Economic Worries? God is faithful!
September 30th, 2008 by Victor
As news spreads of the economic challenges facing the United States, many people are raising serious concerns. President Bush recently said “our entire economy is in danger” and that “the government’s top economic experts warn that without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial panic, and a distressing scenario would unfold…” Yesterday the proposed bailout package which was designed to return stability and confidence to the markets was rejected by the House.
For the Christian who is focused on the coming of the Kingdom, the writer of Hebrews provides words which speak to these concerns directly:
Hebrews 13:5-6 - “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”
What a thought! If we put our complete confidence and trust in the LORD and not in man we will be able to endure this and any time of trial or crisis. It is in times like we are currently in where such a section is so clear - man doesn’t know what to do! Man created the problems that exist and is stuck in the middle without a clear path out - we need to be the people who have faith and trust in the LORD!
My intention by raising this issue is not to be a messenger of doom and gloom - but current events do provide us with a good opportunity to consider our own hearts on this matter. If everything crashes and falls apart - will we continue to have faith? Is the God who you worship on the sunny warm days going to be the one we look to when the cold rain comes? Throughout time the people of God have gone through various trials. Some of the situations they were delivered, while others entrusted their souls to their faithful Creator. We can look to their example of endurance for encouragement in our own lives today.
Are you worried about the times in which we live? Pray about this today. Concerned about not really understanding how things are going to turn out? Seek the LORD for help. We need to be free from the love of money and the thorny entanglements of this evil age which will cause us to trust in man rather than God and choke His word out of our hearts. Now is the time for God’s children to trust in their Father and His proven track record of faithfulness.
As to a practical step we can all take during these times - (1) - keep giving - don’t cheat God or others in need because you are worried about where you’re going to get more money to pay your bills. This is a practical way to honor the LORD during tighter times. It shows Him you trust Him. (2) - look at your luxury - maybe there is something you don’t really need to buy/do/watch/get, etc - maybe start making coffee at home for pennies a day rather than getting Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks for a couple bucks a cup (now I know this is tough for some of us - myself included 
- but it’s a practical way we can make sure we use the money the LORD provides wisely, and so we still are in a position to help those who are in need. Do you have any other ideas?
So take some time today to pray about these things. Ask the LORD to search your heart regarding these matters. And pray for your church and fellowship, and for ways that you might be able to help encourage a brothers or sister to trust in the LORD more today than we did yesterday. He is faithful.
What I found interesting (and I’m not trying to read anything into this) was that the DOW fell exactly 777 points.
Interesting?
I think that the events of the past several days, weeks, or months show what happens when people stop living according to God’s practical rules. We should live simply and within our means. We should not go into excessive debt. We should be responsible for our actions (hard as it is for some, those who signed on to a mortgage that they could not afford should pay the consequences; those that loaned money to those that they knew could not pay it back should go out of business). I have fortuitously via marriage been living a lifestyle well below my means for about ten years. We are almost completely debt free, even after putting two kids through college. I am thankful to God for that. I think that this is a (painful) lesson that we, as a country, should learn.
Frank,
I noticed that as well. Very interesting, indeed.
If it had been 666, the newspaper exegetes would have had a coronary!
Tim, excellent point. Christians should certainly live within their means - we are supposed to work not just to provide for our own needs but so that we can give too! If I am so strapped that I am unable to give not only to my local church but to people in need, I personally want to evaluate my expenses - maybe minimize my cell phone features, do the coffee at home like I mentioned in the blog post, etc. I often am reminded of one of the Wesley brothers who would work so he could buy Bibles for people and he himself lived in poverty. Wow.
Let’s face it, as you said, much of the situation we are in has been caused by greed. I really need to examine my own heart and behavior to determine if there is some greed, covetousness, or lust of the things of this age in there somewhere. Or as the market and world falls, so will I.
So, how long until someone recommends a global currency?
The world’s banks and US Federal Reserve are working closely together to adjust world interest rates.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,434303,00.html
If I have this one world currency thing wrong, feel free to correct me.
I think what the Chinese gov’t has done is incredibly interesting. They fix the exchange rate to dollars. Now, traditional capitalism scoffs at this because it handcuffs growth. And yes, it doesn’t allow growth, the government gets to keep the profit. But! Now when the markets are crashing, they can adjust the rate so that local businesses aren’t going bankrupt b/c they aren’t getting as much as they used to for the dollars. This is what Wall St analysts are talking about when they say all our debt is in China. It’s an interesting strategy if applied correctly.
The one world currency made me think of it.
The EU wants to construct a new world order for the global economy.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/705imijb.asp