Merchants Mourn

Merchants Mourn

Revelation 18: ¹¹ The merchants of the earth also cry and mourn for her, because no one buys their goods any longer; ¹² no one buys their gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; their goods of linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; all kinds of rare woods and all kinds of objects made of ivory and of expensive wood, of bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³ and cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and carriages, slaves, and even human lives. ¹⁴ The merchants say to her, “All the good things you longed to own have disappeared, and all your wealth and glamor are gone, and you will never find them again!” ¹⁵ The merchants, who became rich from doing business in that city, will stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They will cry and mourn, ¹⁶ and say, “How terrible! How awful for the great city! She used to dress herself in linen, purple, and scarlet, and cover herself with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls! ¹⁷ And in one hour she has lost all this wealth!”

 

============

 

Expecting to be rich, I asked for some stock tips from a wealthy person. I immediately purchased some shares of stock to practice my new route to extreme wealth! I watched “my” money grow for a minute, but then the stock began to fall. I decided to keep “my” money in. After a while, the stock went to zero and I lost “my” money.

 

• The loss came quickly.
• The loss made me mourn.
• The loss made me stay away from wasting any more time and money, searching for something empty.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, was shown a great city that caused the world to sin in greedy ways. Merchants who had become wealthy mourned over the immediate loss of income from the lustful wealth they once had experienced.

 

My Observations:

• When GOD said “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” HE said it as a warning.
• GOD also warned me that humans cannot serve two masters and the choice will be between HIM or money.
• GOD wants me to love HIM with all my heart, mind and soul, so there would be no room for loving things that could harm me.

 

Having money is not the problem, it is when money has me that causes many issues. I mean, when I can easily give to people and do not care if I am wealthy or not, then GOD can trust me to not fall into the temptations of wealth. Unfortunately, wealth is flashed in front of us, seemingly, every minute of the day.

 

Business owners face a dilemma of being profitable and serving people. GOD blesses fair scales, or prices and wonderful treatment of employees and customers. I gladly put GOD at the center of my business so I will not share in the tearing down of the thing that makes greed appealing.

 

Challenge

• What detail does the writer mention?
• Have you ever wanted to be rich or at least more wealthy?
• Has money hindered your relationship with serving GOD?

Change for a Dollar

Luke 19: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’

⁹ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’

============

Crying did not help the lost money return. As I sat there disappointed, I realized my day was over before it began. I had lost the money I was supposed to use to keep myself amused the entire day. After the incident, I hated to lose anything. I promised myself I would never be “poor.”

• There were times when I despised being poor.
• There were times when I dreamt of being rich.
• There were times when I dove into the pursuit of wealth at all costs.

Zacchaeus had swindled his way to the top. Not only was he a tax collector, he was the head of those who stole from others. He had a desire to see JESUS and was determined enough to climb a tree to get a better view. JESUS knew who he was and invited HIMSELF over Zacchaeus’s house. Zacchaeus changed and wanted to give than receive.

• GOD wants me to change from being money driven.
• GOD wants me to see HIM as being GOD rather than being led by how much or how little cash I have.
• GOD wants me to think about HIM more than I think about my bank account.

Whether it’s worry or pride, there is a problematic view of money that GOD despises. I’m not saying humans don’t have needs, I am saying that money can drive people to lie, swindle or even preach more about money than they do about JESUS. I, at one time, thought about lying one my resume just to get a better paying job.

GOD wants me to be brave enough to be who HE wants me to be and follow HIM. HE knows my financial status and desires that HE be my provider. GOD has given me an abundance that I can never thank HIM enough. HE gave me HIS SON and I am eternally grateful.

• Are you focused strictly on money?
• How many conversations about money or wealthy people do you have?
• Will you change your desires to follow GOD where HE has you today?