Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
In the past month, the stock market has run up at a pace unseen since the dot-com boom twenty-six years ago, driven by AI infrastructure buildouts and semiconductor demand. Pundits say that we are in the roaring 20s once again. As of mid-May, the trailing S&P 500 P/E ratio is at approximately 32 while the historical mean averages around 15-20. If anyone non-technical is reading this, that means that stocks are on average quite potentially overvalued by a large margin, inflated due to the hope that the economy outperforms at unprecedented levels for the forseeable future due to AI efficiency gains.
All that said, seeing the daily chart run up and reading reddit posts of those who made millions gambling their life savings have made it difficult for me to remain content with what I have. The spirit of covetousness and greed daily pull at my focus. Lately I have been scanning every news article with the latest financial news updates and I replay scenarios in my head of taking a large all-or-nothing gambles and coming out ahead. The desire to make money with little effort has become a borderline obsession.
In this moment, I reflect on the teachings and warnings of our Lord Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:10 says that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” and through it we can be “pierced with many pangs”. I recognize this clearly in myself. This desire to make money has disrupted my heart with all kinds of discontentment and stress. It has stolen my appreciation for the little things, and replaced my appreciation with a desire for more.
In recognition of this desire, I write this blog post to reflect and ground myself in the truth of scripture through these acknowledgements:
1. Even if I win, it will never be enough
Proverbs 13:11 - He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
2. Easy come, easy go. Quick wins do not last, but patience accumulates.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
3. True life is found outside of money in the things of God
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - … “so that they make take hold of that which is truly life.”
Meditating on these scriptures help me gain clarity on what is truly valuable apart from money, such as the free acknowledgement of his beauty in creation, the gift of God’s love and peace, and the blessing to serve others with my resources and time.