Economic crisis?
Mark Lawrence asks whether the current economic climate is a cause of concern for the Christian.
I’m sure like me you’ve noticed that the price of nearly everything you buy has increased dramatically in the last year. You name it – oil, gas, electricity, food and water, you are probably paying more for it today than you did a year ago.
Last week another round of increases in gas and electricity was announced which could see prices rise by another 20%. A recently released report by the Business and Enterprise Committee predicts that “gas and electricity bills for domestic consumers will rise significantly in the near future, over and above the increases already announced this year, with serious consequences for millions of households.”
Over the same period house prices have fallen as confidence and demand ebb away. “For Sale” signs are taking root like trees all over the country as Estate Agents struggle to attract buyers. For the first time on record house prices are falling in all areas of the country. The number of houses sold plummeted to just 62,000 in August, which is the lowest level since records began in 1959 and less than half the figure for a year ago, according to HM Revenue and Customs.
If that wasn’t bad enough the failure of a number of companies across the world has triggered a global financial crisis, with UK and US banks themselves now engulfed, this crisis takes on unprecedented proportions.
The result is perhaps the bleakest financial outlook in our lifetime. Edmund Conway, Economics Editor at The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and telegraph.co.uk writes on his blog:
All eyes are on the financial system, and rightly so. If its collapse continues for much longer the very real risk is that the world faces an economic slump of the likes not seen since the 1930s, with all that entails… … the possibilities are so horrific it is painful even to write them.
Christians maybe recipients of power from on high yet the price of our electricity goes up just like everyone else’s, we are not immune from the effects of this crisis.
The sons of Issachar understood the times in which they lived and knew what Israel should do. So what should we do at this time of financial uncertainty?
Firstly let’s remind ourselves that although we are in the world, we are not of it. Put another way we live on earth but we live from heaven and the good news is that whilst there maybe a global financial crisis on earth, in heaven all is well.
That doesn’t negate the need for common sense or to use a Biblical word, wisdom. If you don’t have a budget, make one. If you do have a budget, review it so that you can quantify the impact of the increased cost of living and account for this in terms of your spending. Companies all over the world are doing this right now. Why? Because they know that balancing what’s going out against what’s coming in is important particularly in times of uncertainty. If budgeting is not something you are used to do doing ask someone to help you.
Remember that you are called to live by faith, faith in a God who provides for all your needs according to his riches. Don’t forget His provision isn’t limited to your pay packet; He is a God of supernatural provision. It’s possible for the people of God to prosper even in times of famine. In Genesis 26 we read the story of Isaac who sowed in a time of famine and reaped a hundredfold in the same year! Believe God to meet all your needs and more so that you can continue to help to meet the needs of others.
Don’t be afraid! Right now millions of people across this nation and the world are being gripped by fear as newspaper editors’ battle for the most sensational headline. Remember that newspapers and TV bulletins do not provide the ultimate commentary on the affairs of men, the Bible does. The Bible clearly shows us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken and this includes all the nations of the world, their financial systems and ideologies. But it also tells us that we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let’s make this practical. There are millions of people across the world that are in fear of losing their job. Believe God that you won’t lose your job and even if you do, believe God that he will provide a better job. If you find that hard to believe read Maybin’s testimony on this website.
Finally, commit yourself to living according Biblical principles in terms of how you handle your money. The Bible tells us that tithing teaches us to fear God (not financial calamity). The man or woman who truly fears God doesn’t fear anything else. As you continue to tithe remind yourself that God is your provider, it is He who gives you the ability to make wealth. And then continue to sow. Sowing and reaping is a universal principle. God provides us with seed to sow and bread to eat. Sow the seed he gives you in faith believing that you will reap supernaturally even in time of famine.
Praise God we know that we have no need to live in fear in a time of recession.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
