Economic Uncertainty

Fear. Financial meltdown. Panic. What a week on Wall Street. It’s been a while since I’ve heard those words used as often as they were this past week. The Stock Market seemed to be heading down a slippery slope. Then it roared back like a roller coaster coming out of a thrilling dip. What are we to think? How should Christ-followers respond? Our hope is not in this world . . . but we live in this world. Many of us have insurance policies, checking and saving accounts, investments or retirement plans. Some people are old enough to remember the Great Depression.

Numerous thoughts have pulsated in my mind this week. Where will this lead? No one knows the answer to that question. Is more bad news coming? Same answer: no one can say with reasonable certainty. Is God allowing our country to reap what we have sown in greed and materialism? Worse yet, could God be judging America? Or does it have a human root? Has someone mismanaged their watch-dog office in the government? Or, have some businesses tried to grow too big too fast? Or, is this an inevitable market correction from buying more than we can afford, stretching ourselves beyond sensibleness? These questions have no clear answers. But these questions, and others, persist.

Several things have settled in my thoughts. First is a verse of Scripture I taught my son when he was very young. Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” I said to my wife as the news was breaking about the massive government bail-out, “I’m sure glad Jesus is on the throne.” This is a time, unlike more comfortable times, to trust God, no matter what the future. It is a time to road test our faith, to embrace Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew’s gospel when he talked about this very thing. “So don't worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33). May our fears find rest in these words of Jesus.

I’ve also found myself being thankful. I am thankful for people who are much smarter than I about finances on a national scale. The talk of hundreds of billions, even a trillion dollars, is beyond my comprehension. I’m grateful for the expertise some have to address this problem. I am thankful for my country, and the freedom we have to respond to every issue.

In times like these, one cannot help but think about the power of greed. Did it play a role in this present crisis? Only time will tell. Scripture is clear about the danger of greed. Paul instructed young Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10). This is a warning to fellow Christians, but applies to all people. Anyone is vulnerable to the lure of loving money. Money is an innocent means of acquiring goods and services. It is the love of it that causes us to pierce ourselves with many griefs. The words of the writer of Hebrews makes so much sense, in good times and bad. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

All things considered, our best response is to pray. I read a news report over the weekend of prayer meetings happening in New York as this crisis broke, similar to the prayer response to 9/11. That is the best way to help our country right now. Pray for those wrestling with this problem, seeking reasonable solutions. Pray for leaders of our government and businesses directly affected, that they will make wise decisions. Pray for those personally affected by this financial roller coaster ride, that they will not be driven to despair. Pray for us all, that we will be delivered from the love of money. Pray that we will all turn, with bold trust, to God.