Depression Era Cash Unearthed

Dan Deming was aware of the old rumors about buried treasure on his Wisconsin farm from his grandfather. But he never took seriously the stories about an eccentric man who may have hidden cash away back in the '30s and '40s- until now.

Mr. Deming did search casually for a time the after receiving a metal detector for his birthday a few years ago. Then this week, while tearing down a 100-year-old shed on his property, a rusted box appeared which contained wads of currency dating back to the Depression days. The bills were badly deteriorated, which made counting the cash difficult. But the box also contained scraps of newspaper with dollar amounts written on them. Instead of selling the bills to collectors, Deming turned them over to the U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which redeems mutilated currency for face value.

While saving for the proverbial ‘rainy day’ is generally a good practice, Scripture warns about that attitude becoming life’s highest goal and priority. In Matthew chapter 25 Jesus gave what has become known as “The Parable of The Talents”. There He told the story of a man who gave his servants different amounts of money based on their individual business abilities. The amounts ranged from a high of 5 talents down to the low of just one – a talent being equivalent to about $700 U.S. dollars and no doubt a large sum in those days. He was hoping for each servant to invest or use what they had received to increase the original amount as they were able.

Upon the master’s return, he was pleased that two of the servants had doubled their money. They were rewarded accordingly for their efforts. But the man who had received just one talent portion became fearful and insecure and physically buried the cash. This man infuriated his employer. His lack of action cost him not only any reward, but his job as well.

The main point of the story was stated to Jesus in verses 29-30. ”For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In a similar parable the Lord paralleled the good versus the evil servant, concluding with additional thoughts on the subject in just one concise sentence in Luke 12:48. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” In a word, Christians are expected to continually use their God-given gifts and abilities, large or small, for His honor, glory and kingdom.

In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Paul wrote that the priority for God’s people is not simply getting forgiven and then casting their gaze heavenward for the duration of the earthly journey. After clearly conveying that forgiveness comes not by works, but through grace and faith alone, his very next ‘post-salvation’ words turn immediately back to works. Verse nine declares, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” In Titus 3:8 he expressed this same truth. “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”

Aside from the responsibility of every believer to fully serve God because that is their ‘reasonable service’ (Romans 12:1) there is the additional aspect of their eternal future. The Lord addressed this in Matthew 6:19-20. His pointed remarks included what to do, what not to do, and why. Referring to the inappropriate usage, or storage, of earthly possessions, He said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

There are indeed many indicators that help reveal one’s true spiritual status. But few are clearer than the one found in that very next verse. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Bill Breckenridge