Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Prov. 23:5 (NIV)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5 (ESV)
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:21 (NLT)
Dear heavenly Father, the morning after “Brexit,” many of us are asking the wrong question. “How much am I worth, now?” All you have to do is give Wall Street a little “thump” and we’re reminded of how foolish it is to trust in anything or anyone but you. Eagle-strength-like economies become startled starlings, and take flight. Indeed, as you tell us, Father, riches deserve but a glance, but Jesus must have our gaze.
No matter the financial season—a winter of discontent, a spring of lush “green,” a summer of scattered showers, or a fall of falling markets, teach us the way of contentment, Lord. Intensify our love for Jesus so our love for money will shrink to a proper, healthy, gospel-size.
And whether we have a superabundance of wealth, or, quite literally, are praying for daily bread, free us to be generous with what you give us. Every good gift we have comes from above, period. You promise never to leave us or forsake us; and you promise to “enrich us in every way so that we can always be generous” (2 Cor. 9:11). We praise, bless, and adore you for your faithfulness and generosity.
Like the currency exchange in large airports, Father, establish new values in the currency exchange of our hearts. May we value a rich relationship with you more than all the other stuff we tend to put our trust and hope in, and foolishly expect to give us lasting peace and true joy.
So how much are we worth today? All the incalculable, inexhaustible, incomparable riches of Jesus—for you have made everything his, ours. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation! So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and trustworthy name.
