As an accountant I am thrilled with the advances in financial technology. I love to pay bills online, deposit a check without driving to the local bank, and transfer money between accounts without leaving my comfortable chair. Oh, and what about the gas station? Isn't it convenient to slide a plastic card into the gas pump for payment versus walking into the station to pay cash?
These wonderful hi-tech developments have made life easier
in the world of commerce, but it occurred to me as I was looking at a dollar
bill recently, that as our society eventually becomes cashless the words “In
God We Trust” will no longer accompany financial transactions.
God’s word says if His people will consecrate their money as well as their lives to Him, then He will bless them.
How did the words “In God We Trust” come to be imprinted
on the coins and currency of the United States?
In the late 1800s a man wrote that if the United States were
destroyed at some point in the future and later dug up from the rubble, it
would be considered a heathen nation because there would be no coins found honoring
God to prove otherwise. So, Congress was moved to engrave its coins with the now
famous words. Then in the 1950s a strong consensus persuaded Congress to
declare “In God We Trust” as the nation’s motto. Soon thereafter the vote was
cast to also include it on paper currency. I believe these actions reflected
the general populace’s belief that God was supreme and the tenets of the nation
echoed those beliefs.
Do you think it has made a difference for our nation that
our forefathers recognized the authority of God?
This question reminds me of the story of a long ago king
who reigned over a very prosperous and powerful nation and it gives some insight into
the consequences of denying God’s authority and proudly claiming our own
ability to prosper.
The Book of Daniel relates the story of Nebuchadnezzar, the
king of Babylon, who has a dream about a tree so tall its top touched the sky
and could be seen to the ends of the earth. It was a beautiful tree and its
abundant fruit provided for many, in fact, the Bible says it provided food for
all. But a messenger comes down from heaven and demands the tree be cut down
and its fruit scattered. Nebuchadnezzar goes on to tell Daniel, his advisor,
the tree will be given the mind of a wild animal and will wander the land until
seven times pass by him. He says this will happen so everyone will know the
Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth.
Daniel interprets the dream as a warning to the king to humble himself and realize that his power and wealth are from God and not through his own making. Nebuchadnezzar, who is proud of his accomplishments, ignores the counsel. About a year later the king is surveying his kingdom from the roof of his palace and comments out loud that Babylon is the great city that he has built by his own hand and for his own glory. Before he even finishes speaking, a voice reminds him of his dream and that it is about to come to pass. Subsequently, he is driven insane for seven years, and he wanders aimlessly into the desert where he lives with the wild animals. Nebuchadnezzar himself says when he finally looks toward heaven to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, his sanity, kingdom and wealth is restored. He then goes on to declare to the world that he, Nebuchadnezzar, now praises and exalts and glorifies the God of Heaven because He is just and has the power to humble those who walk in pride.
Have you ever had a time when lack of trust in God left you in a financial desert? Or perhaps you had a prideful moment of believing that you were in total control of your life only to be humbled shortly thereafter?
