FAITH: The Stock Market Goes Up And Down — God Remains The Same!

A Texas businessman wanted to be buried in his Cadillac. Two cemetery workers watched a small crane lower the Cadillac with the man’s body at the wheel into ground. One of the workers said to the other, “Wow! That is really living!”

Our society today is very materialistic. Materialism is preferring material possessions and physical comfort to spiritual values. The Bible commands us not to focus on physical riches. Our priority must not be gaining wealth. The Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:19-20 gives two reasons we must never trust in physical wealth.

The first reason is that wealth can quickly disappear. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (verse 19). In the first century people measured wealth in grain, gold and garments.

Moths deposit their eggs in wool. Moth larvae love to feast on wool. Their expensive clothing disappeared. Mice, rats and insects consumed the grain. Most homes in ancient Israel had mud walls. Thieves broke in and stole. Wealth can disappear quickly. Last week the stock market moved up and down twenty thousand points!

The second reason is that we cannot take our wealth with us. Jesus said, “But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (verse 20). There is a deliberate contrast in verses 19 and 20 between storing up on earth and storing up in heaven.

Even if we make and keep great wealth in this life, what happens at death? Job, a very wealthy man, said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there” (Job 1:21). The apostle Paul reminds us, “We have brought nothing into this world so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Timothy 6:7).

Jesus is not saying that it is wrong to work hard, to do well in business and to provide for our families. We are to save for the future. God gives us richly all things to enjoy. No. Jesus commands us, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….” How do we do that?

The primary way is to make certain you are going to heaven. Make sure you will be in heaven. The real treasure is eternal life. Eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3). Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45). The most important thing is salvation. The pearl of great price is Jesus our Messiah.

Your soul will spend eternity somewhere. Jesus died for you on the cross. The wrath of God the Father for our sins was poured out on His only Son Jesus. Repent of your sins. Run to Christ for salvation.

Another way to lay up treasure in heaven is invest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 16:9 Jesus told us to use the money we have been given to gain friends for all eternity. Invest in missions and evangelism.

A third way to lay up treasure in heaven is to meet the needs of people. God has very specific instructions for wealthy people. 1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Instruct them (those who are rich) to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” As Americans we are in the top twenty five percent economically in the world. God promises an eternal reward for helping others.

Real living is not being buried in a Cadillac! Real living is living for God’s glory and God’s kingdom. We must live today with eternity in mind!

Pastor Ethan Hansen

Faith Bible Fellowship

Big Lake, AK