24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Consider the stock market, your 401k plan, your investment fund…. The amazing thing about all these is that they did not provide stability to the vast wealth of the world. Those who didn’t have these didn’t feel the economic downturn directly. They were affected because of the decrease of the wealth of the wealthy. The wealthy become ever increasingly tight-fisted with their wealth. The poor continued in reliance on the Lord. But the selfish disregard of the poor by the rich for years has left the poor to bear a greater burden than was their due. The rich suffer, but not like the poor. The rich have to give up their luxury yachts and private jets. The poorest have to scrounge for their food in trash heaps. This sinful outworking of capitalism and greed is a punishable offense in the courts of Heaven. The simplest of creatures continued to be cared for by the Lord. I continually joke that I am glad I wasn’t as far along in my retirement savings as I should be because I would have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the last year. But since I haven’t saved as the experts have instructed, I didn’t lose as they did. Too often we feel we need to have a heavenly hedge fund just in case God fails in His promises. I truly believe that if we are faithful in our stewardship with His wealth, then God will be faithful in caring for our needs. It is His wealth after all. He certainly cares about us. His promise is to care; our obligation is to trust. When the economic recovery finally comes we have the opportunity as individuals to honor the Lord with our wealth. I would suggest that we individually reprioritize our distribution of the wealth in our lives giving a greater proportion to the needs of the poor around the world. Not just giving money to feed mouths, but money to feed mouths and spirits. More than food, even the rich need to hear the Gospel. Let’s bring food and the Gospel to the world’s poorest.
The Arnold Journey 