FROM THE PULPIT: WHAT'S YOUR STOCK IN?

Tuesday afternoon I was in St. Louis, the day after Monday's historic, 554 point "crash" on Wall Street. Some analysts refer to the financial melt down as a mere, "technical correction." I guess that depends on whose money is at stake!

I overheard a conversation between two well-dressed business men. The first man said, "I heard Bill Gates lost $1.7 billion yesterday. How much did you lose?"

The second man said, "I didn't lose a dime. God owns all my resources. I'm just a steward. As God gives, God can take away. I'm just thankful I have more than enough money to provide for my family, with enough extra to share with those in need."

The first man looked on in disbelief. He went on to lament how he lost several hundred thousands dollars, even though technically, it was all on paper and he had yet to materialize any gain or loss through selling his stock.

Unbeknownst to any of us, the NYSE market that day was climbing three hundred points in an amazing rebound. Like God, Dow Jones giveth and Dow Jones taketh away (to misquote Job 1:21).

The whole experience of Monday's crash reminded me of Jesus' words, "What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" (Mark 8:36). Another way to ask this question is, "Where is your security? Can you trust it? Will it hold in touch times? Is this where you want to place your hope?"

The temporal, fickle, speculative and unpredictable nature of the financial markets reminds us that treasures on earth can lose their value. Only treasurers in heaven are eternal. Where we store our treasures reveals our allegiance and our security (Matthew 6:19-21).

Monday's financial actions warn us it's possible to become so entrenched in the world's way of living that we lose sight of why God placed us here on earth. Our purpose, first and foremost, is to glorify God and enjoy God's fellowship forever (Westminster Catechism). Our only comfort in life and in death is that we belong, body and soul, not only to ourselves, but to our savior, Jesus Christ (Heidelberg Catechism).

If this market "correction" has you jittery and sleepless, perhaps you need to place your investments in a more secure vehicle. Your anxiety might also be reason to examine your motives and temperament, and give you pause to renew your commitment to living for God's kingdom. The return of this investment is out of this world!