In God We Trust

My wife and I are part of that much talked about 'undecided' crowd in regards to the upcoming presidential election. I've heard it referred to as the Reagan Democrats, but I can't really affirm or deny that... mostly because I don't know what that means. All I know is that we just aren't entirely sold on either party. In light of our 'undecidedness' we spent the other night watching the first presidential debate. The number one topic of concern was the economy and the proposed (at the time, but by now official) $700 billion wall-street bailout plan. And I just couldn't help but think: isn't it ironic?

Question after question of "What is your plan to fix the economy?," "What is your opinion of the bailout plan?," and "Where do you differ from your opponent in terms of the economy?" America's financial situation is obviously a big concern for the public and therefore it is pivotal for each candidate to address the problem. But in all the the responses to the declining economy, either from the candidates themselves or from the media covering the story, you never hear the response of "God is in control."

Maybe that isn't the most politically correct response. But isn't it ironic then that this money that we worry about so much, that we desire to accumulate and secure, and that we fear losing so greatly has this little phrase printed on each bill "In God We Trust." It doesn't say "In Government We Trust," "In The Economists We Trust," or "In Reliable and Insured Financial Institutions We Trust." Ok, maybe that last one would be a little long to print and perhaps it isn't as catchy. That's what it really comes down to, it seems. We say "In God We Trust" because it's catchy; it's what we are supposed to say... we don't actually have to believe it.

This comic strip was in the paper today. It's point seems fitting. (If the font comes out too small here, you can check it out in full size).

What is the point of having the trustworthy, sovereign name of God on our currency if we refuse to recognize Him as such and live our lives in fear and financial worry? Here is how scripture treats the topic of trusting in the name of God versus trusting in wealth:

Proverbs 18:10-11
The name of the LORD is like a strong tower;
the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.
The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city,
and it is like a high wall in his imagination.

Notice the parallelism. The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the wealth of the rich is a strong city. There is safety to be found in money. But if you think that money can provide a stronghold that cannot be overcome, who's walls cannot be scaled and destroyed, that you are fooling yourself; complete security in money is only in your imagination. True security comes from trusting the Lord. He cannot be overcome and He will not fail. He is good and faithful and He will take care of His children.

Perhaps those statements sound good, but abstract. It is easy to say that we should be trusting in God because it's a biblical concept, it is another thing to practice it when the company decides to make cutbacks, the mortgage payment is due, or the car needs another tank of gas. I know it's hard. Being in seminary right now and only working part time, many of the conversations my wife and I have are centered around our budget and how we aren't meeting it. I worry about taking care of a family. I worry about bringing in enough money and I am constantly trying to devise the best plan to increase our savings account. But ultimately I have to rely on the provision of God. Money will be spent, and possessions will pass away, but "the word of the Lord stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).

Let me encourage you that if you find yourself holding onto your wealth as a means of security or fretting over your lack of wealth as a point of weakness and vulnerability, that when these feelings creep in, you would grab hold of a dollar bill, grab hold of the item you are hoping in, and read how it points you to God even as you grasp for it instead of Him

"In God We Trust"

Be Thou My Vision...
Riches I Seek Not, Nor Man's Empty Praise
Thou Mine Inheritance, Now and Always
Thou and Thou Only, First in My Heart
High King of Heaven My Treasure Thou Art

There was an excellent message that I heard the other day that highly influenced this blog posting. If you are interested, you can check out the message here.