Sunday, October 12, 2008

solid ground


Does the current global financial crisis have you feeling a little shaky?  Does it seem that the ground beneath your feet is shifting?  Do you feel unstable?  Anxious?  Are you afraid of going under?
Where are your feet planted?  As the old hymn says, "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."  If you feel your feet giving way, perhaps somewhere along the line your foundation has shifted.  Maybe subtly your security has changed from Christ alone, to the things of this world?  I realize that these are uncertain times and I am certainly not condemning anyone.  You may stand firm in your faith and still feel anxious.  I am just encouraging you to search your heart on the matter.  Go to the Father and talk to Him about it.

Today in church as we were singing a song about freedom, it occurred to me that this may be what all of this is about.  Maybe God is breaking some chains.  Maybe He is setting us free from some bondage.
Remember the kings in the Old Testament?  An evil king would come along and set up high places, alters, and asherah poles.  And he would put phallic symbols and male prostitutes in the Temple of God.  Then a godly king would come on the scene. He would destroy the asharah poles, tear down the high places and cleanse the Temple.  
It occurred to me, that perhaps that is what is happening now.  First, let me say that money is not evil and it is not sinful to be wealthy.  But, "The love of money is the root of all evil."  And " you cannot serve God and money."
I think, generally speaking, our world worships money.  I think, specifically speaking, I love money more than I want to.  I think God's people may have divided loyalties and that is called being double minded.  David prayed for God to give him and undivided heart.  That is my prayer, too.  And if I have been serving money, or loving it in a sinful way, I want God to purge that from me.
If he is cleansing us, if He is tearing down the high places, then we should be rejoicing!  He is doing a mighty thing!  We should not tremble or fear.  We should plant our feet firmly on The Rock and watch and see that the Lord is good!

Psalm 46: 1-3
     God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble. 
    Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
         And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 
    Though its waters roar and foam,
         Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 

5 comments:

  1. Great post... it's hard to know the balance between having what we need and having too much. You're so right about money replacing God. Yet in a world that is so money-based, it's hard to know what is the right amount to have/want/need. Not sure I'm at a comfortable answer there.

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  2. Hi Kay
    Our pastor preached on the same topic.

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  3. I know I crave "things". Maybe that's why God has put our lives on hold financially--not much excess--but we can pay most of our bills most of the time.

    All I want is a house and 10 or 23 other things. (;<

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  5. I have been thinking on this a lot. My heart's desire is to have enough to dress my children well...fed well..with a little left over for fun family time...but my greatest heart's desire is to have extra..extra to give to the needs of others in a heartbeat. There are times I have been in line at the grocery store and it is obvious the woman ahead of me cannot pay for her groceries..red with embarrassment. I have had that happen to me!! My heart would be to pay for it. Or if the Lord lays it on my heart to pay for someones something behind me...to do so. I just want to be able to have monies to help! :) I feel selfish when I get so absorbed with getting my own needs met all the time.

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