“The riches of the wealthy are a strong city and like a high wall in their imagination.”(Proverbs 18:11 CEB)

Growing up, one of my favorite games was Monopoly. I loved collecting piles of cash, especially other people’s cash!

I remember playing with my family one time, confident that I was going to win. Just look at these stacks of money, I thought. No one else even comes close to having this much money!

Unfortunately for me, it really is true that pride cometh before the fall (Prov 18:12). For six straight trips around the board I landed on either Boardwalk or Park Place where my dad owned hotels. My cash pile dwindled fast. I had no other significant assets. In no time at all I went from loaded to bankrupt.

Now, Monopoly is just a game, but financial woes occur pretty regularly in real life as well. When Julie and I were first married I bought stock in Apple Computers. We were in no position to take risks, but I was certain this big company was only going to get bigger— and I was right. What I didn’t see coming, however, was the market crash of 2008. Everything was dropping so fast with no end in sight that I panicked and sold all our stock at a pretty substantial loss.

When we think about financial security, we should do so in relative terms. Wealth, insomuch as it is linked to this life, is yet another thing that eventually fades away.

“Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 CEB).

Jesus encourages us to invest in the eternal, to spend our time and resources on the things that honor God, including showing kindness to those in need (Prov 14:31).

Jesus also presents us with a challenging reality: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We can draw a straight line from that which we truly love to that which we spend our money on.

What does your bank statement reveal about what matters most to you?

Are you putting your trust in your wealth… or in your God?

I’m not sure we can do both.

Lord Jesus, thank you for securing for us an inheritance that will never fade. Help us to share what we have generously, trusting that our heavenly Father will provide for our needs each and every day. Amen.