Last Wednesday, the front page of our local newspaper declared, “In the Fed we Trust…bailout of insurance giant aims to stabilize quaking global economy.”
Then came the bad news. Behind closed doors, Washington lawmakers got enough of a wake-up call to prompt a rare bi-partisan agreement. All said that without urgent Federal intervention, national and global markets could collapse.
The proposed solution that both Republicans and Democrats will be trying to finalize this week is also beyond our ability to comprehend. For openers, seven hundred billion dollars of tax payer money in a desperate attempt to prop up “the fragile trust” of a national and global economy– with no assurance of outcome. But for now, experts tell us, there is no other choice.
Some authorities say this global financial crisis was caused by unregulated greed…which other authorities say was necessary to fuel economic expansion.
And on the heels of such events, unless we’re struggling with even greater crises, many of us are wondering what this means for us. Suddenly, we’re no longer just thinking about the class struggles and self-protective strategies of national elections.
Yet, in these days of crisis, we might also have a moment of unusual clarity. Some of us may may also find reason to think again about the one who paid far more than 700 billion for our rescue– after saying,
“Don’t store up treasures (i.e. in which you trust) here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures (i.e in which you trust) in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.”
“Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be…”
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life– whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.”
“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.”
“And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!”
“So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Jesus
(Matthew 6:19-34 NLT)
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