A Wall Street to Nowhere

The measure of a man's want is seen in the nature of the power that awakened it. No man can stand in front of Jesus Christ and say, "I want to make money."
- Oswald Chambers

I've been getting a lot of emails and calls from friends wanting to tap into my financial mind for advice of what to do during the chaos and turmoil on Wall Street. I've spent over 20 years on Wall Street - both as an analyst and an investment manager. For several years, I taught a popular course on investing to undergraduates at a private university in Connecticut. Some would say I'm an expert in financial affairs.

While I am open to helping people with their finances, I have to make a confession: Since my revelation on December 7, 2002, my view of Wall Street has changed dramatically. I used to think that Wall Street was everything. It's where I made my living. If you took away Wall Street, you took away my livelihood. Today, I know that Wall Street is nothing.

You might think this is a strange thing for somebody with my background to say, but I say it with great conviction. How do I know Wall Street is nothing? Let me explain.

My revelation of Christ - how God chose to reveal Himself to me - was through the Scripture in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. The opening verses of 1 Corinthians 13 tell us everything we need to know to what Wall Street is and isn't.

The Spirit, through Paul, said to the Corinthians:

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." (1 Cor. 13:2)

When you have spent a great deal of time on Wall Street, as I have, you see very clearly that money is god, not love. And therein lies the problem with Wall Street: It has not love.

Wall Street is all about knowledge. You train for Wall Street by attending the finest universities in the world. You study and then you study some more. Gaining knowledge becomes your primary goal. The more you know, you are told, the more successful you will likely be on Wall Street. There is a good deal to be said for the value of prophecy on Wall Street. Investors listen to prophecies about the markets all of the time. People make livings on Wall Street forecasting the direction of stocks, interest rates, economic activity, inflation, etc. They are paid to tell people about the future.

The Lord is very clear on the value of prophecy and knowledge. We can have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all knowledge - yes, we can have all knowledge - but if we have not love in our hearts, we are nothing.

Nothing!

There is an old adage on Wall Street: "If you want a friend, buy a dog." That's about as much love you will find on the Street. A heart filled with love - God's love - has little if any value on the Street. Wall Street idolizes money. If you know how to make money, you are welcome on the Street. If you know how to make a lot of money consistently, you become a god. There is no value to telling people how to walk in love. Zippo!

This is tragic when you stop to think deeply about it. But that's Wall Street. I will make a prediction. As long as money is god, Wall Street will continue to experience crashes, panics, and bubbles. Wall Street is driven by fear and greed - these are the basic ingredients for crashes, pancis and bubbles.

In Christ - in God's true expression of love - there is no fear or greed. His love casts out all fear and greed. Wall Street loves money. But money cannot buy God's love. This fact illustrates the worthlessness of money compared to love.

My advice to those who are wondering what to do amid the chaos on Wall Street is simple:

Seek first the kingdom of God, not money.

A Spirit-filled heart pursues love and lets God take care of the rest. He will provide all the resources you need. You can take that guarantee to the bank!

May you have God's never-failing love in your heart, always and forever.

Agape,

Steve