“Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?” (Jeremiah 22:15, NIV)
I’ve always been partial to score myself—and here you should see my wry smile—but I have known more than a few men through the years who think the measure of a golfer is in the volume and luster of his equipment. These are the guys at your club who can give you the specs of all their irons from three generations ago, which is often no more than four or five years.
There’s something new and shiny out? Cool! Gotta get that!
So easily are we pulled into the pursuit and collection of lesser things, trinkets in the cosmic economy.Any equipment salesman with half a conscience will tell you in two seconds that it’s a lesson that most of these guys need, not more stuff. But if they want to shell out a few more bucks…
Men, and especially wealthy men—or those who want to appear wealthy—have always been this way. And so have those who want to kowtow to them.
When Jeremiah was given the demanding yet irrevocable calling to carry God’s words of judgment to a wayward people, the king of the land, Shallum (Jehoahaz), was looking to be measured this way, decorating his palace with pricey ornamentation and widened rooms. From Shallum’s perspective, a king’s show of wealth secured his title and his throne. God saw things differently.
In simple brevity the Lord brushed aside Shallum’s vain remodeling projects. In contrast, he reminded this son of Josiah of his father’s excellent, God-honoring work.
“He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
Men and women of the kingdom, our view of what matters must be different than that of the world. So easily are we pulled into the pursuit and collection of lesser things, trinkets in the cosmic economy. God cares little about the things upon which we spend our money; he cares much about how we spend our lives. In fact, it is in how we spend our lives that we show whether we know him at all.
I will not presume to detail for you what to do with your wealth. There are a hundred ways to honor God with your money. But I can tell you that spending your money on girding your title or paneling your palace—these have been tried and found wanting. Store up instead treasures in heaven, where God will pay out dividends with no cap at all.
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Jeff Hopper
May 24, 2017
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.