Nik Ripken was deeply involved with relief work in Somalia in the 1990s. Sent out as a missionary without ever having met a Muslim, through a variety of circumstances Nik ended up leading a large NGO providing food and other supplies to thousands of suffering Somalis. Most of his work was simply relief. But on occasion he was able to speak of Jesus.

He and other Christian aid workers came to know of four believers in Jesus among their many Somali employees. And they decided to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. As far as they knew, it had been many years since any Somalis had celebrated the Lord’s Supper in their capital city. There was danger for all, particularly for the four Somalis – so each person traveled separately to the location, by different, roundabout routes.

Nik writes:

I felt honored to worship at the Lord’s Table with these four brothers who were willing to risk their own blood, their own bodies, and their very lives to follow Jesus among an unbelieving people group in this unbelieving country. Never before had I felt the true cost and significance of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. This was a high and holy moment. (The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected, B & H Publishers, 2013).

Just weeks later, terrorists killed all four of those believers, in separate, coordinated attacks. They then sent a message that all Somalis who worked for international relief organizations would be murdered unless their agencies left the country.

God promises those who believe in Jesus: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Scripture promises us: Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. The author of Hebrews assures us that “we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Well, man can kill us. So in what sense can we say that God is our security? If God doesn’t guarantee us life – let alone health, wealth, and prosperity – what good are His promises?

Where do you find security?

Many find security in money, either in our own individual assets and insurance policies, or in the security that comes from living in a rich country with a stable government, a strong military, usually an honest police force, and usually an honest judiciary.

But Scripture tells us: To find our security in our personal wealth or in our wealthy society is foolish. Our security must be in God, and in Him alone.

But Nik Ripken’s story, and many others like it, lead us to ask: Can we really trust Him more than we can trust our bank accounts, or the US military?

Let’s see how the Scriptures explain this.

1. It is Foolish to Trust in Money for Your Security

As an example of why it is foolish to trust money for your security, consider Job. In chapter 1, he is very wealthy man, “the greatest of all the people of the east” (Job 1:3). But in one day:

• His servants are all killed except a handful who report what happened.
• All his animals – the primary store of wealth in that society – were killed or stolen.
• And then the biggest blow: His 10 children are celebrating together when a huge wind hits their building. It collapses, and all 10 die.

One day. In one day, Job moves from being rich and prosperous to having nothing. His wealth, great as it was, could not be his security.

Do not think such examples are limited to long ago. We could tell many stories of individuals today who lost everything. But instead, consider what can happen to an entire society. In Congo (formerly Zaire), the real per capita income has decreased 70 percent between 1974 and 2008 (the latest year for which statistics are available). Seventy percent! Imagine what would happen to you and your family if you lost 70% of your income. And that’s the average; many lost much, much more.

More recently, even in Europe, Greece experienced a twenty percent decline in real per capita income between 2009 and 2013. Again, that’s the average, with many suffering much, much more.

We could go on with examples of why we cannot depend on riches or material goods or economic policies or national security or insurance or protection against natural disaster or law enforcement or a constitution or youth or ingenuity or education. All may fail.

Do not trust in riches, not even in rich countries.

But let’s turn our attention from examples to the Bible’s explanation for why it’s foolish to trust in money:

Scripture gives four main reasons. Here are the first three:

i) Money may not provide any security in this life

ii) Money definitely will provide no security at death

iii) There is an alternative: Trust God for your security

Consider these text:

Proverbs 23:4-5   4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.  5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.   

The emphasis here is on the transitory nature of wealth in this life. But also, consider: When will “your eyes light on it,” searching for something secure to grasp hold of? Particularly when you know you are about to die. But your riches will do you no good then. They will fly away.

1 Timothy 6:17  As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Proverbs 11:4   Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 11:28   Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

Proverbs 18:10-11   The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.  11 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall — in his imagination.

Do you see? God is the true security, the true safety. Rich men think they are safe and secure – but that’s only in their imagination.

Psalm 62:7-10    On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  ⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. ⁹ Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.  ¹⁰ Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Matthew 6:28b-33   Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Philippians 4:18-20 (Paul writes here concerning a contribution the Philippians made to his ministry)  ¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

This is a huge promise: Every need! And the promise is not just to give you enough so you can barely scrape by. He promises to supply your every need according to, or, in accordance with His riches in glory. How many riches does God have?

The strength of these promises establishes the fourth reason it is foolish to trust in our riches:

iv) Not to Trust God is to Demean Him

Several scriptures bring this out explicitly:

Job 31:24-28  (Part of Job’s defense) If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, . . . 28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

Luke 12:15-21 [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

So all these Scriptures tell us to trust God. Riches will fail us, possibly in this life, certainly at death. God promises security and deserves our trust.

But what are the results of trusting Him?

2. What Security Does God Promise to Those Who Trust Him?

Psalm 34:4-10 provides us with a good example of the extent of God’s promise:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.  8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

But what does this promise really mean in a world where Nik Ripken’s story occurs time and again?

a) What God Does Not Promise

Specifically, to lack no good thing does NOT mean:

• We will face no tribulation. Rather Jesus promises us tribulation, John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”       
• Lacking no good thing does not mean we will avoid persecution. Quite the opposite: 2 Tim 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
• It does not mean we will have place to call home
• It does not mean we will have decent clothing
• It does not mean we will avoid torture.
• It does not mean we will avoid prison.
• It does not mean we will own anything in this world
• It does not mean we will be saved from death

In this regard, consider the men and women of God mentioned in Heb 11:35-38. Note: all these are commended for their faith:

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated–  38 of whom the world was not worthy–wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

However we interpret the promises of God with respect to security, we have to conclude that God’s promises were fulfilled for these men and women of faith.

And of course, the promises were fulfilled for Jesus Himself. Shortly before His arrest, Jesus says:

John 12:24-28  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.  27 ¶ “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.  28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

God the Father did not promise even to Immanuel, God with us,              safety from persecution. Instead, He glorified His Name thru Immanuel’s death and resurrection.

The promises were also fulfilled for the Apostle Paul. When Paul writes 2 Timothy, he is under arrest, abandoned by his friends, and knows that in short order he will be executed by decapitation. Yet he writes: 2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

If the Lord will rescue Paul from every evil attack, and if Paul knows he will be executed, we must conclude that Paul’s final execution is not an evil attack. For God to rescue him from that would not be good.

What, then, does God’s promise of security mean?

b) What God Does Promise

Consider Romans 8:16-18   The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

God’s promise means that He will use every instance of suffering in this life for His glory and our good. Even after living a difficult life, even after being tortured or killed, we will agree: The glory we experience far outweighs our suffering.

Later in the same chapter Paul writes:

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

This is our greatest good: Being changed into the image of Jesus Himself. And that outcome is worth any cost.

Paul concludes the chapter:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is the security God promises. He doesn’t put a force field around you that deflects bullets and insults. Nor does He promise you caviar and Ferraris.  Rather He promises to take whatever suffering you experience and use it for your good and for His glory. He promises to give you the greatest good:

• Love: His love
• Intimacy: membership in His family
• Righteousness: being conformed to the image of His Son
• Fulfillment: a role in the greatest accomplishment of all time
• Joy –  as we’ll see next week: Being in His presence

You will lack no good thing That is: You will lack nothing you need to become like Christ. You will lack nothing you need to enjoy the Father forever. You will lack nothing you need to fulfill your role in accomplishing His task.

So what does God guarantee if you trust in Jesus, if you love Him and follow Him?

• Health? No, God does not guarantee you or your family good health.
• Wealth? No, God does not guarantee you or your children material abundance.
• Success? No, God does not guarantee success, as we tend to define it in the US.
• Long life? No, God does not guarantee you long life in this world. Remember, Jesus died at 33.

Those four Somali brothers certainly had no wealth, no worldly success, and they died young. But Scripture assures us: God was at work in that tragedy, even through the evil acts of evil men. God is continuing to work out His glorious purposes for the Somali people – in part, through our prayers for those people motivated by this tragedy. God brought those four men to a relationship with Him they did not deserve, showering them with grace and mercy. And He brought them to Himself. They now know with certainty that “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” For today they see Him face to face. And if we endure to the end we will meet them, and many millions more who died for the sake of the Name.

No, God doesn’t promise you safety. He doesn’t promise you health, wealth, and prosperity. Furthermore, there’s nothing you can do in this life that will assure you of safety, health, wealth, and prosperity.

But God promises you something much better:                 The security of always being enfolded by His love. The security of knowing He is working all things together for your good and His glory. The security of knowing that you will be like Christ.

God promises you: “I will never leave nor forsake you Nothing will ever separate you from my everlasting love.”

That is security indeed.

(This is a condensed version of the sermon preached January 26, 2014.)