Storing Up Wealth For the Last Days?

Ok, here it is.  Some of you were probably wondering if I were going to tackle this topic.  How should we store up wealth in the end-times?    Many bloggers and Christian shows have dealt with the topic, advising people to buy gold and silver to prepare for the coming economic collapse.  For most people, gold is out of teh question, as the economic price is just too high, even per ounce!  For us, even silver is quite high.  Just a little bit is all we could afford.

So, when you are part of that 98% of the world's population who makes less then the upper one percent, is that really a wise investment of your resources, to put it all into one little piece of metal?

The other day I was reading in James (or Jacob, really, in the Greek/Hebrew), the half-brother of Yeshua, and came to a section where he speaks about the topic, storing up wealth in the last days:

5 Come now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your wealth has rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived self-indulgently on the eartha and have lived luxuriously. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous person; he does not resist you. 

(www.biblia.com)

James seems to think that those who store up wealth for the last day aren't going to receive a whole lot of good from it. In fact, he says it will be a witness AGAINST you and consume your flesh like fire! I thought that is what we were trying to avoid, being consumed by fire! In context, we see from verse four, that James is speaking to those who have people in their employment, who are withholding wages, and living luxuriously on earth, at the expense of those who do their labor.

Verse Six tells us, "You have condemned the righteous person, he does not resist you." Nowhere in holy scripture does it teach taking vengeance on one's enemies, contrary to the belief of Islam. In fact, Yeshua tells us to "love our enemies," and "pray for those who persecute us" (Mt. 5:43).

Now there may be some wisdom in securing your financial assets in precaution to a financial collapse, but I don't know that selling all to buy gold and silver is the answer. The believer's life is one that is marked by faith in Yeshua Messiah. All Yahweh's prophecies concerning the end have been being fulfilled for thousands of years. It's silly to think that they will stop now. We have the full assurance that we are able to walk in the faith and confidence in the YHWH's power, for He is a shield about us (Ps. 3:3), an ever present help in trouble (Ps. 46). YHWH is our Good Shepherd, even in the last days, when the adversaries forces are running about upon the earth, Yhwh still leads us to green pastures, to lie beside still waters, and to restore our soul. He is over all, and He can prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Ps. 23).

Hab. 2:4b "but the righteous shall live by his faith."

Hab. 3:

16 I hear and my stomach shakes;

my lips quiver at the sound;

infection enters my bones;

that which is beneath me trembles;

I wait quietly for the day of trouble

to come upon the people attacking us.

17 Though the fig tree does not blossom,

nor there be fruit on the vines;

the yield of the olive tree fails,

and the cultivated fields do not yield food;

the flock is cut off from the animal pen,

and there is no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will rejoice in Yahweh;

I will exult in the God of my salvation.

19 Yahweh, my Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer;

he causes me to walk on my high places.

To the choirmaster with stringed instruments.

Prophecy Fulfilled and Headlines Report It

5 Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and rejoice, because the riches of the sea will become yours, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.

Isaiah 60:5 (HCSB)

18 Of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, And, Issachar, in your tents. 19 "They will call peoples to the mountain; There they will offer righteous sacrifices; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand."

Deuteronomy 33:18-19 (NAS)


Everywhere the headlines are replete with prophecy, which are not meant to predict the future, per se, but rather recognize the times you’re in. On this blog I’ve mentioned several prophecies that are to occur during the last times when God’s people Israel are back in the land He promised their forefathers, who all died in faith, looking for the city that is to come (Heb. 11:10, 16).

It seems the discovery of natural gas offshore of Haifa, Israel is not estimated to be in the TRILLIONS of cubic feet! Wow. And many of the gas and oil companies are estimating that there is also a very large store of oil, which seems to make sense of Deut. 33:19.

"It happens all the time," Zeidman said. "We see in the US that the moment a company discovers oil or gas that can be transported, there's a crazy rush to the region by other companies, and that's a function of the size of the reserves found. Around the world, as soon as Noble goes to a place, many other companies follow in its wake. The prospects here are amazing, and I have no doubt that we'll see an economic boom, and a rush of more companies to Israel from overseas following Noble."

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136960


Which, this totally makes sense, if there are a vast supply of resources, much like in the early days of North America, when men were discovering the vast, untapped resources, there will be another “gold rush.” And when men and corporations begin to move to Isreal to tap its resources, they will also move their families, start ones, and increase the demand of goods and resources for Israel, bring “the wealth of the nations” to it.

Now I don’t believe that this is the total fulfillment of Is. 60:5, but think it is ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, and the establishing of His Millenial reign upon the earth.


22 “I will accomplish it quickly in its time.” Isaiah 60:22 (HCSB)

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20 (NAS)

"Choose you this day whom you will serve."  Joshua 24:15

"Why sit we here until we die?" 2Kings 7:3

This is a "morning devotional" by C.H. Spurgeon, the great British preacher.  I thought this was an insightful, encouraging message that I hope will be a blessing for you in these times.
********

Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. "Nothing venture, nothing win," is the old proverb, and in your case the venture is no great one. If you sit still in sullen despair, no one can pity you when your ruin comes; but if you die with mercy sought, if such a thing were possible, you would be the object of universal sympathy. None escape who refuse to look to Jesus; but you know that, at any rate, some are saved who believe in Him, for certain of your own acquaintances have received mercy: then why not you? The Ninevites said, "Who can tell?" Act upon the same hope, and try the Lord's mercy. To perish is so awful, that if there were but a straw to catch at, the instinct of self-preservation should lead you to stretch out your hand. We have thus been talking to you on your own unbelieving ground, we would now assure you, as from the Lord, that if you seek Him He will be found of you. Jesus casts out none who come unto Him. You shall not perish if you trust Him; on the contrary, you shall find treasure far richer than the poor lepers gathered in Syria's deserted camp. May the Holy Spirit embolden you to go at once, and you shall not believe in vain. When you are saved yourself, publish the good news to others. Hold not your peace; tell the King's household first, and unite with them in fellowship; let the porter of the city, the minister, be informed of your discovery, and then proclaim the good news in every place. The Lord save thee ere the sun goes down this day.

—Morning and Evening