Cut Your Losses
Today’s Verse:
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. ~2 Chronicles 25:9
One of the basics to investing is understanding risk and reward. The higher the rate of return, the higher the risk. There are risks that we take that are very profitable. There are other risks that result in losses. Experts will tell you to set your losses at a minimum amount in order to “cut your losses.” This means to take a loss now and hope to recover it in a future investment. God teaches us this morning about learning to cut our losses.
We see the hasty decision.
“He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.” Amaziah was preparing to go to war against the Edomites. He wanted to bolster his military strength by hiring 100,000 valiant men of war from Israel to help him. He hired them for 100 talents of silver. In today’s value, that would be $3,000,000 (assuming silver is selling at $19.00 per ounce). He expected to get a good return on investment on the hefty sum of money that he paid out. He made this decision quickly and without counsel from the Lord.
We see the holy directive.
“But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.” God told Amaziah, “Don’t take them with you, but instead send them back home.” God said that He would not bless an endeavor that involved Israel. He told him, “You go to battle and let Me prove to you that you can win with My help.” He further said that if Amaziah took the hired men of war with him to battle, he would lose to Edom. God’s directive to Amaziah was very costly. What would you do if God told to do something that looked like a substantial loss?
We see the humbling dependence.
“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” Amaziah asked, “What about all the money I spent?” When we run ahead of God, we discover our decision to be very costly because we did not ask Him first. It’s costly to disobey God. The losses we incur from disobedience are far greater than any money we spend. First, obey God. God was lovingly telling Amaziah that he had made a bad investment. Second, cut your losses. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Our consuming thought should be about what will give God the glory. Is my choice in a matter going to benefit me or will it glorify Him? Third, God was teaching him to humble himself and have faith in God. God said, “I will give you much more than this.” God promises that when we ask and live in faith, He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Whatever we think we lose in this world is not a loss to God. Jesus is the goal of our life. Have faith in God’s plan, purpose, and provision for your life, and cut your losses from unwise personal choices that you have made. Obey God and trust in Him to provide for you much more than what you think you will lose.
Have an obedient God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 35-37