Are you worried about credit card fraud?

Posted 21/08/2009 - 09:02 by Matt

This week saw the arrest of the ex-US secret service informant, Albert "Segvev" Gonzalez, for stealing 40 million bank card numbers by hacking in to retailers networks and selling the information on.
This really begs the question, how safe is our data - in particular our financial data? Can anyone access our bank account or credit card and take money without us realising until the next statement is due?
We hear statistics like "Fraudsters steal about £800 a minute from people's credit and debit cards" and worry even more.
If we read the Bible and let that become the driving force in our lives, then we realise that this is one thing we do not need to worry about. Jesus tells us not to worry about what we will wear or eat but set our priority on God's Kingdom:
"Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:29-34 WEB)
Our treasure should not be earthly money, but we should put our heart in to seeking God's kingdom. If we are dedicated to serving God by following the example of His son, then what happens to any money or possessions that God has blessed us with is of little concern in our brief life now, compared to the hope of eternal in God's Kingdom which we pray Jesus will return to set up on earth soon!
Paul writes the following to Timothy:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:6-10 WEB)
So let's not worry to much about fraudster's hacking into our bank accounts and credits cards, but instead let us be concerned with "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness." (v11 WEB)