In recent months, we have seen the crash of the worldwide economy. This is astounding! The American economy which has always been strong and stable is now in recession.
Several corporations which have existed for over a hundred years have had to file for bankruptcy, liquidate and go out of existence. While different theorists have different explanations as to why this happened, one thing is certain; a worldwide recession is already in effect and no nation is immune. Its interesting to note that the economic policies of our nations, national stocks exchanges and lifetime investments of many have failed to provide a safety net into which they could safely land.
Lets take a look at the difference between a man that trusts in God and the man that trusts in his fellow man or in what he has; especially in an economic recession.
What not to do in an Economic Recession
In the book of Jeremiah, the Word of God says:
Thus saith the Lord; cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. – Jeremiah 17:5-6
We are told that those who place their trust in another man, economic systems or who turn their face away from the Lord are cursed. The word cursed means to be reserved to misfortune, evil or doom. In this recession, there is the temptation to rely on our human connections for our financial sustenance or to rely on our skills, mental prowess or academic qualifications to ensure we remain financially buoyant. However, the Word of God says that if we do this, we are bound to have misfortune and an ill fate (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
In these times, there is also the great temptation to invest more in our careers or in things that may not necessarily be evil but that could turn our hearts away from the Lord. There is the temptation to spend more time in our businesses so we can make more money but the danger in doing this is that it could cause our hearts to turn away from the Lord and from his work; if we no longer have time to spend in the work of God’s kingdom.
The bible warns that if we walk down any of these paths, we surely head into misfortune, gloom and sorrow.
What to do in an Economic Recession
On the other hand, if we will put our hope and trust in the Lord, we are promised health in times of sickness, prosperity in times of famine and pleasure in times of despair.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, nether shall cease from yielding fruit. – Jeremiah 17:6-8
We are told that we will be like a tree whose leaves are always green; even in the times of drought. The word trust means to rely on the ability, integrity or strength of a person or thing. Thus, to place our trust in the Lord means to rely on his integrity to keep his Word, to meet all our needs and to promote us even in times when everyone and everything seems to be going down. The later part of Jeremiah 17 and verse 8 says that the one that trusts in the Lord will not be careful in the year of drought because he will not cease to yield fruit; even when other trees are wilting and drying up.
From this comparison of the man that trusts in his fellow man and the one that trusts in the Lord, it is clear that to trust in God is the wise and right choice.
Trusting in God means placing our hope and expectations in him, it means relying or leaning on him. God uses men to bless us but only because we trust in Him and not in man.
Let us place all our hope and expectation in the Lord because he is able to keep our leaves green in the time of famine and to keep us bearing fruit even in times of drought.
David Adeniji is the Founder and President of The Behold File, a teaching ministry founded in 2003. The Behold File provides a platform through which the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of men to see Jesus so they can be changed to be like him.