Most people today have used a GPS navigation device to find a new location. These machines have become extremely popular because it is not an easy feeling to be somewhere unfamiliar while trying to locate a specific place. Unfortunately, today’s world can be dangerous, and being lost could leave us exposed. This is also true in our Christian walk. As we navigate the daily demands of God, family, friends, and money we can be pulled in different, frustrating directions.
wall street
When you walk down Wall Street in New York City, it seems like just another big-city street. It is located in lower Manhattan, a very quaint and historic part of the city. When you pass by the New York Stock Exchange and begin to see all the people and financial institutions, you begin to realize how powerful this street is. In addition to being the epicenter of America’s wealth, the world also relies on the success and power of Wall Street. It is easy to understand why a job on Wall Street is stressful and has one of the highest rates of depression and suicide. Right now the financial markets are in a cycle of financial downturn, plunging along with the rest of the world. The largest countries of the world have rushed to spend billions and trillions of dollars. They are trying to stimulate growth and stop the markets from falling further. Our nation’s debt continues to rise and the value of the dollar continues to fall. I can’t help but wonder how long we can continue down this path. At what point will we be out of resources and completely dependent upon the rest of the world?
the seed of abraham
To have a better understanding of how we got to this point, we must go back to a biblical covenant. In it, God said to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2, 3). I believe God honored His promise as the people of Abraham, including the United States, has brought wealth and peace to the entire world. The blessing passed from Abraham on to Isaac, who had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the first one born and deserving of the birthright. Jacob was envious of his brother and loved by his mom so she devised a plan to deceive Isaac in his old age and steal the birthright. Jacob followed her plan and was successful, but his lust for wealth cost him dearly as he never saw his mother again, his father was crushed emotionally, and his brother despised him. Jacob learned a very hard lesson about deceit and what happens when we allow material things to get in the way of our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. It is ironic that the beginning of the blessing started out this way. Today, most people fall into the same trap and act the same way as Jacob. America, in general, is focused on money and power. We have lost our respect for the one who blessed us and gave us this wealth and power.
main street
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are among the most significant people in the Old Testament. They were not the perfect heroes we might expect; instead they were just like us, trying to please God, but often falling short. They were aware of their weaknesses and overcame them to become closely bonded to God. Their great wealth was never an issue with God; however, their actions because of the wealth and their response to God’s instructions were important. Today’s society is moving further away from God with no sign of remorse. The family unit has suffered terribly with divorce occurring at an alarming rate. Sexual deviations from God’s design have become commonplace in entertainment, the internet, and legislation. Abortion claims millions of victims every year, and disobedience, murder, violence, and greed top the headlines each day. Most of our leaders appear to be equally as sinful as the people they serve. So where do people turn to for help? Throughout the years, Satan has cunningly deceived mainstream religion and twisted it completely away from God. How can anyone seek answers and truly repent of their sins when the religions they turn to are based on false doctrine and pagan worship? This leads to despair, which can be tragic and often end violently.
church street
Even as good Christian soldiers, we can be deceived and fall victim to Satan. When we are blessed and wealth occurs we must be thankful to God rather than becoming greedy and a slave to the wealth. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:23). Jesus did not say it was impossible, just difficult. We must overcome the challenges and stay true to God. Further on in verse 26, Jesus tells us, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We must constantly defend against Satan’s attacks and stay close to God by constantly praying, repenting, and fellowshipping with Him and fellow believers. Commit yourself to God by becoming baptized and studying your Bible, allowing God’s Spirit to grow and work inside you. Realize that everyone fails and comes short of the glory of God. As we can see so many times throughout the Bible, what is most important is how we respond to our sin. Matthew 6:25-34 tells us that we should not focus on our earthly needs and wants, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
