The True Value of Wealth
What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. (II Kings 25:15)
II Kings 25:8:15; Ps. 49:10, 62:10; Prov. 10:22, 23:5; Matt. 6:19-20; I Tim. 6:6-10
What Is God Saying?
This was the final indignity, the last blow of a persistent enemy. Jerusalem was sacked and pillaged. Its people were taken into bondage and humiliation in Babylon. For the crowning touch, the Chaldeans under Nebuzaradan, the Captain of the King's bodyguard, ransacked the House of the Lord. They destroyed everything they could find of the dedicated vessels used in the Temple services. None of these items had any meaning or value to them, except for the gold and silver of which they were made. So, what they took away was gold as gold and silver as silver.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Gold as gold and silver as silver, in simple terms, the things the world covets and for which it will sometimes sell its soul, only have value for what can be bought in the marketplace. Gold and silver have intrinsic value but it is the use to which they are put that determines their worth. When we think of what gold and silver can do for us, we need carefully to remember what gold and silver can do to us. That is precisely the point of Paul's counsel to young Timothy. ‘For the love of money (not money itself) is the root of all evil’ (I Tim. 6:10).
Pray With Me
Dear Lord, the Captain of the King’s bodyguard carried off the sacred appointments of the Temple. To them the vessels held precious metal but no precious meaning. May I not use money just as money but as a means to bless others and to glorify You. May I not use health of mind and body as some well-mounted and permanent possessi0n, but as a tool in the hand of love. May I not use time as an inexhaustible commodity which I can spend as I please with never a thought that it is God-given. May I not use my talents to glorify self, and forget their place in the work of Your kingdom.
Let gold be not just gold, nor silver just silver. Make me wise, Lord, in setting no value on the mere possession of things except as they can be used in the service of Your love and truth. I would see that everything is without meaning and value except as it is made to harmonize with the will of Him who has redeemed us, not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with His precious blood.
In His name, I pray. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
We all want to discover the right use of time, health, and talent. We also want to avoid the abuse of things. Gold as gold is good, but its true value lies in its usefulness. This discovery is made when, in prayer, we seek to know and obey God's will concerning the gold He has given to us for our use and His.
