In these rocky economic times, people are looking for safe havens for their wealth and prosperity. However, just how safe can we really make riches that are uncertain to start with?

The Holy Spirit warns the rich of this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). 

Earthly wealth never is certain. It is made up of things that are perishable, temporary and even fleeting. Even the safest investment one can make today, be it gold, silver, some federally insured or backed security are fleeting. Gold melts, silver will burn up and all the bonds that back paper investments will fail. These things will never transcend the shores of eternity, so of course they are uncertain.

However, with all of the talk we are hearing about credit freezes and stocks and bonds, we must acknowledge that the majority of most people’s wealth is doubly uncertain. The average rich man’s wealth is rooted in balance statements, in the hope of certain gains and yields, in the fluctuations of markets and prices—all in all, in the biggest hodge-podge of uncertainties this world can imagine. Couple this with the fact that it is driven by a world market that operates as much on emotions as it does technology and you have absolute uncertainty to the third degree.

All this serves to remind us that our a Christian’s wealth should never be measured in terms of dollars and cents, stocks and bonds, or securities and futures. A Christian’s wealth is measured in terms of the treasures they have laid up in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

So, in these rocky and “uncertain” economic times, where will you place your trust? Think about it!