What or Whom Can Be Trusted in our Meltdown?

Posted on February 20, 2009

This week's newsletter is from my Men Who Win ministry partner, Jeremy White, whose book, "Surviving Financial Meltdown", has just been released.  My 2/19/09 blog about my own personal response to the meltdown follows Jeremy's piece.
 
Amidst the doom-and-gloom economic headlines of the day, the Bible helps provide us the proper perspective. It tells us that wealth and the economy is uncertain. Consider this wisdom Paul reminded Timothy:
 
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." I Timothy 6:17
 
Do you see the first absolute in this verse? Simply stated, wealth is uncertain. Your retirement plan, your dollars in the bank, your job, the value of your real estate - all of your wealth. It's uncertain.
 
Don't be shocked into a frenzied panic when it goes up and down. Volatility should be no surprise because your wealth is uncertain. Don't borrow continually assuming your wealth is certain. It's not.
 
Paul's building toward an important contrast. Wealth is uncertain. Don't put your hope in that. Put your hope in God. He provides what we need. Paul is pointing toward God's certainty.
 
The psalmist has the same theme of God's certainty and stability. When the financial crises hit and it looks like no institution can be trusted, I like to be reminded of this passage:
 
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
       my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
       he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God [a] ;
       he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
       pour out your hearts to him,
       for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8
 
I don't like the fact that uncertainty exists. I've added a few gray hairs to my collection as I've tried to advise clients of their best course of action. But I'm so thankful that God is my hope, my rock, my fortress, my certainty.
 
(Portions excerpted from Surviving Financial Meltdown by Jeremy L. White and Ron Blue. Jeremy is a CPA with Blythe, White & Associates in Paducah, KY.)

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MY RESPONSE TO OUR FINANCIAL MESS
by Gary Chester

The nation's money meltdown has impacted most of us.  From my own personal observations, the only ones perhaps unaffected by it are mostly those employed by government.
 
Our nation's financial mess - caused by government corruption, corporate greed and our own conspicuous consumption - reveals that the root of our problem is spiritual.
 
Just like government and corporate fat cats, I'm personally tempted to cave whenever faced with that which feels satisfying and rightfully mine.  I'm enticed to defer to my darker side, which my salvation has rendered powerless -- unless I'm staying immersed in the love and power of my Creator.  Only when walking tight with Him does my heart willingly, even joyfully, choose His will which is good, pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:1-2).
 
These challenging times help to remind me, personally, of just how out-of-control my external circumstances really are.  They make me recognize - and repent of - my own natural bent toward deceptive self-sufficiency.  What a joke, uh?
 
Today's circumstances hopefully are drawing me nearer to Him through repentance, dependency, and above all, gratefulness.

 


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