A High Wall of Safety

On Monday mornings my hubster goes to a men's breakfast very early, and because I usually can't go back to sleep I roll over and turn on the TV for a few minutes, to catch the morning news.  This morning, the headline took a few seconds to register on my sleepy brain.  50+ dead, over 200 wounded in Las Vegas?  What?  As the events have unfolded this morning, I am profoundly sad.  In fact, I'm brushing away tears as I type. 

Here in the blog, we've been looking at the topic of wealth and work.  Below are the verses I had planned to blog about this morning.  (I had actually started a draft of this post yesterday.)

The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense;

they imagine it to be a high wall of safety.

Proverbs 18:11 (NLT)

How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
    in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7 (NLT)

My college friend, who formerly lived in a remote part of British Columbia, last month moved to Edmonton, Alberta.  Almost as soon as she arrived there, two separate terror attacks occurred.  She must wonder what she has gotten herself into.

I've been contemplating a major trip next summer, to commemorate a big anniversary.  Another friend has warned me that part of the world is not safe.  I texted her a bit ago to say it is looking a whole lot safer than Vegas at the moment.

The hard truth is that we live in a broken, sin-sick world that needs a whole lot of Jesus.

And, no physical place on earth is truly "safe" from all harm, accident, illness.

The first verse above describes the false safety that wealth provides.  But, wealthy people still die in accidents.  They still get serious illnesses.  They may even lose their wealth and become impoverished.  Wealth is not a "high wall of safety".

As Christians, what should be our attitude toward "safety"?  

1.  Our eternal future is secure.

No matter what we stumble into, or crash into, or sorrow that enters our lives, we know that after this earthly life, we will be in Heaven with our Savior.  So, no matter the hideous, horrific events along the earthly path, the heavenly destination is gloriously beautiful.  What a precious gift and promise!

2.  Nothing in this life can touch us unless the Lord Himself allows it.

The story of Job is so helpful here.  Job was a man who was well-known to Satan, the archenemy of God's people and, indeed, of all mankind.  He was well-known because of his righteous devotion to God.  We might say that he was "the best man on earth" in his day.

Still.....

God allowed Satan to physically, emotionally, and financially devastate him.  It appears the only thing left to Job were some people/relationships, and Satan used those to bedevil him too!

Job, through his unspeakable losses, grew in his faith.  He came to realize these four truths we are embracing this morning.

3.  His ways are not our ways.

God uses all things to bring glory to Himself, and this is a manifestation of both His perfect goodness and His perfect holiness.  

Because of this, we often cannot understand why He allows what He does.  Often, when we cry out an anguished "WHY?!", we get no definitive answer.  He is not required to explain Himself to us and, it is entirely possible we would not be able to understand/comprehend an explanation, were He to provide one.

Keep in mind that, when Job questioned the Lord, He did not give a specific answer.  Instead, the Lord God asked Job a series of questions designed to remind Job of the huge chasm between us humans and our infinite, incomprehensible God.

4.  His love is unwavering, and we can trust in that.

There, then, is our "safety net", our "high wall of safety".

It helps me to realize in horrible times that the love of my Savior, who cloaked His very position in the Godhead for my sake, who died a most horrific death in His earthly body for my sake - - that His love never leaves me.  That His Spirit, Who lives inside me, never forsakes me.  Ever.  His Spirit is "the shadow of His wings".

Of course, the unredeemed world-at-large thinks we are kooks for believing such "nonsense", as they continue to put their trust in different things, different idols.  But, as for me, I am content to trust in the Lord my God, and to believe with all my soul the truth of His Word.

For me, He, in all His majesty, is more than enough.

Let's meditate on His love this morning.  Here are some verses to help us do that.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

But you, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in mercy and truth.

Psalm 86:15 (KJ2000)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

2Through him we have also obtained access by faith^b into this grace in which we stand, and we^c rejoice^d in hope of the glory of God. 3Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:2-5 (ESV)

For sure.  

Holy God, we humbly ask that You pour Your love out abundantly on those shattered by the Las Vegas terror attack.  Please lavish healing and comfort and eventually bring peace to wounded bodies and spirits.  The only answer to such horror is You.  Please give us more of You, dear Jesus.  In the Name that is above every other Name we pray, amen.

Financial Security

What I have on my mind this morning is...taxes.  Yes, April 15 looms, and my preparations are not made.  Over the past three days I've been piddling around, trying to get ready to submit my records to good 'ole Uncle Sam.  What a chore!  I think that my #1 issue for a presidential candidate at the moment is a flat or a fair tax....

At any rate, I thought I'd poke around to see what the Bible says about money, and it says a LOT - - - enough for a series of blog posts.  But, I shall refrain.  These verses were the first to draw my attention.

10 

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money,

he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income.

This also is futile.

11 

When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase;

so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

12 

The sleep of the laborer is pleasant—whether he eats little or much—

but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

I don't have trouble sleeping, although compared to the wealth of the rest of the world even an average American like me is in "the 1%" - - - the top 1% of wealthiest people in the world.

King Solomon, who accumulated more wealth than practically any of us will ever see, testified that it was distinctly unsatisfying.  These verses are part of a long recitation of things in life that are "vanity" or "futile" or "meaningless", depending on your translation.  He warns us, in verse 10, against making money an idol, as those who do can "never have enough".

It is easy to say, "Well, I don't do THAT."  But, how about looking to money for your security?  This, too, is idolatry.  I'm not talking about sensible saving, investing, etc.  However, anyone who has ever "lost it all" in a quick series of market tumbles or bad investments understands that the "security" provided by money is an illusion.

Unbelievers have no security, because it begins and ends in Jesus Christ.  As Christians, our steadfast assurance and eternal hope are in Him.  As the hymn says, "Our hope is built in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

"Nothing less"...I can testify that I have made some bad choices over the course of my life in regard to money, and many of them have to do with "playing it safe", depending on my own efforts to ensure my financial security.  This is a deception.  We are the most safe and secure when we have firmly anchored our soul to Jesus and are walking obediently in His will, whether that looks "safe" or "sensible" to the outside world or not.

Here's a good habit to form, and one at which I want to get better.  Before making a major purchase, I want to ask myself:  "Is this what He would want me to spend His gifts on?"  "Is this going to expand His kingdom?  Will it increase the glory I'm able to reflect back to Him?"  These are key questions, sobering ones.  I am firmly convinced many of us (myself included) will be called on to answer for whether or not we did as He wanted with the financial gifts we were given.

So, now I've got to get back to the business today of "counting beans".  (How some of my family members do this for a living, I'll never know....That's why there are different gifts and talents for each of us.)  As I've been doing this over the past few days, I've been able to look back over 2015 and realize how I spent my time (calculating mileage) and my financial resources as well.  I've been able to reflect on the abundant blessings (financial and otherwise) God has given me, as He is the source of all good things.  It has produced thankfulness and humility in my soul, as well as a renewed resolve to be used even more by Him as 2016 moves on.

Father, teach us, Your children, that our firm foundation is only in You, that You are not only the Source of All Blessing, but You are also our only security.  Please don't let our wealth become a curse or an idol, but instead, may it be used to spread the gospel throughout all the world.  In Jesus' name, amen.