Jun
18
Written by:
Dennis Atwood
6/18/2009 10:40 PM
The national recession is unsettling for everyone—some more than others. We all know folks who have lost jobs, relocated to look for work, and seen incomes drop. We see how institutions are unstable and confidence is low.
For the church of Jesus Christ, we have an opportunity to revisit what Jesus means by life in the kingdom of God.
Some churches have created practical ministries like job networks and counseling programs for the unemployed. Some have increased their social ministries through food pantries, clothing assistance, medication assistance, help with rent and disbursement of benevolent funds. Some churches have collaborated with others to share resources, staff and ministries.
Ignoring the recession is not an option. A few sermons on the economy are not enough. Many people are praying for things to return to the affluence of the past. Others say this is the “new normal.”
Christians need to go to the scriptures to examine what Jesus said about the economy and see how Jesus lived regarding the kingdom of God. We need to discover what Jesus taught about possessions, faith, work, worry, greed, and generosity.
- “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” but “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” —Matthew 6:19-21
- “You cannot serve God and wealth.” —Matthew 6:24
- “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or wear… strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —Matthew 6:25-34
These passages are only a sampling of what Jesus had to say about life in God’s kingdom.
We have an opportunity to let God take this historic situation and do something good and surprising that leads to the transformation of individual Christians and churches!
Perhaps God wants to rearrange our priorities and reorient our focus from self-indulgence to generosity and simplicity.
So rather than allowing the complexity of our times to paralyze us or lead us to despair, let us embrace simplicity and generosity as integral parts of, and witness to, what it means to be followers of Jesus.
May we live simply…
Love freely…
Give generously…
Follow faithfully…
and leave the rest to God.
1 comment(s) so far...
Re: JESUS & THE ECONOMY
You're right Dennis. Perhaps the anxiety we feel is telling....telling us that we are more anxious about mammon than we want to admit. So many within the Christian community in America are praying for the economy to recover, while the rest of the world is saying, "When you become as poor as us we'll offer you our sympathy." Perhaps this economic downturn can help us pay greater attention to those who live in a perpetual economic depression. They are our brothers and sisters. Our salvation does not lie in the resurgence of the Dow Jones, but in obedience to the Jesus Gospel.
By Don Gordon on
7/8/2009 8:23 AM
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