No U-Hauls Behind Hearses: Embracing God’s Perspective on Wealth

At the time of this writing, I find myself irritated with my current financial outlook. Or to be more exact, I’m irritated with my reaction to the volatility of the stock market, prices, and inflation. On April 4, 2025, the S&P 500 fell 6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.5% and was down 14% since peaking in February. The Nasdaq Composite fell almost 6% and was down 20% of its most recent high.

Those are just numbers, and those numbers could look totally different in a month or a year. Maybe those numbers mean nothing to you. You could care less about the stock market, because you’re just trying to make ends meet. Inflation is stubborn and prices remain high.

Because my brother is my financial advisor, I get to share these complaints with him on a consistent basis. While he listens, he encourages patience. “Take the good with the bad.” But I remind him: "It’s not your money. It’s my money, and you’re just taking care of it for me!”

I’m reminded of that truth this week. It’s not really “my” money to begin with. It belongs to God, and I’m just stewarding it. This hit home for me as I was reading 1 Timothy 6 recently,

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

Rather than being anxious looking at my dwindling stock portfolio, I’m reminded that I brought nothing into this world, and I’ll take nothing out of it. No one has ever seen a hearse carrying a U-Haul!

Money is both a tool and a test. It’s a tool in that it is to be used for His purposes, and it is a test of determining where our heart is and what we ultimately value. Money itself is not the root of all evil. The love of money is what leads people into many harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

Paul offers the alternative perspective in the following verses,

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

My perspective shifts when I realize how fleeting money truly is. My security is not tied to my bank account or stock market portfolio. My security is tied to the One who owns the entire universe! If He told me that He’ll never leave or forsake me and that I’ll be content with the food and clothing that He provides, then I can have no greater return on my investment.

Author Randy Alcorn gives an important investment strategy outlook: “When Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, it's not just because wealth might be lost; it's because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. No exceptions... Realizing its value is temporary should radically affect our investment strategy.”

So don’t be dismayed. Instead, be encouraged, and hold all money with open hands—being reminded that for God’s own purposes, sometimes He gives and other times He takes away.

The stock market may crash. Inflation may stay high. Income levels may vary, but if you know Jesus Christ, He will be all you need in the end. Take comfort of the promise in Habakkuk 3,

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)

Know this for certain—though our money may let us down, Jesus never has nor ever will.