Job 22:25 “Then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.”

I’m always cautious when reading what Job’s friends said to him, but there is sometimes truth wrapped up in the platitudes. This verse, particularly as the Japanese translates it, seems to imply that being in right standing with God will make you wealthy, which Paul pointed out is a terrible misunderstanding. (1 Timothy 6:5) However, the truth that is hidden in this is that when we are in right relationship with the Lord, we discover that He is more valuable than any amount of material wealth. Jesus spoke of “treasure in heaven,” (Matthew 19:21) and said that we are to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) before and above anything material, even what we need for physical life. We have a lot of trouble with that! In a sense, we need to become like Elon Musk is at this point. As the richest person on the planet, he is essentially unaffected by financial temptations, and he ridiculed the head of Disney who threatened him with loss of ad revenue. We need to realize that our Lord, as the Creator, owns EVERYTHING, so our focus should be totally on Him and not be concerned with finances. We are indeed to be good stewards of what He places in our hands, but understand that the material is of little significance on the eternal scale.

I recently had a rather surprising lesson in this. Where I was speaking last week is a spiritual retreat in a very rural area of Saga Prefecture. The building is fairly large, with many rooms, and was originally the residence and work area of an agricultural family. The pastor who invited me to speak had held a youth camp there a few years ago, before the COVID scare, and after that died down was interested in using it again. The old lady who owned it, who was not yet a baptized believer, said, “Do you really want to use it? I’ll give it to you.” In a couple of weeks he received the title, with taxes paid! Since the building had been unoccupied, with no attention for about three years, the grounds were very overgrown and various repairs were called for, but the point was that the owner, apparently without heirs interested in the house and land, realized that it was all worthless to her at this point in her life. It really struck me that the same may be said for any material thing I deal with. Everything I can see with my eyes and touch with my hands is a tool to be used in the work the Lord has prepared for me to do. (Ephesians 2:10) I am not to be possessive of anything, or anxious about anything. That is true wealth, and I am blessed indeed.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I have seen Matthew 6:33 fulfilled in my life many times over. Help me make the use that You intend of everything You place in my hands, material or otherwise, so that Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!