Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Psalm 49:16-17 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
ECONOMICS THAT MATTERS
As the United States prepares for a general election in about two weeks, politicians have saturated the airwaves with talk about the economy. "The economy is growing." "The economy is not growing." "Poverty is the great enemy." "We need to get more wealth into the hands of the common people." "The national debt is out of control." One would think by listening that all anybody cares about is money. And for some, unfortunately, this is true. Their whole worldview revolves around their bank accounts.
But the Bible reminds us that a person's real life is not tied up in his economic circumstances. While we acknowledge with thanks the earthly blessings our God chooses to bestow on us and we ask Him to bless us with wisdom to be good stewards of what we have been given, the fact is that riches, property, assets--all these will in the end be gone. None of it can be taken beyond the grave.
Fix your heart rather on a more important economy: One that also involves a debt and a payment. Our debt is the crushing load of our sin, a burden greater than we can imagine. The payment is the life of Jesus offered to His Heavenly Father on the cross, a payment greater than we can imagine. Here is economics that matters--a ledger filled with guilt has been cleared, a life of joy with Christ awaits.
Do not be overawed when others grow rich, but feel free to stand agape with wonder when your Lord Jesus Christ, though He was rich, yet for your sake became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
