He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. – Proverbs 11:28
Inflation is a scary thing, and when we consider all the money that was paid out by our government in response to COVID, it’s no strange thing that inflation is what we face.
We can speculate as to why this is happening. Is our government collapsing our economy purposefully or are they simply incompetent and out of touch with reality as they trust in their own wealth to save them from the destruction they cause for political pull?
Whatever the reason man has in mind, we know that God is in control and His ways are always good and we can trust in Him.
What can money do for us when it’s no longer valuable? What can money do for us when there are shortages of daily necessities? What can money do to save our soul?
Money is an idol for many, including those who have it and those who don’t. Those who have it usually have money because they have worked hard for it. Obtaining wealth was their goal, so that’s what they put their time and energy into. For those who do not have money, or not much, coveting the wealth of others can become an idol. Social ideas that encourage envy and robbery of the wealthy can become an idol.
Does inflation cause us to think about where we put our trust? For many of us, I’m sure that it does. I’m sure that many of us are turning to God with more thanks for what we have and with a desire to built up our faith in Him during difficult times.
However, many still trust in riches. For example, some say that we should buy gold and silver. The scriptures say that in the last days, “man shall cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold to the moles and the bats.” This might have referred to literal statues made of silver and gold, but that doesn’t leave out the possibility of a dual meaning.
It’s probably a good idea to prepare in whatever measure we are able. If we can grow food, we probably should. If we can store food, we probably should. If we can think ahead about the needs of our children, such as clothing and supplies for babies and toddlers, we probably should. We don’t want to “throw ourselves off the pinnacle of the temple.”
However, in whatever ways we decide to prepare for difficult times, the best thing that we can do is remember to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
We certainly do not want to rely on wealth or on those who control wealth and manipulate it for their own purposes at the expense of many. Those who control the wealth seem to have all the power, but those who trust in the Lord will receive His power as a testimony against them. We cannot trust in man and in man’s riches, but in God through the person of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Do not fear inflation and famines. Fear is a form of glory and worship. Instead, we can turn to God. We can fear Him and trust in Him also, giving Him all glory because He is in control. Man only thinks he is in control, and all things that man purposes for evil will eventually be used for the good of those whose hope is in the Lord.
For information on what the scriptures teach about building ourselves up for times of trouble, take a look at this series: The Parables of Jesus: Building on Rock and Sand
PREVIOUS STUDY: Considering Proverbs 11:27 – “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.”
The purpose of this bible study in The Proverbs is to consider present-day events in terms of the teachings and wisdom of Jesus Christ. Follow in WordPress or subscribe by email (red button at the bottom of each page below the comments) if you would like to join this discussion and receive updates of future posts. Visit the link above for easy access to all posts within this series.
Jesus Alone 