GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP)–What’s the difference between a financial downturn and a recession? As with many other things, it depends on whom you’re asking. And, it sure depends on your personal financial situation.
Some Christians make financial decisions that are motivated by fear of the future rather than by trust in God and in His provision. Little thought is given to the fact that God is able, and has promised to care for those who put their total faith in Him.
On the other hand, others make decisions based on today without any thought of tomorrow. The current foreclosure disaster is an example of that kind of decision-making. Desirable real estate was purchased with adjustable rate mortgages (ARM), loans that had low initial rates. Unfortunately, many borrowers were unable to sustain payments as the adjusted mortgage rates climbed.
That’s why planning, both short-term and long-term, is important in order to ensure your financial stability. But when fear of the future, worry about the future, or a cavalier attitude about tomorrow determines a Christian’s financial decisions, then beware. There needs to be an immediate re-evaluation of financial priorities and a recommitment to trust in the Lord.
ROBBING GOD
Often, when Christians are prompted by fear of their financial future, they cut back on their giving, and tithes and offerings become a first step in their attempt at financial stability. Such action is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Honoring God’s mandate to tithe our income and keep our offering vows to God is the way to ensure that we will not become victimized by financial downturns. This includes financial commitments we have made to God in the form of a vow: missions support, benevolence and so on. When commitments are made as a vow or a pledge to give, those vows must be honored. However, faith promise commitments are subject to God’s provision, and Christians should not feel obligated to give above the tithe until God provides the funds.
Withholding financial commitments made to the Lord in order to safeguard ourselves against potential future financial hardships may cost us our financial security, because God’s blessings will not be on such self-imposed buffers.
FAITH CONQUERS FEAR
Faith is the opposite of fear. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as things that we hope for and things that we do not presently see or have. Having needs in our lives provides a great opportunity to develop our faith in God. That is why it’s essential that we view potential future financial needs as opportunities to exercise and develop our faith.
A Christian who truly wants to serve God cannot live in fear of financial loss. In Matthew 6:24, Christ was very specific when He said that we must make a choice about either serving God or money. We cannot serve both. If we are fearful of our financial future, then we aren’t trusting in God or in His provision. In essence, we choose to serve the fear of financial loss, rather than serve God who holds our financial future in His hands.
TRUST GOD
Often our priorities are based on desires and wants instead of real needs, because perspective gets clouded by what our materialistic society promotes. It’s easy to get caught up in the mad rush to protect against future crises that could potentially threaten these society-defined needs. Remember, God assures us that He will always supply our needs, but He has not promised to supply all of the wants that our society identifies as needs. God may choose to answer in a way that we don’t want or expect. And, His answer could very well be “no” so that we can develop maturity and learn how to rely totally on Him.
There are a variety of reasons that God may not answer the way we expect. Perhaps we may ask with the wrong motives (see James 4:3), or the timing may not be right, according to God’s will and purpose. Or it may simply be contrary to His overall plan (see Acts 21:13-14).
HOW TO TRUST GOD
Here are some steps to follow in order to trust God with the present and the future.
— Find God’s direction for your life. Most frustrations experienced by Christians come from patterning their lives after someone else’s. Instead, through prayer and study, find God’s direction for your life.
— Develop a conscious effort to trust God. Put thoughts, words and commitments into action. Trust God and do not buy on credit or hoard. Wait for God to supply, and plan ahead.
— Develop a long-range viewpoint. Trust God’s biblical directives and guidance, even though you cannot always see the end result or understand why He is doing it that way (see Matthew 6:34).
— Pray diligently. Prayer is the key that unlocks God’s blessings, power and direction for your life (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
Perhaps it’s impossible to forecast when economic problems may occur or how to protect our holdings when it happens. But God knows, and we can trust His guidance!
As Larry Burkett used to say, “We must decide if we truly believe God is able to supply our needs or if we are just saying we believe it.”
We aren’t able to control the world economy, but we can allow God to control our lives, and we can live our lives for His glory. That is all God asks of each of us.
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Howard Dayton is co-founder of Crown Financial Ministries and the current host of Crown’s radio program, “Money Matters.” Dayton and the late Larry Burkett joined forces in 2000 when Crown Ministries, led by Dayton, merged with Christian Financial Concepts, led by Burkett. The new organization became Crown Financial Ministries, on the web at www.crown.org.
