It is interesting to see what a person believes to be his refuge in times of trouble. Is it something tangible like money or possessions? Or is it something ethereal like the Lord?
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man - upright and in right standing with God - runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong." Proverbs 18:10, Amplified
If you have ever read the book of James, you would find that the entirety of the book is a dichotomy. A dichotomy is a comparison between two things. For James that comparison is between the flesh and the spirit. In these to verses this morning, we have laid out for us a dichotomy. What are we to trust in? More than that, however, is not really who or what to trust in, but who we are. Are we the righteous who trust in the Lord, or are we something else?
The righteous man makes the Lord his strong tower. Not even the Lord really, but just the name of the Lord. Once we understand who the Lord really is in our lives we can understand the true power of His name alone. Sometimes it is who you know that counts. There is so much power in the name of Jesus alone. All we need to do is run to the Lord in those times of trouble. I have some really good friends who are going through a very turbulent time in their lives. I talked to one of them for a long time the other day and she described life like having the Titanic dropped on them. After discussing with me all the things that they had been and are going through, I couldn't believe the strength of her faith still. She and her family truly understand that the Lord is the strong tower in their lives. A great man once said, "We have no control over the wind in adverse times, but we can always adjust our sails." How do we do this? Keeping an eye and our focus on Jesus. Allowing for Him to be our protection. My friends understand this concept, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not in despair; struck down, but not destroyed..." (Second Corinthians 4:8-9a, New King James) He is our strength and our strong tower.
"The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall, in his own imagination and conceit." Proverbs 18:11, Amplified
Or there is the rich man who places his trust in his riches. Being rich is not a sin. Trusting in riches is misguided. These are turbulent time that we live in. This recession is devouring our country and this is not time to trust in the all mighty dollar. Before one makes money his strong city, there are a few concepts that he must understand first.
Money runs out: the money that one person has will always have an end. Even Donald Trump's fortune is not bottomless. There is an end to his wealth. The more common people have found this to be truer today than before. Money does not last forever. But the Lord has no end. There is no cap to His power and might.
Money's value is uncertain: everyday the value of the dollar changes. Today it is not worth what it used to be. But the Lord's value is inexhaustible. Though the market tumbles through these uncertain times, His value will never falter of fail. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I once had someone question one of my entry's about money. I want to stress that I do not think that money is evil, or that having money makes one less of a believer. Riches do not make one's chances of going to heaven any less. I would love to have more money to take care of my family and be a little more comfortable. But there is one verse that I would like to close with today. "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed form the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (First Timothy 6:10, New King James)
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