by J. A. Davidson (Northern Ireland)
The events of September 11, 2001, struck hard at the symbols of World Trade. As we draw near to the end of the age, the nations of earth unite their currencies and set up trading blocks in preparation for the Mark of the Beast and rise of commercial Babylon. "The merchants of the earth waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies," Rev.18.3.
The emphasis on every High Street in our towns and cities is upon Financial Institutions, Banks and Building Societies. Stock market values, deposit accounts, interest rates, security and profits are only of interest to the worldling in this scene of inflation, devaluation and corruption.
The Saviour said; "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Earthly gold is in danger from the robber, material things will be attacked by the rust and the grain can be destroyed by the rodent. The believer's interest should be Riches in Christ, revenue of Heaven and wealth in the Bank of Glory. We should be trading now in the untarnished currency, the intangible commodities, the unperishable cash of eternal wealth laid up in a deposit account, as the Apostle Paul says; "against that day," 2Tim.1.10.
The financial account has a major part to play in the decisions of the board in running any business. The Church of the Laodiceans boasted of earthly riches but the Lord of the Churches said: "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire (value, precious, durable) that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment (virtue, pure, practical, costly) that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (vision, perception, long range sight) that thou mayest see," Rev.3.18.
Paul in his writings tells us about the long term faith of Abraham, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted (reckoned by calculation, accredited by imputation) to him for righteousness," Gal.3.6. Abraham abandoned the short term life of Ur, he parted with Terah (the older man), he separated from Lot (the worldly man) he sent away Ishmael (the carnal man), he even yielded up his beloved Isaac; "accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead," Heb.11.19. By faith in God’s promises, with his eye upon the future inheritance’ "He went out, not knowing whither he went," Heb.11.18. "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God," Heb.11.10.
Another good accountant was Moses. "Esteeming (accounting) the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," Heb.11.26. Moses handled the treasures of Egypt, he held proximity to the throne, he shared in the wealth of the palace. Providence brought him in, faith led him out. In the short term, he exchanged riches for reproach, as to the present he might have had the pleasures of sin for a season and a pyramid at the end. Instead he identified with despised brick makers as the people of God, he endured as seeing Him Who is invisible and in the long term of faith made a good investment; "He had respect unto the recompence of the reward," Heb.11.26.
It has been well said: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose," (Jim Elliott).
The keeping of a ledger of profit and loss was a matter first introduced to us before salvation. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mk.8.36 The use of this commercial metaphor in the Lord’s teaching is, of course, in the context of training His disciples in true allegiance to Himself and to the Gospel. The parables of the pounds and the talents guide us in trading in the wealth of the Kingdom. The Lord spoke of the Merchant Man seeking goodly pearls "Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it," Matt.13.46. We will be eternally thankful that; "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich," 2Cor.8.9.
Paul changed his principles of accountancy when he got saved. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for (on account of) Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but (to be) loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung (offal, that which is thrown to the dogs), that I may win (gain) Christ," Phil.3.7-8. Paul is showing us the profit and loss columns of his new spiritual ledger. As he looks back upon his unsaved days those national, tribal, ceremonial and legal privileges which he once counted as gains, he moved across to the debit side. Assets changed to liabilities, pluses became minuses, gains were really damages, things to let go to the dogs. We should never waste the time of an audience detailing these things which marked us in unsaved days no matter how commendable, never mind exploiting for popularity's sake, the grosser depths of folly without Christ. In Phil.2, we read of what Christ gave up: in Phil.3, what Paul gave up. After 30 years of faithful service, he counts the "gain" of the past as refuse untouchable, the droppings from the table, the wipings of the hands. His present "gain;" the blank side of the balance sheet is filled by Christ, the surpassing devotion to the Lordship of Christ, the costly experimental knowledge of the excellency which really belongs to Christ Himself. Paul’s dealings were not speculative. "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."
—to be continued (D.V.)