Five Biblical Principles for Economically Tough Times

The U.S. Commerce Department reported at the end of April that the nation’s economy grew at a weak 0.6 percent pace in the first three months of this year (2008), the same growth rate as in the prior quarter. Though that technically means the country is not in a recession, one could readily say that the U.S. economy is sluggish.

So, as the prices of gasoline and diesel soared as May approached, many felt a shaky uncertainty about their own personal economic future.

However, if one believes in God, they should realize that He knows all things, even before they happen, and has set forth certain principles in the Holy Bible that will give us strength and guidance in difficult times.

Most people, no doubt, have fears about their financial future. Fear can be very crippling. Fear has also been defined by some as being the opposite of faith.

Principle 1: Choose God, not Mammon

Faith is a major element noted throughout the Word of God and includes not only mental assent but a willing commitment to a person or cause. On the other hand, fear in our context can be viewed as slavery to that which is material. Knowing material things can be stolen, damaged, or otherwise lost is not a peaceful thought, and even the well-to-do often sense uneasiness much of the time.

So, consider the words of Christ in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

He, indeed, was speaking to His disciples, and the only way to find true peace is to be completely committed to Him. Being completely committed to Him, Whom we cannot currently see, means to be uncommitted and unattached to the material. Hence, Christ states in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Understand Christ is not saying that we are not to have money and material goods. What He is saying is we should not be serving material things. They should be serving us. We are to have them, but they are not to have us.

Principle 2: Focus on Christ and His Purposes

Once we have decided to fully trust Christ, we need to stay focused upon Him and His purposes.

Hence, Matthew 6 continues with verse 25, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

Notice that we are to take no thought of even the basic needs of this life. That does not mean we should sit around and be doing nothing expecting bread to fall from heaven, but it does mean that we should look at work as a tool to earn the mammon that is to serve us.

In fact, we are to completely focus upon Christ and His purposes, and as we do so, He will supply our needs. As it is written in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Note carefully the phrase, “…and His righteousness.” An ultimate goal of God regarding man is to make us holy, which can only come about by having His Son dwell within us.

With Christ within, greed flees and the individual looks upon material things as servants and tools to advance the kingdom of God. The person not only seeks to advance the kingdom of God outwardly by telling others of Christ, but inwardly as one listens and obeys Christ, growing in all godliness.

Principle 3: Be Content

“But godliness with contentment is great gain,” wrote the Apostle Paul by the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 6.

He then, by the Holy Spirit, sets forth the attitude we should have in regard to the material (verses 7-8): “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

This is a hard lesson to learn for some in today’s materialistic society. Too often, people tend to confuse their wants with their needs.

We must really stop and think what our basic material needs are: food, water, shelter, clothing, and sanitation. Secondary to those are the tools by which we use mammon to get those items. Anything else is not a need.

Of course, we can have other things, but as stated earlier, they must not have us.

Principle 4: Flee the Attachment to the Material and Embrace the Spiritual

Again, from 1 Timothy 6, we read in verse 11, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” All five of these are enduring characteristics.

Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness enable us to improve, which in turn will make us better workers in our jobs and in every facet of our lives.

But I would like to put some emphasis on the word, “flee.” We need to quickly dispel any desire of the material beyond our needs.

One way to do that is to realize that though we may enjoy certain comforts, there are millions who sleep on the ground, are hungry, thirsty and are in dire want of basic needs.

Another thing to realize is that there is a tendency within most people that the more they have, the more they want, and the more they get, the less they look to God.

Principle 5: Give

Jesus is recorded in Luke 6:38 as saying, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Giving often goes against the human nature. However, in giving, our trust in God is deepened and our faith is exercised.

Of course, it means more than money, and would include possessions, energy and time.

Also, as we carefully read the balance of the Word of God, it does not mean to give indiscriminately. We should give that which only meets a basic need, and try to make sure we are not subsidizing the sins of another.

All in all, we must never lose sight of the fact that our primary need is God, and that our main goal is to seek Him, His righteousness, and His Kingdom.