The Wealth of Value

Psalm 52:6-7 (NRSV)

The righteous will see, and fear,
and will laugh at the evildoer, saying,
“See the one who would not take
refuge in God,
but trusted in abundant riches,
and sought refuge in wealth!”

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Your everlasting summer and you can see it fading fast
So you grab a piece of something that you think is gonna last
Well, you wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand
The things you think are precious I can't understand

"Reelin' in the Years," written by Walter Becker and Donald Fegan recorded by Steely Dan from "Can't Buy a Thrill"

All that glitters is not gold. Fool's gold is another way to say this. Where do you place your trust? This is a question to be answered.

It's easy to place trust in wealth, with wealth it would seem that everything else could be much, much easier. But scripture and anecdotal evidence of lottery winners say different.

There are scores of stories about lottery winners who took their new found riches and promptly ruined their lives. The old tale of the lotto winner who declared bankrupcy is known nation-wide. Professional athletes and entertainers who sign huge contracts and become bankrupt overnight are a sad truth. Stories of people who are swindled by offers that are too good to be true are all over the news. The latest internet swindle is only a mouse click away.

Between irresponsible spending, poor investments, and trusting people who had no earthly reason being trusted; these stories happen all too often. And they happen to people who place too much value on wealth--instead we need to place more wealth in value.

The value we must trust in is the grace and peace of the Lord. We are to trust in what God creates and not in what we collect. Frankly, there are too many times when we human beings have trouble discerning what is good for us and what is not. As The Dan sing, "you wouldn't even know a diamond if you held it in your hand." What we consider precious often is just fool's gold.

Our refuge is in the Lord. The Lord alone is all that will last.