The economic meltdown dominates the news. It is a fact. It is a sobering reality. It has concrete reality and consequences. Our homes, our families, and our children are at risk.
Jobs are insecure. Retirement investments vanish, and disappear like smoke in the wind. What seemed secure and stable a year ago is today vulnerable and unstable! Without question this brings stress into marriage relationships and parent-child relationships.
What are our options when we become jobless or homeless? What are our options when we can no longer meet our obligations, pay our bills, or provide for our families? While we cannot provide answers to all of the above questions, we can offer some basic Bible principles that will help us look at our situation objectively.
Fear God
There are many promises in the Bible for those who fear God. “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psalm 34:9).
Fearing God is not being afraid of Him as if He were a sovereign ready to punish and to destroy us. Rather, it is worshipping God and reverencing Him for who He is, the Creator, the provider, the protector of His children. Fearing God is believing and knowing that His Word is true, His promises sure, and His commandments are to be obeyed.
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward [stubborn and disobedient] mouth” (Proverbs 8:13).
When we begin to hate evil we learn to abhor sin and everything that is in opposition to God’s righteous standard. You may ask, “What has this to do with economics or loss of job or credits?” Very much. Sin is costly at best. Sin is what brings economic woes upon a nation and upon the people of the nation.
Drinking, smoking, drugs, gambling, partying, and indulging in expensive or unnecessary entertainment consume finances that could be used for family necessities. Disconnect the T.V. and use the time for family interaction. Story time with children creates memories and bonding that money cannot buy.
The fear of God causes us to turn our eyes toward Him and away from our troubles. Hear what the Psalmist David said, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:4, 6).
Trust in God
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
The abundance of material things has made our lives complex and complicated. Numerous demands are made on us by society. Our wants, not our needs, become mandatory. We need God”s guidance and wisdom to help us sort through what is practical and necessary and what is unnecessary.
There are only two basic objects of trust- God, or man with all his inventions. Many people have chosen to trust man instead of God.
We are learning the hard way that trusting in the institutions and wisdom of men is disappointing. The stock market crashes. Business schemes cause investments to vanish, the bank forecloses on our property, or the company we had so much confidence in folds up and we lose our job.
We believe God can use all these failures to get us to turn our hearts to Him and learn to trust in Him. He alone is trustworthy. Read Psalm 50 in the Bible. Note verse 15: “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
Every day we need to make many decisions. Perhaps you are bombarded with a multitude of advisors saying, “You should do this, you must do that, or do it this way.” While they mean well, they often only add to the complexity.
On the other hand, if we turn to God and give Him our trust and loyalty, He will superintend our lives to do His will. Placing our trust and confidence in the Lord simplifies life and makes it more manageable. “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7).
Follow the Teachings of Jesus
Matthew 6:31-34 reminds us of where to put our trust. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Jesus taught us how to relate to material things. “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:15, 23, 24).
These teachings of Jesus are not suggesting irresponsibility, but rather encourage us to place our faith and trust in the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. We are more than physical beings who need food and clothes for survival. We are also spiritual and emotional creatures that are answerable to our Creator and to each other.
God is pleased when we bring all our perplexities, difficulties, and burdens to Him in prayer. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
If we choose to ignore our heavenly Father and refuse to acknowledge His commandments and promises, can we blame Him for our troubles? God is waiting and ready to receive all who come to Him in faith. He forgives those who are repentant and restores those who plead for mercy.
The economy crisis will prove to be a blessing if we turn away from our greed, selfishness, and extravagance, and learn to live in simple faith and trust. In living more simply we have more time for family and neighbors and community service. We will develop appreciation for the nobler virtues of life- a caring attitude, a sensitivity to others” feelings, an understanding compassion for growing children and youth, and an awareness of God”s hand in the small details of life. Can we thank God for the lesson?
-by J. Martin