The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8
“There are a number of famous verses in this chapter, but I appreciate that this one is right in the middle: “The grass dries up; the flower withers, but God’s word will exist forever.” At first glance, I’m not sure I appreciate the prophet’s reminder that the grass will dry up and the flower will wither: it feels little gloomy in the midst of what’s supposed to be a message of hope. But when I consider the passage further, I see that it’s a reminder that even though the things we see today won’t always be here, God will. God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s presence, God’s call on our lives is steady and stable and will last into eternity.
This reminder can call us to a reorientation of our lives, similar to the reorientation experienced by the Israelites; and it can help us reorient our spending priorities, as well. Sometimes it seems like the most important things in our lives—and our budgets—are those that are actually fleeting. Even long-term investments like homes and vehicles don’t last forever; and some of the places we invest our resources are even more short-lived, like clothing, entertainment, and dining. Or, more directly related to Scripture, things like flower bouquets and home landscaping!
But what would it look like for us to adjust our spending plans in a way that shows we know what lasts and what doesn’t? What if our spending plans were evidence of our confidence in God’s eternal presence, and we invested in things that will last rather than those that are used up or worn out quickly? This might mean giving more to the church or other charities that are making a meaningful contribution toward healing the world and spending less on dining out. It might mean saving more so that we can help in emergencies rather than maximizing a fashion budget or buying the most expensive car we can manage.”
Elizabeth Ingram Schindler in Saving Grace: Hope-Filled Devotions Along the Way to Financial Well-Being (Nashville: Abingdon, 2020) 85-86.
I board a flight today to Phoenix. I am speaking tomorrow to the stewardship directors (about 35 of them) that serve the districts of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod churches across USA.
I’d appreciate your prayers as I aim to help them reorient and reset their thinking so they can help the pastors and churches in their districts experience the same transformation. Think: multiplication.
They must experience reorientation before they can help others. How about you? Does your spending plan match what lasts? Is it time for a reorientation?