All for Good

Testing and trials come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Never before have I truly understood the truth that "through many trials, we must enter the kingdom" (Acts 14:22). Yet that continues to be the underlying theme throughout my life thus far. Two months ago I had bought a plane ticket for my dad to go to the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis. Due to his continuing battle with finances and child-rearing hardships, I wanted to bless him with an opportunity to be refreshed. I had recently got message that he cannot go due to unforeseen financial hardships, so opted for me to go in his stead. Little had I realized I bought a non-transferable plane ticket and therefore cannot transfer it to my name, so I can fly. I would have to buy another plane ticket. So, unless he goes, I'm basically out $300. Ok. That sucks. Just so everyone knows, saving the extra $30 dollars for a cheaper plane ticket that is non-flexible is SO NOT WORTH IT. If something happens and you have to change your flight, you can expect to fork out another chunk of dough.

I've been reading through this book by Austin Pryor called "Sound Mind Investing", and it basically deals with managing your money and possessions in a Biblical, God-honoring way. He touches on all important and practical topics such as: Credit Card debt, mortgages, student loans, retirement, and investing. It's a valuable read, and I'm learning life-shaping strategies to utilize my money in a smart way. Even if I can't buy a new car for a while or travel the world just yet.

It's easy to get carried away in the practicalities of life, when in fact even if you think you are doing all the right things and dotting your i's and crossing your t's, the hoped for outcome may not happen. Tomorrow is not even promised to us (James 4:13-17), and we should be living our time out in urgency and expectation that there is no tomorrow. I think perfect credit and wise money-managing can compete with love for God and become idols in the hearts of the "do gooders" of today. I know I can struggle with it, and God constantly reminds me that I am a pilgrim here, and I ought not to be acting in a prideful manner, storing up my barns and dying with nothing to give. Jesus had a few words on the matter:

Luke 12: And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,[b] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Retirement, investing, and prideful savings accounts are considered foolish by God. Now, obviously this does not mean we should not be wise and fruitful in our possessions and investments. In verse 21 it seems that Jesus expects certain individuals to become wealthy and have large produce, yet there is a purpose in that wealth- to be rich towards God. If God so chooses to bless certain individuals with incredible amounts of wealth it is to be used for His purposes because tomorrow is not guaranteed to us.

Immediately after this passage, Jesus goes on to address the cares of this life continuing in verse 22:
"22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things[c] shall be added to you."

We are not to focus on the the things to be gained in this world, in a material sense, but to gain treasure in heaven and to be wise in investing in heaven. I'm currently being convicted of this right now as I write this, feeling the guilt of not investing the time I can and should into my eternal home. What a promise we have to rest in God's providence for each day, and to let the anxiety of what tomorrow will bring load us down in despair. Take time to thank God for the blessings He's given us, and offer sacrifices of joy. As for the wasted plane ticket, God may give grace and I can change it, or He may use it to bring about good in another form. Next time I'm going to just buy the flexible ticket.