The worst of times will lead to the best of times. We can be confident that the Lord is going to lead us into His triumph in everything that happens. However, we need to know where we are to know how to get where were going. Lets briefly review how this is playing out in our country at this time. I think those reading this from other countries can apply the same principles.
The economic shaking that began over a year ago rocked just about every church and ministry in America. Many had to close their doors as contributions plummeted. Instead of closing, others joined with additional churches and ministries in order to survive, which can result in a great strengthening of both. If we do not come into the unity God desires voluntarily, He will often cause situations that force us to. As He put it, we can either fall on the rock and be broken or have it fall on us and crush us into powder. There is an easy way, but if we dont respond to it, for our sakes, He will force the conditions. We see this throughout Scripture.
The result of this economic shaking has brought a soberness and wisdom in financial matters, a resolve to reduce and eventually eliminate debt. The cutting back of extravagant expenditures is helping churches and ministries lay a stronger foundation financially than many have ever had. This battle with economic issues is far from over, but if we are diligent, the body of Christ can be free from many of the most debilitating shackles soon.
This does not necessarily mean that we all should be wealthy, since this has nothing to do with how much we have, but instead it is about our freedom. One who is financially independent should never have to make a decision based on whether they have enough money, but rather on whether it is Gods will. This should be our primary financial goal as Christians, and many are making it theirs now. This will be increasingly critical in the days to come.
The economic shaking that came upon the world last year and the continuing tremors are like the shaking that God sent upon Egypt to set His people free. All of the gods of Egypt were judged, which is what God is doing nowjudging all of the gods of this world. A god is not just an idol that you bow down to, but it is anything that we put our trust in instead of God. Money is the number one idol of the human heart in our timeseven among many Christians. The faster we quit worshiping that god, the sooner the shaking may be over. Money is not evil, but can be if we use it incorrectly. Money must be our servant, not our god.
Hopefully, we have also become wise enough not to be lulled into believing that all is well now that it seems the economic downturn has levelled out and the stock market has come back like it has. As I shared months ago, we can expect this to happen, and this is a reprieve from the Lord to help many of us get our houses in order. Do not waste this time. It will not last long. And do not be lulled into thinking that everything is going to return to how it was before the shaking. The whole worlds economy is still tottering on the edge of an even bigger meltdown regardless of what the experts and pundits say.
This plateau could last for a year or so, but the fundamentals of the world economy are as shaky as ever, and there is even a fast return to some of the major mistakes, which caused the catastrophe we experienced in 2008, such as a renewal of sub-prime lending. The proverb that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it definitely applies here. Even so, it is hard to imagine that anyone could forget such a painful recent history so fast, but this is happening, revealing the depth of the delusion. We must not fall into this delusion ourselves.
Post published in: Opinions