Rich and Powerful, or Honest?
If we had to make a real choice between being rich and powerful, or being honest, which way would it go? There is no doubt that for the believer, faith in Jesus Christ is intended to be the ordering principle of our lives. Following Christ can never be an addendum to whatever else we have going on.
There are many wonderful and beautiful things about this world and our lives in this world, and that is not a reality to ignore or shy away from. However, it is also true that there is eternal reality that essentially flies in the face of the entire value system of the world and everything we know in the here and now.
While it certainly is possible to be both wealthy and honest, and many people of means are honest, there is a pull common to all humanity, rich or poor, powerful or obscure, to compromise in order to get ahead. In Proverbs 28:6, God tells us this: “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”
Do I really believe this? Even more importantly, do I live by it? While I confess that there is a part of me that wants to believe the “health and wealth” dogma popular in some Christian circles, I know better; what if I have to choose? And choose we will, daily.
While being shrewd, sharp in business, and savvy to the market are worth while aspirations, in God’s economy, to choose and obey him is sometimes to also choose less or loss in this world. This is where faith meets daily practice and bank accounts. Is integrity in Christ our top priority?
In Christ, we are called to view life through a different lens, not only acknowledging the world, but also being keenly aware that this present world is passing away, and also investing our time, talents, and resources into things that will last for eternity. Jesus tells us that we cannot have two masters, material wealth and the kingdom of heaven. The point is not what we have or don’t have; the point is where our loyalty lies – what/who is our master?
These questions quicken my perspective. Only when my loyalty to God through Jesus Christ is my ultimate value, and only when I put the things of this world in proper perspective, am I really prepared to enjoy the good things God provides in this life, but also to look forward to the even better things God promises to provide in eternity.
Because of God’s great love for us, and the eternal life he has provided for us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, may we be those who truly enjoy the here and now, but also maximize on our investment in eternity. A short Proverb from God’s word surely gives mighty perspective.
In Christ,
Chris Heinss
