There is discouragement among investors in the stock market. In some cases, there is despair on the part of those who have lost their life savings. At the same time, some investors are pleased with the profit on their investments.
Long before the sophisticated stock market men were worried about poor investments: “Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? And your labor for that which satisfieth not?” (Isa. 5: 5.)
Evidently Isaiah’s contemporaries had experience with spending time and money for things that did not satisfy. In our age of affluence, we know what this means, Never have we invested in so many houses, cars, gadgets, and trips with so much spiritual hunger. Isaiah points to our problem. We are using our resources in the wrong way. They are not bringing us the dividends we need for abundant life here and eternal life to come.
Take out your checkbook and see what it reveals about your value system. For example, do you think a new car is more important than spending the same amount in Christian hospitality? Or than a year of education for your son or daughter? Or the support of an orphan, or the support of a preacher for six months? Or again, is it better to invest more in resources than in helping a relative get an education, or to buy stocks rather than radio or television time for the Gospel to be preached in love?
Most of us come to the end of life with more money than time. We invest to ward off poverty when we are old and spend very little “laying up treasures in heaven.”
But the point of Isaiah is that our investments don’t bring real satisfaction to us or our families. Is it because our whole value system is askew? Do we really believe that it is more blessed or happier to give than receive? If we do, then we will show it by our investment of time, talent, and money. Once we accept the reality of the joy there is in giving, we will sell our possessions as the early Christians did so that we can enjoy helping our brethren. As we have opportunity, we will be thrilled to do good unto all men, especially those who are our fellow disciples. (Gal. 5.) Many young Christians today see the hypocrisy of Christians who say they love God and invest their time, talent, and money in material possessions. This “turns them off.” They see Jesus as he teaches us to seek first his Kingdom and depend on God to add to us those things we need here.
Many of them are attracted to Jesus who calls on them to sacrifice all for the love of God, to lose their lives in order to find their real selves. But they are often disappointed in the lives of followers who invest in material creature comforts while claiming to follow the One who had no place to lay his head.
-M. Norvel Young (1970)
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