When the Titanic sank in 1912, it carried millionaire John Jacob Astor IV. The money in his bank account was enough to build 30 Titanics. He was worth roughly $87 million (equal to $2.75 billion today) when he died. When faced with mortal danger, he chose to give up his spot in a lifeboat to save two frightened children.
Another millionaire was also on the Titanic — Isidor Straus, co-owner of the largest American chain of department stores, “Macy’s.” After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Isidor was reported to have said: “I will never enter a lifeboat before other men.” His wife, Ida Straus, also refused to board the lifeboat, giving her spot to her newly appointed maid, Ellen Bird. She decided to spend her last moments of life with her husband.
There are plenty of stories where wealthy individuals could have used that money to save themselves, but chose the high road instead. What we do know is that money can’t buy you everything.
We live in a world where money is the primary concern of most people. Hence, we become used to hearing sayings such as; “money talks”, “money runs the world”, and “if it doesn’t make any sense then there is a dollar involved”. I’ve heard it said there are two great motivators – fear and money. While money may be useful when it comes to worldly things, there’s some really important stuff that has nothing to do with money and for which money cannot buy.
What does the Bible say? “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10). Money by itself is not the problem; it is the love of money that is the problem. Money is an everyday necessity for food, clothes, shelter, etc. The problem comes when our love of money and the things it can do for us consume us. With all the things that money can do for a person many people today lose sight of what money cannot do for them. Here are a few things that money cannot buy or do for a person:
Money cannot buy a person’s salvation (1 Peter 1:18-19). Many today are under the impression that if they give enough money to the church or a religious organization that they will go to heaven. This is simply not the case no matter what some may lead you to believe.
Money cannot buy a person’s safety (Proverbs 21:31) True safety comes from God. It is interesting to note that people with vast amounts of wealth get very concerned with safety. If God wants you, there is no where you can hide and nothing that will stop Him from getting to you.
Money cannot buy you love (Proverbs 19:14). There have been songs written about this very topic. Since time began people have married for convenience or money and then end up totally miserable.
Money cannot buy you happiness (1 Timothy 6:5-10). Money can be so deceptive. Why do we think the more we have the happier we will be? At some point having enough stuff is never achieved.
Money cannot buy you health (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Money will buy you a lot of doctor visits, treatments, drugs, or medical procedures, but in the end it won’t solve all your ailments.
Whether you are rich or poor by the world’s standards doesn’t really matter. If you are a believer in Christ, you have eternal life and that simply cannot be bought with money. Don’t let life pass you by while chasing after the proverbial dollar.
Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It! Debby can be contacted at caryjohnefurdministries@gmail.com.
