A friend told me today that they are about to have a big lay off at her job. It's a really sad situation. The company (a former Fortune 500 company at that!) is losing money at break neck speed and there's no promise in the immediate future for a significant recovery. Now, this is not a company that has been eaten up with greed at the higher levels - but a company that has been stable through the years and has been very conservative in their approach to financial matters.
And yet, they are in trouble and many, many people are on the verge of losing their jobs - some that have been employed there for many, many years.
It's a symptom of the way the world is going.
Time I think for us realize at the deepest levels that we as believers live in God's economy - not the economical system of any country or government, but one that is totally opposite to the way others would tell us to live.
The "world" tells us to save money, borrow money, pay our bills, buy a bigger house, a bigger car, more clothes, finer jewelry, richer food, yada, yada, yada. Many of us are having a hard time paying that mortgage and car payment - as well as keeping food on the table and the lights on....
Jesus tells us to sell everything, give the money to the poor and come follow him.
Wow. Isn't that a little fanatical?
Totally dependent on God for everything.
- People would laugh at you.
- Others would whisper about you.
- Some may even disown you.
And yet. Isn't that what we are called to do? Turn our backs on the lures and temptations of the world and run hard after God? I don't mean turn our back on the lost but turn our back on greed, perversion, materialism, entertainment, and all those things that draw us away from spending time with the Lord and listening to Him only.
We live in a country where self-sufficiency and independence are lauded high and above everything else - we see the ones that work hard and save lots of money - that drive the big cars and live in the big houses - as the ones that are successful. We are led to believe that we too can have what they have so a lot of us end up deeply in debt...because, after all, they are the ones that are living the American Dream.
Mark 10
17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"18"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
20"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
21Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Wow.
Sell everything.
Not just your house, but your car.
Not just your car, but your furniture.
Not just your furniture, but your jewels.
Not just your jewels, but your clothes.
Not just your clothes, but.....everything. (Oh yeah...don't forget about that 401-K....)
God has already set the precedent. Remember when the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years? Their clothes never wore out, their shoes never wore out, they had fresh food and spring water everyday...and there were millions of them.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states it very plainly:
Matthew 6 -
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The precedent has been set. If He did it once, He'll do it again.
Don't worry about what you will eat or drink; where you will sleep or what you will wear. God has it all handled.
Don't worry about your job or lack of one. Depend on God. Seek Him only. He will guide you - He will never leave you - He will not turn His back on you.
We either believe the Bible or not....
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1 comment:
God is good, and He causes ALL things - especially bad economies and uncertain times - to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purposes. I look forward to understanding more and more the good He is working in these times!
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