Dear Friends,

Thank you so much to all of you who have responded to our request for testimonies and stories!  I want to encourage you that your journey and your lessons learned would be a huge help to others who are on the same path.  If you have not had a chance to share your story about an area of your financial life, email Karen.guess@masteryourmoney.com to do so.  We welcome your input!

The question of buying gold is an interesting one to me on a philosophical level.  When the economy suffers, all of us question the security of our current investments and assets.  We all seek to hold wealth that is the most secure and we all want to have jobs that are the most recession proof.  These inclinations are so natural, and they are the reason that the gold market has really benefited from the economic uncertainty we’ve had.  Basically, when things get tough, we want to re-define our wealth so that it feels more secure.

I was in a meeting yesterday where we talked about the current American urge to re-define what prosperity means.  We also talked about the need in the Christian community to re-define what stewardship means. Does prosperity mean excess, or does it mean sufficiency?  Does prosperity mean more freedom, or does it mean more responsibility?  Does stewardship have to do with money, or does God intend for it to apply to all that we “possess?”  These questions are so good.  It is very healthy for Americans to be re-framing our long-held assumptions about prosperity.  It is extremely healthy for the Church to be re-framing our stewardship role as that which goes far beyond our money.

So, whether or not you buy gold or re-organize your investment portfolio, the question itself is a sign of something very productive going on in our country.  We are seeking to re-define our relationship with our money.  As believers, now is the time to surrender (once again) our worship of money as that which can meet all of our needs or truly protect us from danger.  Now is the time to re-affirm the calling of stewardship that goes far beyond our material wealth.  Now is the time to take Christ’s words to the lukewarm church in Laodicea and, “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  (Revelation 3:18 – 20, NKJV)

The fact is: our wealth is not our security.  We can be wise and confident in our financial decisions, but let’s re-define our security by a renewed dependence on Christ.

May God’s peace encourage you as you pursue financial wisdom and depend on His Truth.

Blessings,
Ron


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