In God We Trust

 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.

– Proverbs 23:4

In 1864, the official motto of the United States — In God We Trust — made its first appearance on the two-cent coin. How ironic that “Godless” money should cite such an important

reminder about the real Source of our security. But if we’re really honest with ourselves, shouldn’t the motto read: In GOLD We Trust? After all, when things get tough in life, it’s only natural to rely on our money, riches and our own efforts rather than the One who makes it possible to earn a living. But reliance on job security, the stock market and our street-smarts is never wise — particularly these days. As comedian Chris Rock once described the so-called reliability of fame and celebrity: You’re here today … and gone TODAY.

It’s an unsettling fact: Our bank accounts and popularity are no defense against life’s hard realities. Terminal illnesses strike, relationships fail, and that which seemed solid turns to dust in our hands. What we desperately need is something — or Someone — who’s dependable. Who never changes. Who we can trust.

Jesus paints a vivid picture of this universal quest through his story about the foolish man who built a house on shifting sands. When the storm struck, the rains came and the winds blew with fury. It’s no surprise that the flimsy structure collapsed with a crash. But the wise man — in comparison — built his house on a foundation of solid rock. So when the storm clouds of life boiled on the horizon, that house withstood even the heaviest downpours.

This leads us to the obvious question: Are you counting on your money to save you when, as that insurance commercial puts it, “life happens”? If so, why not trust in God: The One who made you and knew everything about you before you were even born. You can take that to the bank!

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,” we read in Psalms, “who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”