“Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” James 5:3
In a moment of disappointment and frustration we might say, “I might as well have flushed my money down the toilet.” It is a terrible feeling to realize what you invested in was wasted, especially if you thought you were making the right decision.
In this passage, James gave a picture of the waste of only focusing on investments in this life. As terrible as it feels to have wasted a sum of money, James painted the picture of entire life that had wasted by investment in things that do not last. This reminder begs the question: What do you really value? What are the treasures you are trying to store up? Will they last? Wrestling with the investments we are making with our time, money, and resources requires extra thought and intentionality, but it will be more than worth it in the end. As Ephesians 5:15 says, “So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise.”
- What are some of the things you feel like you’ve wasted time or investment on?
- What are some investments that will last forever?
- Pray and thank God for the opportunity to invest in things that are lasting, asking Him to guide you to value what matters most.
