Used by permission -see end of article
Just a few miles from our home is a large junkyard. It’s out close to the road, and as I drive into town I cannot help but ponder the sight. Junkyards tend to be eyesores. People don’t like to look at them, so usually the local government requires a privacy fence to help the appearance of the neighborhood. Something about the chaos and disorder, piles of smashed cars, and weeds growing up through old vehicles repels us. But I wonder sometimes if we wouldn’t be further ahead in our Christian life if we spent more time in junkyards.
Perhaps you have never considered having your morning devotions in a junkyard, but I’d like for you to try it. Junkyards have some tremendous lessons to teach us. Driving by our local junkyard, I can see a Pontiac Grand Am resting on top of another vehicle, too damaged to recognize. A white Dodge Neon with a smashed hood sticks up in the air, its rear doors missing, its rear tires astride the remains of a luxury vehicle. Chevy and Ford trucks, probably owned by young men who argued over which was the best, now lie side by side, rusting together. Volkswagens and limousines, taxis and old airport shuttles – everything shares a certain sameness.
Junkyard Meditations
Recently I pulled off the side of the road and spent some time thinking about the lessons in the junkyard. I looked at the remains of a black Nissan Maxima. It had come with every option available – aluminum wheels, a sunroof, leather seats… I tried to imagine the day, not too many years ago, when someone had driven it off the lot. I pictured him driving home, excited and impatient to show his friends. I imagined the effort he might have put into protecting it from scratches and dents. I visualized the Saturdays spent polishing those aluminum wheels, waxing that beautiful shiny paint, cleaning the leather interior, and buffing those chrome accent strips. Now the windows are open, and rain comes in through the open sunroof. This car, which just a few years ago probably wouldn’t have been left outside overnight, is now completely unprotected from the elements and is deteriorating rapidly. I wondered if its original owner ever thinks about it. Here is a possession that at one time was very valuable to him. He was willing to make great sacrifices to obtain it, but now it has almost no value. It is junk.
Lessons from the Junkyard
What can we learn from the junkyard? Many good meditations can come from these piles of rusting metal, but I would like to focus on two simple lessons:
- Every earthly possession ends up being junk. Take a little time to look around you. Think about the great value men and women place on things. Regardless of how things are regarded by society, everything you can see is ultimately going to deteriorate. Nothing is exempt. Bodies end up in graveyards, and things wind up in junkyards or landfills. Remember this as you consider what to buy and where to invest your money.
- True value is determined only by usefulness. In a junkyard it is easy to conclude that things have no value and just don’t matter. But those airport shuttles were valuable at one time to those who needed to get to the airport. Our problem with possessions is that we assign more value to items than their usefulness calls for. Too often we assign value to items simply because we perceive that others think they are valuable. But in the end the junkyard gets it right. Scrap metal from a limousine sells for the same price per pound as scrap metal from an old clunker.
Analyze your values. Don’t put your affection on things bound for the junkyard. Take a quick inventory of your life. What are you willing to invest your time, money, and effort into? Are any of these items junkyard bound? Are you loving and pursuing anything that will one day rust? What is the final destination of the things you value? At times you need items that will ultimately end up in the junkyard. You can’t help that. But make every effort not to set your heart on things that will deteriorate.
What Did Jesus Say?
It is imperative that you start with the Bible to develop a Biblical value system. Too often we live as though the Bible is silent on the topic of finances, but let’s look at some of its teachings on this topic. Jesus gave so many warnings against wealth that we could easily conclude that we should stay away from money – that we should regard money as evil and avoid it as much as possible.
Men have tried this. Throughout history there have been men who walked away from society and tried to avoid people and commerce, isolating themselves so they would not have to bother with the everyday struggles that plague humanity. We call them hermits. But is this really what God has in mind? Does He intend that we totally avoid commerce and money?
No. It is evident from Paul’s teaching that God intends for us to both earn money and invest it. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus: Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. -Ephesians 4:28
Four distinct teachings in this little verse provide an important window into the heart of God regarding labor, money, and His ultimate purpose for our endeavors in the world of commerce.
- First, we are to seek money ethically. Paul says we are not to steal or seek gain unjustly.
- Second, we are to earn by laboring diligently with our hands. Many other Scriptures address this truth as well. Paul reiterated this to the church at Thessalonica when he said, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. -2 Thessalonians 3:10 God desires for us to be diligent and industrious. He intends that we have an occupation. A slothful, lazy attitude has no place among God’s children.
- But not just any occupation will do. Notice Paul’s next point. He says that we should be engaged in a “thing which is good.” Many occupations bring in a large income. But are they a blessing to our communities? Is it a “thing which is good”? We need to be engaged in commerce that blesses our neighbors and is a good witness to our community.
- Finally, Paul says the purpose of this is to give to him that needeth. This means that God desires that we accomplish more than just providing for our own households. He intends that we bless others, specifically the poor. Jesus described this kind of alms giving as a good investment. Notice His words as you consider sharing with the poor: Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. -Luke 12:33
Jesus also told us where to invest. In fact, He was so excited about this investment opportunity that He said it is even worth selling things you own to invest more! He encouraged us to invest our treasures, our resources of time and money, someplace where they will not rust, rot, or be stolen. Jesus said the safest place for our treasure is in heaven. The truth of Jesus’ teaching is evident. Where else can you deposit your treasure that will ensure eternal benefits? Every other investment will either mold, rust, or be left behind when you die. God intends that we earn, that we invest in the future, and that we deposit our investments with Him for safekeeping.
Hearts and Treasures
Let’s look at another truth Jesus shared. He went on to say, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. -Matthew 6:21 Pay close attention to His words here. These familiar words have the potential to change your life. Jesus was saying that your heart will follow your treasure. In fact, He said your treasure and your heart will be in the same place.
I clearly remember buying my first car. It took all the money I had in the bank and some additional money I (foolishly) borrowed. I effectively deposited all of my monetary treasure in this vehicle. Suddenly THE CAR consumed my thoughts. THE CAR was polished and pampered. Although I would have probably denied it at the time, my heart was wrapped around THE CAR. I had invested treasure there, and my heart had followed it.
This truth Jesus taught regarding our hearts and our treasure may seem negative. But there are a couple of blessings we should consider. Because our hearts automatically follow our treasure, we can quite easily determine where our hearts are. Just locate your treasure. Find out where your money, time, and energy tend to go. If your discretionary (extra) money seems to end up in the local sporting goods store, you can be sure sporting goods have a part of your heart.
Our Hearts Move
But another truth should be an encouragement to the young man or woman who is serious about following the Lord. Since we know that our hearts follow our treasure, we have the ability to control where our heart goes. We spend a lot of time asking for revival and requesting God to change our hearts. We pray prayers such as, “Lord, give me a heart that loves you more.” Or, “Lord, help me to love the things you love.” Charles Wesley said it like this in a song we love to sing:
O for a heart to praise my God,
a heart from sin set free;
a heart that’s sprinkled with the blood
so freely shed for me:
These prayers and songs are good requests. We want hearts that will more fully love our Lord, and I believe our Father honors these prayers.
But God has already given us the ability to move our hearts toward Him. Think of Jesus’ teaching as a tremendous opportunity. Every time you invest in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ with pure motives, your heart moves a little closer to God. Each time you give to the poor, help someone who is struggling, or even give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus, your heart moves closer to Him.
Remember this as you make decisions regarding your time and money. With each decision, regardless of how small, your heart is moving either closer to or farther from the Kingdom of God. Take some time to grasp the magnitude of this truth. When you choose to spend “your” money on an earthly treasure, your heart moves a little farther from God. But when you invest in the Kingdom of God by helping the poor or promoting the Kingdom, your heart moves closer to God.
Most of us can identify with this. If you help sponsor a child in Africa, a part of your heart moves there. You notice current events in the newspaper regarding Africa and pray for the people there. Or if you have been quietly helping a widow in your congregation, you find your thoughts turning toward her. Suddenly you are more interested in her welfare and how her life is going. You find yourself hurting when she hurts and desiring to help her more.
What you are experiencing is simply the reality of this truth Jesus taught, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. -Matthew 6:21 This is why it is so important to closely examine where your treasure is going. It is also why every purchase can be a spiritual decision. God has given us an amazing opportunity! Simply by choosing to invest in the Kingdom, we can draw closer to Him!
Conclusion
We all make many decisions every day, and as we have seen in Jesus’ teachings, these little choices have a profound effect on our spiritual lives. If you establish your value system from the world around you, it is easy to believe that your use of money doesn’t matter. You will find yourself thinking thoughts like, “Why does it really matter what I do with my money? It’s really not that big of a deal.”
But if you are using Jesus’ teachings to develop a Biblical value system, you will find yourself wanting to invest as much as possible in the Kingdom. His teachings remind us that life is short and that we have a wonderful opportunity each day. Every day my heart can draw closer to God as I use resources correctly. So, ask yourself: Are the things I am investing my time, money, and energy into, a good investment? Or are they heading for the junkyard?
For Further Reflection
- Make a list of things we pursue that will end up in the junkyard.
- Make another list of ways we can invest in wealth that will last.
- Make a list of items that have little or no use, yet are perceived to be valuable because of public opinion.
- Share some examples of times your heart has followed your treasure – maybe a time you invested time or money in something and then found your thoughts beginning to go there.
- What are some steps we can take to move our hearts toward the Kingdom of God?
Taken from CHARTING A COURSE IN YOUR YOUTH by Gary Miller
© 2011 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610
Used by permission
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