Mentoring Men for the Master

THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO OUR ECONOMIC CRISIS

The floundering economy has caused many Americans to be concerned about the future.  The economists are convinced that some form of economic Armageddon looms just over the horizon.  But what should be the response of the people of God.  A question every Christian should be asking is:  Could God be using these uncertain times as a wake-up call to see where our trust really lies?  Dr. Paul Brewster, whom I have mentored for years, writes that “many American Christians are far more concerned about the collapse of their investment portfolios than about the spiritual collapse of the nation, and that while secular economists see certain doom just around the corner, God’s people should view our economic distress as a blessing in disguise.”

Let us, therefore, consider some biblical principles which should guide Christians during these uncertain days:

  1. Relieve  our suffering brothers and ministries if possible – 1 John 3:17.
  2. Repent of our personal greed (coveting) which has become the American idol – Col. 3:5.
  3. Realize  that God has a redemptive purpose in allowing the economic crisis:
    1.   to expose corruption not just of Fannie and Freddie but of Tom, Dick and Harry.
    2.   to wake up a sleeping and Laodicean church – Revelation 3:16-17.
    3.   to show a nation that  you cannot serve God and mammon – Matthew 6:24.
    4.  to get the attention of the lost.
  4. Recognize that God is sovereign over the economic situation – Psalm 103:19.
  5. Rejoice in the God of our salvation when the economic situation is bleak. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
  6. Resort to practical steps to address your economic problems:
    1. “Learn to be content – Heb. 13:5; Phil. 4:11.
    2. Pay your bills faithfully.
    3. Prioritize your debt, making sure you don’t compromise your home or transportation.
    4. Negotiate with your creditors as needed. Make payment arrangements with your creditors rather than waiting until you miss payments and they come flocking for you.
    5. Downsize if it puts you in a better cash position.
    6. Pay extra whenever you can to accelerate your payoff dates.
    7. Have a garage sale to generate extra cash to pay down debt or to increase savings.
    8. Capitalize on your most valuable assets, your family.
    9. Learn to garden, use fresh vegetables and fruit when in season, try a new recipe.”[1]
    10. If guilty, quit robbing God. Tithe – Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:6-11.
    11. Revisit your spending habits and cut out the ridiculous and unnecessary. Examples:
      1. Americans spent $21.3 billion on pets in 2002 (twice the amount given to foreign missions.
      2. $224 billion on eating out
      3. $67 billion on frozen dinners
      4. $15 billion on junk food snacks
      5. $25 billion on gardening
      6. $22.1 billion on hunting
      7. $191 billion on personal watercraft.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” – Matthew 6:21.

  1. Invest all you can in ministries which change lives and save souls – Luke 16:9
  2. Undergo plastic surgery and live within your means, for if your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.  (The average American has 9 credit cards).
  3. Be generous in giving and leave the consequences with God. I have followed this rule in the worse of economic times and have experienced miracle, after miracle, after miracle.  Praise the Lord!

 

 

[1] Crown Finance.com