God, Idols, and the Stock Market

Update on the Stock Market: As it continues to be volatile please make sure you review in whom you really trust! It is the Lord that owns the cattle on a thousand hills, not wall street. :)

Wow, another bad day in the Markets! 265 points downward on Wednesday followed up by a 513 point jagged red line on Thursday. Things are not going to get any better in these last days. Many people during these risky times lose millions some just a huge percentage of cash, yet back to the market they always seem to go. And today, the headlines will be filled placing blame on the Republicans from one crowd and Democrats on the other. Why is this scapegoat mentality so prevalent? Not only “Why” and, especially for the one who claims to be Christian, Does fault really matter? I would like to place some perspective on this issue and any others from the past or in the future.

In the early days of Israel’s history, during the days of the prophet Samuel and the Judges, Israel had been at war with the Philistines. They were a warring tribe that had settled from Joppa, modern Tel-Aviv, south toward Gaza. They were a pain in Israel’s side. For disciplinary reasons and to protect His Holy Name, the Lord had allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark of the Covenant or Ark of Testimony. Having done so, the Lord then took it upon Himself to hallow His Name:

False god/Idol Dagon-fallen before God

¹Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
²When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the temple of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
³And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.
⁴And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.
⁵Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 1 Samuel 5:1-5 (NKJV)

If you know anything about the Ark of the Covenant, you know that it is where the glory of God could be seen as He dwelt in the midst of His people as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. It always symbolized the Lord’s presence. cp. 1 Sam. 3:3, 4:11. In the passage above, the pagan Philistines placed the Ark of God in a most unholy place, the Temple of Dagon. The lesson is simple, there is only one God and He does not share His authority or space with idols.

As a Christian, is it a wise thing to trust in riches over God? The Philistines also had a stock market in which they trusted. His name was Dagon, the god of grain. When he came face to face with God, guess what, he crashed! So also will it be to anyone who foolishly places their trust in anything other than God. Not joking.

The things on this earth rust, mold, and corrupt. As a Christian, if you were hurt by crashing markets, then maybe it’s time you invested in the treasure of Christ. It’s the only sure place where corruption, mildew, and rust have no power.

¹⁹“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)

God Bless

The message is still clear! Christ is coming soon! Be aware! Do not delay! Turn to Him while there is still time!

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