My Paycheck Isn’t Going Up - But Everything Else Is!
April 6, 2008
John 20:19-31
Imagine that Noah dilly-dallied in building the ark, so when the rains came, he was still nailing boards in place. Imagine Joseph ignoring God’s counsel to prepare for those coming 7 years of famine and what Pharaoh might have said to him. Or just imagine Moses not preparing Joshua to take over; --or Jesus, failing to prepare the disciples. Actually, it really is unimaginable!
It’s obvious that a lot of people just are not prepared for their future. As it has often been said, “it is not that people plan to fail, but that they fail to plan.” When you read the Bible, you cannot fail to see that God is ever preparing his people for their future and God tends to bless people who are prepared.
I make no claim to be a financial genius but I read the Bible and it has a lot to teach us about planning, stewardship and wise management of our resources. To ignore the Bible’s wisdom is to plan to fail! I will share the wisdom of the Bible with you this month in regard to our money, our stewardship and the management of our lives, our ministry here at Christ Church and even say a few things about our stewardship of the environment. First, let’s talk about the financial crisis that is the lead story in the media.
We hear on the news everyday that we are in a recession, and that things will get worse. We know that the sub-prime crisis is clearly a huge problem. We know that the US Dollar is quite weak against other currencies right now. We are seeing the effects of the bursted bubble of the housing market and the slow down in construction jobs. Gas is at an all time high and everything is going up – food, energy, and services – literally everything – except your paycheck. We can expect that for some people – especially those on the margins – things are going to get rough.
Let’s begin with the sub-prime mortgage issue. Simply put, the lending industry sold a lot of mortgages with little regard for how they were going to be repaid. In some regions, including Pennsylvania, mortgage defaults are up over 400% over levels in 2003. We have seen a domino effect as a credit crunch got underway due to the lack of liquidity as lenders and lendees together defaulted. We are watching this played out as the huge Bear-Stearns Corporation is on the block at fire-sale prices! This has caused a crisis of confidence for investors.
We are also seeing the effects of globalization as China and India compete for oil and natural gas to fuel their growing economy. China and India are not only receiving ever-greater amounts of Middle Eastern crude oil, which has caused prices to rise to unprecedented levels for us, but they are importing huge amounts of grain and bean crops from South America, bypassing the traditional US markets. We have also seen a huge number of manufacturing jobs exported to job markets in Asia over the past decade. The US economy was once a manufacturing powerhouse. We are now an information and service economy. But you know as I do, everything is changing!
I certainly don’t wish to portray an apocalyptic scenario, but for the present, we know that we have serious problems that will affect our standard of living and our future. The budget is clearly unbalanced with too much spending and a low saving ratio. We are importing more than we are exporting. Our national debt is climbing ever higher – currently at 65% of the Gross National Product. We will be paying for this decade for decades to come.
The picture that has emerged tells us that this crisis has come upon us because as a nation, we have chosen to live irresponsibly. It’s true – you reap what you sow. What if you used biblical principles to manage your time and resources? We might have less stress and a more secure future. So, while we may not be able to change the national or international economy, each of us has the power to change our own financial story and become responsible, thereby reaping a better harvest!
Think about it: Consumer debt is at an all time high. One figure I’ve read stated that the average consumer in 1980 had a ratio of debt to disposable income of 62%. In 2005, it was 127%. The purchasing power of the dollar is shrinking as prices continue to rise. There is, for many people, especially those on the margins, very little “fat” to trim from the monthly budget.
Where is God for us all of this? If our faith is just something we hold for a future time, as though it is our heavenly insurance policy, assuring us a place in Heaven, I cannot think such a faith is of much value.
In the Gospel today, those 2 downcast disciples had a view of faith that had failed them. They were unprepared for an actual encounter with the risen Jesus. They had eyes “closed” to where Jesus was at work. Finally, in the breaking of the bread – in Holy Communion – their eyes were suddenly opened and all that Jesus taught them crashed in on them! It made such perfect sense. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, everything in their lives was radically changed – especially their priorities. Now it was time to reorder everything!
Living by Jesus’ resurrection invites us to live lives pleasing to God but also lives that reflect the difference Jesus’ presence makes in our daily living. We are set free from that which is meaningless to that which has eternal value. Life has to be about something more meaningful than greed!
Take a look at the clutter in your life. You might well be able to create a small mountain of DVD’s and video games, consumer electronics, gadgets, computers, TV’s and a lot of just “stuff.” None of that “stuff” ultimately fulfills its promise to bring happiness – not lasting happiness. And it might just be true that the mountain of stuff you could pile up in your home stands in the way of you following your passion and fulfilling your dreams. That clutter is all about distraction.
Take a look at your checkbook or your personal financial spreadsheet. What story is it telling? Has your spending set you free or has it enslaved you? I challenge you to go through your monthly bills and see the big picture of your life. Is it a picture you really want to see?
Connect your finances with your spiritual life. What do your personal finances say about your most deeply held spiritual beliefs? It is important to ask whether your financial stewardship displays a picture of a faith that believes the resurrection story where God has a say in all of life, or if it is a pagan story of live for today and forget tomorrow.
We live in a nation that practices pagan economics of “live for today and forget tomorrow.” It is a selfish way of living that denies God’s influence in the world and rejects Christ’s lordship in our living. So, if we are truly Christian, our lives, our priorities and our checkbooks should reflect Jesus’ lordship.
By practicing Christian financial principles, you can look into the eyes of your children and grandchildren, and the children of our church knowing that you are helping to provide a better future for them. You can look back on how your stewardship has created friendships and relationships that are truly blessed and satisfying. You can also see how God can take your “little” and grow it into “much.”
If we cannot manage our personal finances, how will we ever manage the work God has invited us to share? But if your personal finances are healthy and reflect Christian values, our ministry will likewise reflect that healthy way of life. Here then are the Christian financial principles that guide us:
1. God is the owner of all – you don’t “own” anything, you are stewards of all God has given
2. Seek God and God’s kingdom first
3. Work hard – give it all you have — don’t be lazy – carry your own weight
4. Be generous as well as kind with what you have
5. Don’t love money for money’s sake
6. Plan before you spend
7. Be a saver – even if it is just a little each pay period
8. Beware of debts, loans, credit cards and get rich quick schemes
We Christians need to be better-prepared and far more serious about money than we appear to be. This present financial crisis will pass – but don’t worry – another one will follow it. You may not be able to change the world, but you can prepare yourself, your family and your church for the future. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Either you trust God or you don’t. But if you trust God, then you will also trust God with your finances. This is a very important question – and the answer will be found in your checkbook! Amen.
Rev. Dr. A. Robert Cook