More precious than gold.
Fragile. This is the descriptor used by news reporters for the state of the global economy, as the financial jitters spread and gold prices soar. Major banks have become vulnerable to rumours of imminent collapse, maliciously started to promote a dramatic fall in the value of stocks. The City has coined the new phrase 'trashing and cashing,' for this illegal practice. Someone is making a profit. Or so it seems.

Whether we, as Christ's followers, are good or bad with money we are to be godly in how we handle it. The Bible encourages prudence so that we not only spend but also save in order to avoid debt and make provision for those who depend on us. It reminds us to put our faith in God; wealth is uncertain and we must not put our confidence in its power. It teaches us the joy of generosity, as we are inspired to be generous by God's lavish giving of his only Son. But we're also warned against the selfish accumulation of wealth, as ultimately we must leave it all behind.

We're to invest in the Kingdom of God, who will give us an inheritance that keeps its value as it will never perish, spoil or fade. The apostle Peter wrote some reassuring words to persecuted Christians facing an uncertain future: 'who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed' (1 Pet 1v5-7). When our faith is in Christ's unique death and resurrection which reconciles us to God, then we can be sure of spending eternity with him and sharing in his wealth! Enduring trials purifies such faith. It leads to a growth in our thanks for his grace and a deeper loyalty to the one who is faithful. Faith in Jesus is more precious than gold because he alone can save us for eternity.

During May the church celebrates the Ascension of Jesus - the time when he returned to his home in heaven. So, let‘s be the ones who genuinely set our sights on where he is. For heaven is where our inheritance is kept safe.

Paul Kingman