The economic recovery is in your own hands! Do you believe that? Do you want to be in a better economy? Allow me to introduce three fundamental Biblical principles that will help guide you to a more stable life of providence.
#1) Believe God is the creator of the Universe
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”- Genesis 1:1
I would argue Genesis 1:1 is one of the most important statement ever penned. A defining statement. Ten words that expound our Christian faith. If you believe these ten words, as I do, you should be living a life of joy, gratitude and an amazing positive attitude! When you believe this, everything else in the Bible comes into perspective.
If we understand and believe God is in control of our lives, why do we worry so? (Matthew 6:26, 10:31) Economic indicators such as GDP, Inflation, Unemployment, Consumer Confidence and Interest Rates keeping you awake at night? Do these indicators have your stomach in knots? I ask you again, do you believe Genesis 1:1? Do you really believe that God is in control? Then WHY do you worry so? When we truly believe that God is in control and really desires good for us, it takes the pressure off! Lean on God, he can handle it!
#2) Pray Often
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”- Psalm 34:17
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:12
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
Then, one of my favorite passages in the Bible is: 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Getting the picture? Prayer is the second key in our economic recovery plan. We must talk and LISTEN to our Heavenly Father, he desires us to communicate with him! When He hears prayers from the righteous, He answers. I know, I know, some of you will say God has not answered your payers. But, believe that He will, He has promised! God will ultimately answer all our prayers. Just as a reminder, the answer may not be the one you want! Personally, God’s answers have always exceeded my expectations!
3) Honor God with the resources He has blessed you with
We cannot out-give God, period, end of sentence. He has given us EVERYTHING. God OWNES EVERYTHING, remember Genesis 1:1? Honoring God by giving back a portion of the resources He has blessed us with is an investment that will bring you greater returns than any other investment you can choose. There are no earthly investments that will last forever, none! By contrast, all offerings to God are eternal and will last forever. You will always benefit from giving God the first-fruits of you time, talent and treasure. It amazes me that we do not understand this investment principle and are more “hoarders” than “”givers”. Don’t think so? Check our your garage or self storage unit! Amazing as our hoarding mentality is, it is nothing new. Scripture addresses it firmly in the book of Malachi, chapter 3, verses 8-12;
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Please understand, I do comprehend the magnitude of this sad economy we are experiencing, we all should. In the Barna Group‘s article, ”Diverse Set of National Concerns Topped by Widespread Economic Worries” (September 13, 2010), 98% of the adults interviewed listed one issue relating to our poor economy. All of us have felt the changes over the last few years of a deflating economy, we all know too many friends out of work, too many businesses closed and too may home foreclosures.
The antidote for the “economic worries” we are experiencing is Malachi 3:10, which is highlighted in red above. This is the only place in the Bible, God challenges us to test Him! Do you have enough faith to test God? Conversely, I do know some who would say, “I don’t have enough faith not to give!” Think about that statement for a while! Allow me to let you in on what should be “headline news”, God keeps his promises! He absolutely, positively will bless you when you give to His Kingdom!
This third, and most difficult “key” in your economic recovery plan is to get to this place where God, “opens the windows (and doors) of heaven for YOU and pours down for YOU a blessing until there is no more need”. The only way to get to this place is to “test God” as he asks in Malachi 3:10 and see! From our earthly standpoint, this “Kingdom investing” seem counterintuitive, ridiculous to some. What is absolutely ridiculous is this notion that we can control our future years by buying stocks, bonds, CD’s and other types of “wealth investments” for a secure retirement. How about that bigger house for an “investment”, that worked well, right? Worse yet, far too many of us spend and spend, thinking acquiring “stuff” will make us happy and solve all our problems. NOT!!! Again, look no further than your all too cluttered garage or too small self storage unit.
There is only one way to begin your solid, long-term economic recovery, follow these three seemingly simple steps. Try it, “test God (it’s the only place in the Bible God says, “test me”!). So, now that God has “dared” you, test him! I guarantee you will be “on your way” to a much better economy! Actually, God guarantee’s it!
