“It takes money to make money”, my dad used to say. Money is on a lot of people’s minds these days.

No matter how careful and wise a person is, money can still fail them. Even if you put it under your mattress it is still vulnerable to thieves, and inflation. Everything in this world ages and dies. Even money. That money under your mattress becomes worth less with every inflationary action of the government and there is nothing you can do about it. If prices go up, it becomes worth less… and for my family exchange rates can cut our monthly income by 10% or more in a few month period.

We humans by nature want to be in control. It seems innocent enough at first. We want to be responsible, we want to be wise… but it really means we want to be in control of our own future. It is seasons like this that we really do realize how little control we have. So we make new rules to protect the individual, we elect lawmakers that make rules that protect the individual, and then hide behind those rules. How does a corporate executive make an average of $10 million dollars a year (300x the average worker) while running the corporation that pays him into bankruptcy and government bailout? Those laws, that protect individuals. That’s how. Whose money pays them? Ultimately, the individuals the law was meant to protect. Even our laws, the ultimate example of control, fail.

Matthew 6:19: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

Some days we just need to remember the Sunday school memory verses. It might seem shallow but the depth is found in actually applying these principles. Don’t beat yourself up over shoulda-woulda-coulda things. Don’t panic and try to put your money somewhere “safe”. Do everything as unto the Lord, especially money. There is no where safe but in His hands. That fact is so liberating and so necessary for weeks and months like we have had lately. There have been news reports of suicides over finances lately. Suicide is the ultimate act of hopelessness. What a deception to believe that an empty bank account is hopelessness. No man is poor that has treasure in heaven and God has little use for gold. He owns the cattle on a THOUSAND HILLS, and He is your Father!

Do any of you like to get lost? Have you ever been seriously lost? It can happen pretty quickly. Take an average Joe used to commuting in his car back and forth from work and drop him out in the middle of the woods somewhere. If there are no roads or signs he, and I, and most of us, would be lost. I’ve been pretty seriously lost in the woods before. It is a very stressful situation. In the end it worked out but those initial moments were VERY stressful. Not knowing where we are is not comfortable for many of us, I imagine especially the masculine variety.

So I got to thinking how terrifying that can be. I realize that it is pretty rational to not want to be lost. I also realize there is a certain amount of control of our own lives that we are used to and when that goes away we can respond pretty strongly. The other day I was somewhere I hadn’t been. I kinda like being lost for a bit every-so-often… I asked my friend: “are you sure we are going the right way?” He said: “All roads lead to Kathmandu.” … I, wanting to experience a momentary “lost” feeling, said, “well all roads lead anywhere as long as you’re going the right way on them.”

Life is funny cause despite thinking we know where we are we can suddenly find ourselves lost at any moment. Not just geographically, but emotionally, psychologically, ethically… both in good ways and bad ways. There are many ways for a person to get lost. In some ways realizing that we are lost is a great opportunity to rely on God more completely. If we are honest all of us are lost in some way because we really don’t know what the future holds. We plan, we organize, we practice, but we really are out of control. In some ways it is a good place to be. At any moment, which way are you going? The right way? The wrong way? It doesn’t matter where on the road or even what road you are on, just as long as you are going the right way on it.

Maybe all of us should just admit it… God, I am lost, completely lost. I may think I’ve gotten myself here, to this neat place, but I know you lead me. Even if it is a hard day, or month, or year, I know I can trust your leading. I’m sorry that I take so much credit for the good and blame you for the bad. You are a good shepherd, and I love following you! I am not in control.