A Remedy For Economic Dis-ease

Let's face it:  there's much dis-ease, much discomfort with our current economic climate.  For example, a recent Quinnipiac University poll indicates that a whopping 71% of Americans believe the economy is getting worst, not better. And a startling 35% of Americans near retirement age don’t expect to retire, up from 29% from just two years ago.  

But what else is new!  God’s people have frequently traversed tough economic times.  One of the worst periods of economic foe was during prophet Jeremiah’s day.   Yet God challenged Jeremiah to make an investment, nevertheless, in His work, and buy a field in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:6-7).   And so Jeremiah buys a field in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:9).  Why?  Because God promised:  “houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land…”  (Jeremiah 32:15) -- out of great giving will come great blessing!  For “I am the Lord, the God of all…” God says to Jeremiah.  “Is anything too hard for me?  (Jeremiah 32:26).   

Well is it?  Is anything too hard for the Lord?  Well you know the answer:  nothing is too hard for the Lord!  And so invest in the Lord’s work, in spite of tough times!  No matter the economy, go ahead, obey Him, and buy a field in Anathoth!   For out of great giving will come great blessing, and I might add: great laughter too!

Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol takes place during one of England’s worst economic times; persons are suffering and persons are poor.  But did that motivate Ebenezer Scrooge to give?  No, Scrooge just played it safe, keeping all for self.  But then Scrooge encountered three spirits on Christmas Day remember, and is given a second chance.  But there’s more; afterwards Scrooge goes to church, Dickens tells us, and encounters the ultimate Spirit, God’s Spirit.   And with that Scrooge takes to the streets of London, distributing his money now with abandon, to all the poor and needy in sight. The result?  Scrooge is giddy with delight!  Why as Dickens’s records: “some people laughed to see the [change] in [Scrooge], but [Scrooge] let them laugh, [for it really didn’t bother him]… [For Scrooge’s] own heart laughed, and that was quite enough…”

The Lord wants our heart to laugh, as well.  And it happens as we too freely give, in spite of difficult days.  Listen:  it’s tempting to play it safe and keep all for self; times are tough.  But God calls us to risk all, giving generously unto Him. 

Risk all, giving generously unto God!  Sure buy stuff, enjoy stuff, but don’t depend on stuff. Rather depend on the Savior, investing ultimately, in God’s Work and God’s priorities.   Jesus says it best:  “Don’t pile up treasures on earth…But [invest] your treasure in Heaven [in God’s priorities]…For wherever your treasure is, you may be certain…your heart will be there too!” (Matthew 6:19-21, J.B. Phillips version).   

Wow!  I don’t want my heart possessed by possessions.  I want my heart possessed by Jesus.  And so I’m going to invest my treasure in God’s priorities.   For “…it [is] not with perishable things…that [I am] redeemed …but with the precious blood of Christ…”  (I Peter 1:18-19).  

For everything else passes away.  But one thing always remains, Jesus: for “Jesus…is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).   And so praise God for Jesus, who frees me to ‘laugh and give’ - no matter the challenge -- no matter the economy -- no matter the difficult day!