, pervert your values and deafen you to the voice of God. We will always become like our emotional focus.
Many hold onto possessions with a white knuckle stranglehold while living in a pathological fear of losing their riches. Some even killed themselves when they did. If you can’t enjoy what you have you’re not rich no matter how much you think you have. The truth is, greed and covetousness will make your possessions own you.
If you lost it all today, would you lose your mind, your peace?
God would spare us. No matter how much you lose or give away, even if all the money’s gone, God’s still there. And He’s not pacing the floor or wringing His hands in worry. His promise is to “supply all our needs,” Phil.4:19.
I admit, sometimes I’m not so calm during the non-intervention phase of God’s perfect timing into my financial challenges. In those “where’d you go God?” moments, I can’t help but feel He’s calmly reading my stress levels just to prove if my trust is in Him or my bank account.
Having persevered through several of these crises now, where I eventually saw God come through for me, I’m getting better at trusting in Him rather than the money. I’m using far fewer tranquilizers. PTL!
Continued in Financial Security Part 3