Silver and Gold

Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them.

 - From Zephaniah 1

There is a logic to God's Plan . . . it only becomes clear through years of study. Slowly it begins to appear, like an optical illusion, it's contours take shape, and soon it all makes such sense.

God obviously does not value wealth. You're not supposed to seek it, but if you end up with it, you're supposed to give it away. The 80-20 rule works: If only 20% of wealthy people gave away all but what they needed to live on, directly to the poor, there would be no poor. And I would bet that the tithing principle would even work - all it would take is 10% of the wealthy. They could still have big homes, hobbies, and vacations. They could still take care of their future generations. But the poor would cease to be. Why should God take care of everybody, when He has given us the means to?

Of course you should not be ruled by wealth, because "you can't take it with you." But here's another reason: When judgment comes . . . or any disaster, your wealth will not help you. It can't make you immortal. It can't prevent you from finally getting sick to the point of death. It can't make you young again. It can't reverse your youthful indiscretions.

And the concept of charity is not about tax policy and voting for politicians that promise to raise taxes on the wealthy and take care of the poor. I know plenty of people that vote that way, and brag about it, but that live in homes that are too big, and take lavish vacation that most people can only dream of. If you're focused on your own charity, you're not going to even care about politicians and government social programs.

It's very obvious, if you are someone that thinks your wealth is going to save you from judgment. I can see if by the house you live in, the cars you drive, the vacations you take. Yet within your own family, and neighborhood, there are people with desperate needs .Your schools are filled with kids that need one adult to really care about them. Your prisons are filled with angry young men that gave up counting on others. 

Your silver and gold isn't doing any of us any good, really.