Minister 's Letter - March 2009
Dear Friends,
Talk of money is everywhere at the moment. It is impossible to avoid the disturbing terminology that is associated with the present climate; 'credit crunch', 'financial crisis', 'economic downturn' and of course, 'recession'. The fear we have managed to create has left us feeling edgy and vulnerable, jumping at the sight of our own shadow. I'm sure we have managed to talk ourselves from a drama to a crisis.
There has been much finger pointing as to who is to blame, and the general consensus seems to be those wicked bankers. Well, I'm not so sure it is quite so simple as that. We are always looking for a scapegoat, and as for all that finger pointing - some of the fingers are looking back at us!
The Apostle Paul wrote, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)
George Lorimer, the American editor and writer (1867-1937) who lived through the original 'Wall Street Crash' wrote, "It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy."
Jesus had a great deal to say about money and priorities:
No man can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be attentive to one and despise the other. You cannot give yourself to God and money. I warn you, then: do not worry about your livelihood, what you are to eat or drink or use for clothing. Is not life more than food? Is not the body more valuable than clothes? "Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Which of you by worrying can add a moment to his life-span? As for clothes, why be concerned? Learn a lesson from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work, they do not spin. Yet I assure you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was arrayed like one of these. If God can clothe in such splendour the grass of the field, which blooms today and is thrown on the fire tomorrow, will He not provide much more for you, O weak in faith! Stop worrying then, over questions like, 'What are we to eat, or what are we to drink, or what are we to wear?' The unbelievers are always running after these things. Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides. Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Today has troubles enough of its own. (Matthew 6:24-34)
These words always challenge us, but maybe we need them before us more than ever in the present climate, that we might have heavens dramatic perspective on the current crisis.
In Christ,
Christopher White
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