Cars, Cows, and Currency

The pundits are pronouncing that Obama’s diplomatic mission to Asia (last week) resulted in next to nothing. The Indians agreed to some trade changes, but the Indonesians and South Koreans were respectfully resistant, yielding little toward fixing trade imbalance. Probably the biggest disappointment was South Korea’s refusal to increase imports of American cars and beef. Then at the G-20 confab, Obama was rebuffed by China when he accused them of trying to gain an advantage in global markets by suppressing the value of their currency. They simply rebutted his claim by pointing out our hypocrisy: the Fed’s recent action to print 600 billion dollars and inject it into the U.S. economy.

What does this have to do with us? As I reflected on the almost-silliness of the world’s market place—all about cows and cars—I was very grateful that my life is not about such things. John reminds us that if we love the world (cows and cars and cash) we won’t love Jesus. Cars, cows, and cash are fading away. But if you invest your time, attention, and energy in God, you will obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and will not fade away, being reserved for you in heaven (a paraphrase of 1 John 2:17; 1 Peter 1:4). Be mindful of where you are investing these days—it is probably best to stay away from cars and cows and currency. More than ever it is the time to invest in that which is imperishable.