Have you ever thought about the original concept of money? During a time when there was no money, people used what they had to buy what they needed in the form of an exchange. It was simple and direct: grain for salt, salt for silk, silk for animals, animals for grains, and back again. The system of exchange was primitive yet effective, and beneficial for all.
Now, our economic system is much more complicated and problematic. Some people starve despite their hard work, while others indulge in pleasures with hardly any work. Where did this unfairness begin and how can we fix this corruption?
We need to get back to the basics. It might not be possible for us to reverse ourselves back to the primitive way of living with the exchange system. But, there is another ultimate 'exchange' we can make to fix our lives for good: exchanging 'the worldly treasures' for 'the heavenly treasures.' Instead of piling up cash in the bank of the world, we should store up our spiritual credits in the bank of heaven. Now, there's a truly a wise, 'long-term' investment.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)
Jonathan Y. Lee is the senior pastor of Hana Christian Center, located in Los Angeles, CA.
