“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
Growing Dominion, Part 65
“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Prov. 11:4).
This is a scriptural commonplace, and one of the reasons that we are told this (over and over) is that worldliness calls to us constantly. This is a very obvious truth that is (equally obviously) easy to forget. Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich guy to make it into heaven. How should a nation of rich guys feel upon hearing this? What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? What kind of profit and loss statement would that represent? This would be a good verse to tape on the cash register.
The average American lives (in many ways) at a higher standard than many kings and emperors in the history of the world have experienced. From hot and cold running water, to central heating, to the availability of modern medicines, to the quality of the food, we have it good. But for all our getting and possessing, there is one basic ratio we have not been able to touch. For every life there is still one death. And after that death, we (each of us) will stand before the throne of Christ. On that day of judgment, each of us will need something far more precious than gold-we will need the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Some will have what they need and some will not. Speaking of money, they say you can’t take it with you, but even if you could, without Christ how would it help? What would it profit to take all your gold with you in order to stand before the Judge of the whole earth? Your gold would simply melt and run out of your pockets.