Bull Spiritual Market!

As I write this, the market futures have been frozen because they have fallen too much overnight.  All predictions are for a “brutal” start to the trading day, and maybe a “brutal” finish with “brutal” in between.

As we enter this global recession, with a really volatile stock market, jobs being lost and rumors of jobs being lost, and a lot of panic to go around, I’ve been thinking, “What does God say about all this?  How am I to respond?”

He’s been bringing a little story from the Bible to mind.  It’s in Genesis 26 if you want to read the whole thing on your own time.  There was a famine in the land.  Issac planted a crop and it yielded 100 fold!  Keep in mind, that would be an awesome harvest by today’s standards with our modern equipment!  100 fold back then was huge in perfect conditions.  In famine?  It was a miracle from God.  In hard economic times, God chose to bless Issac and make him exceedingly rich!

Does God will to do that in my life, or in yours, even in tough economic times?  I don’t know.  But it builds my faith to know that He can and has!  Ask Him and see what He says and does.  If He does, I believe it will be for a divine purpose. To use worldly riches for spiritual gain.  To bring more people into God’s Kingdom!

We are in this economic mess because we as a country have ignored God’s principles for sound financial living.  We have spent beyond our means and remember, the borrower is slave to the lender.  America is $10 trillion on debt and that deficit is growing fast.  We can’t sustain it.  A correction has arrived.  God isn’t punishing America in the sense that He hates us or is removing His hand of blessing.  However, God will not be mocked.  We will reap what we sow.  I believe we are simply reaping what we have sown.

So.  What is our response?  Repent and pray.  I have credit card debt.  I hate to admit it, but it’s true.   I need God’s help to pay that off.  I need to change my actions to line up with His Word.  I am asking for His forgiveness and His help to do the right thing with my individual finances.  God can bless me beyond what I can ask or imagine.  I will pray that He will, so I can be a blessing.

If I am blessed financially, I need to be thinking, “how can I be a blessing financially?”  Give to the needy and the poor and take care of widows and orphans for this is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God.  Use worldly riches to influence friends and enemies by being generous.  Show love with wisdom and use wealth to share true riches in God!

Of course there is an even more important way to be blessed to be a blessing.  If you are blessed because you know God and His Word, share that with everyone as the Holy Spirit leads you to share.  Preach the gospel.  Use words if necessary!  Be a shining light on a hill.  Let your light shine before men so they will give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.  Love God, love people!  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Tough times are likely ahead.  They are already showing up.  Stay close to God!  Seek His face and His presence so you can do His will;  those  good works that He planned in advance for you to walk in.  As hurting people seek comfort and answers, share the only answer that brings true comfort.  Jesus!

We all need Jesus and we all need more of Him.  Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you!  Those of us that already know Him, stay close.  For those who don’t, introduce them to Him!  For those who choose His gift of eternal life in His presence will never regret it.

In God’s economy, it’s always a bull market spiritually.  Just invest all you have in Him!!!