If you are like me, you have been looking at the current economic crisis and the proposed solution and shaking your head in total disbelief. What a mess! Those in charge tell us the market will "correct" itself and the stimulus-package will bring us back from the brink, all the while hoping our own credulity will carry the message home.
Solutions, which are so obvious to anyone who knows how to operate a household budget, seem to escape our wise leadership. Are they really that goofy? Anyway, I'd better not get started; I don't want to bomb you with one of my soapbox speeches. The point is I have been thinking about money and wealth, wondering if I will be able to retire comfortably.
As I do sometimes (not often enough) I turned to my Bible. I was hoping to shore up my own faith with a dose of God's Word. I was reading in one of my favorite books, Proverbs. Chapter 3, verses 13 through 26.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that getteth understanding.
For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,
And the profit thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies:
And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:
And happy is everyone that retaineth her.
Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding he established the heavens.
By his knowledge the depths were broken up
And the skies drop down the dew.
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck
Then shalt thou walk in thy was securely,
And thy foot shall not stumble.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden fear,
Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
For Jehovah will be thy confidence,
And will keep thy foot from being taken.
When I was a non-believer I might have said, "Yeah, great, that's what rich people say to poor - you know, to try an appease them, and make them feel less troubled in their poverty. Just love God; it really doesn't matter how rich you are or are not."
Today, however through seeing eyes, I know it's a lie. God wants us blessed with riches of every kind, and the amount of Good News Only contained in the above passage is astounding. It answers almost every fear anyone might be having about the bad news of the airwaves.
But how? Why is wisdom better than silver and rubies? Can one buy bread with wisdom? I thought about that for while. Soon I realized that wisdom does have its benefits. Perhaps a bit of wisdom applied by some may have prevented loans from people who knew the recipients could not pay. Perhaps some discretion applied would have prevented people having "eyes bigger than their bellies" as Grandpa use to say. They would not have over extended themselves. That certainly would have saved everyone some money.
Length of days... let me see. Using wisdom to make good decisions about one's health could add some time to your days. Maybe cutting down on some alcohol, eating a bit less junk food and exercising more would be a wise thing to do. I can definitely apply that to myself.
Using wisdom and sound judgment might keep one from making those devastatingly foolish decisions we all make from time to time - the ones where you wake up saying, "Man, I can't believe I did that; what was I thinking?" I remember a few of those. Avoiding such decisions would add some peace and quiet to our lives, and cause us to sleep better. Sound sleep would actually improve our health. Man, this stuff just keeps stacking up!
Then I thought about wisdom itself. Where does it come from? Is it an entity? The passage said God used it to create the Earth. Is it a tool? Whatever it is, it evidently comes from the Father Himself. It's definitely not man-made. It must be part of God's own nature.
By seeking wisdom we are seeking after a part of what God is. The Bible says that anyone who seeks God will find Him, and He will draw nigh unto you. With God nearby, even in your heart, how can you be afraid of any thing that is in the earth? There is no terror that can rob you of your place in God. It's His promise that said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added unto you." That must mean cash also. Cool!
I know in our own lives it has been incredible what my wife and I have been able to accomplish while living within our means. We don't have tons of cash especially now that she just lost her job, but the wisdom and discretion she has applied to managing our budget has put us in a much better state than friends we know who literally bring home three times what we do. This wisdom stuff works!
Am I still fearful sometimes? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. I have worries just like the next guy, but to the best of my ability I lay them at the feet of my Heavenly Father, believe His Word, and hope for the best.
It's the best solution for living nowadays.
Conclusion? Easy! Seek the true wisdom that comes from God. Pursue it, chase after it. Cause Him to draw nigh unto you. You might be surprised to learn how much wealth you actually have. Wouldn't that be Good News Only?
