Archive for November 2008
In God We Trust…
As the world faces tough economic times, it seems ironic that the motto on the legal tender in the U.S. is “In God We Trust.” I’ve run into very few people who aren’t concerned about the declining value of their retirement funds (if they have any) or layoffs at the company they work for. I am reminded of the store sign that says, “In God we trust, all others pay cash.” Cash (having it!) remains king.
A newsletter I get affirms this very thing. This is a quote from a writer pondering how to handle the financial crunch. It’s an honest, revealing statement.
“Friends: I wanted to share with you my anxiety ridden 90 minutes between 3:45 and 5:15 this morning. I am sure that the current market and economic woes has given all of us sleepless nights and some high anxiety, but last night was exceptionally bad for me. Since our last morning together, I have spent more time praying, and listening and asking and seeking than I have in a while. Yet, as I lie awake in my bed, my insides churning and my hands held tightly over my eyes, I realized that when push comes to shove, all decisions, all directions, all plans come down to the one factor in life, and sadly it is not God…it is money. I thought through every aspect of my life between 3 and 5 AM, my past career, options for my new career. I thought about all the great non-profits that are making a difference in the world. I thought about my current home, a future place to live and where I might live in the end of life. I thought about my kids, their schooling, their activities, their exposure to the world. Each and every thought came to the same end: where is the money to do all this? Whether it is funding for my family’s life, whether it is funding for non-profits, whether it is funding for the church and paying our staff to do what they do well, in the end, money was the determining factor. As it came to a career, it also came down to money to afford a life and an upside to put some money aside for later on in life.
“The truth is, as I stared into the palms of my hands at 4:50 this morning, I realized that in my life, and I believe in the lives of many of us, the trump card is not God, the trump card is money. I believe that to be the cold hard truth and I think that my sleepless nights may be a result of me just not wanting to admit to that and live by that reality.
“I guess I share this because it feels to me like I have to face that reality and begin to stop fighting it. Maybe it is time to put away dreams and ambition and begin to get back to what truly drives day to day living, making money, supporting a family and giving away a portion of income that is tax deductible.
“I fell back to sleep at 5:15 with a heavy heart and awoke with a desire to share my thoughts with the group of men I have been walking this path with for nearly 6 years. My journey has been long, but I feel I have not traveled very far.”
I preached from 2Co 9 this past weekend and was struck by what Paul is saying. This text isn’t so much about giving (it covers it, but in the context of caring for the poor), but our attitude toward wealth. I think it’s an abused text when used to make an appeal for building funds, missionary support and helping a church cover its expenses. Rather, God invites us to think about what we trust and put our hope in. As the writer I quote ponders, “What is my/our trump card?”
I’m asking this same question of myself — what is my real source of hope? Given the economic stress some churches and Christians are experiencing during this recession, I think we’ll have an opportunity to reframe our approach to ministry, and reconsider our view of and relationship with God — that’s a very good thing!
