Walking with the Wise #105: Unfailing Trust

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
 

but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” 

—Proverbs 11:28 

God has a way of taking us to places that make us totally rely on Him. He strips away our self-sufficiency and self-reliance, and takes us to a place where He alone is our trust. If we have come to a place where the path before us is dark, but we still have a bit of light before us if we look and try hard enough, then we are still not at the place of total dependence. God will take away everything we could rely on until we no longer have any option but to walk by faith, not by sight (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:7).

Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s money abounded. There were certain time-proven and recession-proof theories that many people banked on. Getting an education meant a greater paycheck, and in order for that to happen, many went into substantial debt. Others invested money in real estate, because, according to experts, real estate guaranteed a return on the investment. But, as the world has seen, neither has proven to be reliable. Many nations are going broke, college graduates are unable to find jobs and are saddled with debt that is going to shackle them for many years, and the bottom fell out of the real estate market, causing many families to lose their homes. In times such as this, it is necessary for us to reevaluate our lives in order to see where our trust really lies.

The Bible teaches that if we trust in our riches, we will inevitably fall. Money is unreliable, a simple tool given by God for us to use wisely. If we treat money as more than a tool, then we will experience sorrow and suffering, because it will prove to be unable to fill our deepest longings for security and satisfaction. Not so, however, for those who pursue righteousness. Those who find their security, significance, and satisfaction in God and in Him alone, will find that when the days come when the bottom drops out, they will not be lost, because their foundation was secure in Jesus Christ.

Where is your security and significance found? Are you resting in your riches or in God’s righteousness? Only one will enable you to flourish. Trust in that which is guaranteed to satisfy your deepest needs and longings—Jesus Christ. Amen.