Dipping the tip of his Paper Mate into what for him is the unfamiliar territory of Big Money, the writer has noticed the influence of small investors—"retail investors" by institutional experts in pension and mutual funds. Focusing only on the AMC Theater Chain, they have driven the company stock from a dormant $2 a share January 5, 2021, to a prosperous $72 a share Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
That's the limit of the writer's plunge into the stock market. But accenting the spiritual lesson taught by the surge of "retail investors", he reminds Christians of something we've forgotten. The Kingdom of God has, from God's choice of Abram, to God's choice of a shepherd boy, to God's choice of Simon Peter and brother Andrew, to God's choice of "not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth, I Corinthians 1:26, GOD ALONE empowers his Kingdom. Church leaders today glory in the conversion of high-profile people. This writer still remembers the Sunday evening H. Leon Appel came into youth group at Lincoln, Illinois, Christian Church and told us teenagers how Roy and Dale Rogers had been won to Christ. We were suitably impressed. Even the apostle Paul remembered to mention as a disciple "Erastus, who is the city's director of public works" Romans 16:23. A difference distinguished Paul from modern preachers: one reference appears in Paul's letters of such a convert whereas any preacher is quick to often publicly remind us of such people. While the disciples glorified in the "massive stones" and "magnificent buildings" of the temple complex, Jesus instead boosted the financial contribution of a widow whose sole contribution to God's work were "too small copper coins" Mark 12:41-13:1. And who of us hasn't heard of generous donors to churches, colleges and medical facilities, while hearing nothing of sacrificial donors to the same? The Kingdom of God IS GOD's Kingdom. He's the Owner, Benefactor and Sovereign. Any role we have, big or small, honorific or essential, is irrelevant to the Kingdom's Role and Rule.
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