Council Community Church
Pastor's Corner
IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL 4-14-06
The
stock market “crash” of 1929 was a painful experience
for many folks in our country. October 24th
(“Black Thursday”), October 28th (“Black
Monday”), and October 29th (“Black
Tuesday”), were the beginning of a terrible slide in
stock prices that wouldn’t be fully recovered until 1954 –
25 years later! Perhaps even worse, the “Great Crash”
was a major contributor to the onset of the Great Depression.
The entire nation suffered through that together.
Sadly, one of the primary contributing factors to the imploding of Wall Street – and the country - was the fact that so many investors weren’t committed to their investments for the long-term; they were just short-term “speculators” looking for a quick buck. Many even borrowed money to purchase stocks, because they had no intention of owning them for long, just long enough to make a big profit. Consequently, when prices fell so sharply, they wouldn’t (or couldn’t, because of their debt) hold onto the stock. Those who stayed in the market eventually did very well, but not until they had patiently endured the crisis.
Our relationships – both with our LORD and with our spouses – have some similarities. If we approach our relationships with nothing but a speculator’s mentality, we’re doomed from the beginning. We’re sadly deceived if our primary motivation as we come to Christ is what WE can get out of him in the short-term; How he will benefit US immediately; The comfort he is sure to bring US. That’s a speculator: no commitment - just raw, red, selfish greed, with no vision for staying the course long-term.
On the other hand, if we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and motivations, we can begin to exhibit the genuine, committed love which reflects Christ’s love. He shows us how to truly invest ourselves – all that we are – for the long-term. Regardless of feelings, circumstances or the perception that there is a bigger “payoff” somewhere else, He shows us that we CAN stay the course. The difference between these two approaches is illustrated by the Lord:
“Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” (“[people], like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away”)…
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” (“Other [people], like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”) (Mark 4:5-6, 16-17, 8, 20)
Having the attitude of a speculator is the fastest road to disaster in marriage as well. The speculator is fine as long as the skyrockets are in flight and the violins are always playing in the background, but when the “new” wears off and the “profit”/enjoyment from the relationship seems to be decreasing, the speculator hits the road for the next relational “fast buck” that can be made.
Remember, those who rode out the hard times of market collapse and depression in the 1930’s profited very handsomely, but they had to stick with it through incredibly hard times. They were the committed ones; the solid ones; the stubborn ones. They stayed the course in spite of the difficulties. How much greater is our reward when we take the attitude of the long-term investor toward our spouses: investing ourselves wholeheartedly without reservation; settling in for the long haul – no matter what; loving, honoring and respecting unconditionally. Our Master invests Himself in us forever with no contingencies, so let’s follow His example.
