
Yahoo Article – Tips to cope with the economy in 2009
Right now, there are many analyst, senior analyst, finance gurus and the like pouring forth their knowledge of how to handle the 2009 economy. While some of the content is great for supplying us with great factual information and the clarity of the “how's” and “what's” of the financial arenas, most of it focuses the reader on calling things that are not to be! We as Christians should be calling those things that be not as though they are, according to God's Word (Romans 4:16-18)!
Case in point – this particular article does a wonderful job of lining out points like this:
“How should people prepare financially for a coming layoff?”
And here's a great reply to the question of “What is the outlook going forward?”:
“2009 probably isn't going to be a lot of fun for anybody. We're still going to be in recession and probably a deep recession. But there will be some opportunities. Falling home prices coupled with low mortgage rates will continue to attract bargain hunters into the housing market. Home prices will probably continue to decline. They're certainly not going to jump higher, so affordability will only get better.”
I'm not sure how many readers get encouraged by this or feel like they have received something of value? The fact is that, yes, we see what is going on here in this time and place in this world. But, as Christians the questions that should be asked are what does God's financial plan look like? What is His outlook for EVERY year you are here on this earth? Are you coping or overcoming through the victory in Jesus in such a place and time as this? What is The Truth about God's Economy for all?
Here are some key things to remember, meditate on, and never let go of that will help to not only position you for any economy, but it will help you step over into God's Economy – the very Economy that Heaven operates in all the time:
1。 God's desire is to give to you and bless you! Matthew 7:11:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Many individuals can account for the life they lived with a parent(s) that did not give anything to them. Many others can account for a parent(s) that gave, but only gave of what was bad or not the best. But most human beings have a nature to protect, love, nurture and supply what is necessary, needed, wanted, and the best to their children. As soon as you were a Christian you entered a family that your Father knows beyond all measure and bounds how to give you good things when you ask!
2。 By God's grace through our faith, we are now heirs of the new covenant blessings. It is because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is passed on to us through faith and by grace! Romans 4:3, 5, 13, 16, 20-25:
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. Turn loose your faith! If God sees the Faith in your heart, He has ways of getting the blessings and things you have need of into your hands! HE is the one that does it – not you or anyone else! Seek God first in all things. Be quick to obey God's instructions – His Word. Believe Him for what He has promised in His Word, aggressively! Begin to speak God's Word over whatever you are believing for! With joyful expectations, begin to look for it to happen! And now is the time to give abundantly because the liberal soul shall be made fat (Proverbs 11:25)!
3。 One of the keys to living in God's economy is giving! Proverbs 11:24-25 (from the Amplified Bible):
24There are those who [generously] scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting or what is justly due, but it results only in want. 25The liberal person shall be enriched, and he who waters shall himself be watered.
Many will say, “Well, I do give. I tithe every week to my local Church. I GIVE my tithe.” Well, let's make sure we know The Truth here – the tithe is NOT yours to give! You are a steward that BRINGS the tithe to God. Malachi 3:8-10 says that we are to “bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts,” Notice it said to “BRING” not give. Just like you would bring something you have back to someone who is the owner, you bring the tithe to God. Hence the tithe is God's. When do you start giving? When you GIVE an offering that is ABOVE and BEYOND the tithe that you brought to God. When you GIVE to a ministry, AFTER you have tithed to your local Church (the local Church where you get fed the Word of God – hence God's storehouse – is where you bring the tithe). When you GIVE to a missionary that is reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you have GIVEN to the poor and those that are widows and those that are in need. Only then can you say that you have truly given!
4。 Once you have given, look to God for your return. Luke 6:38:
38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. “You mean it's OK to give and then expect to get something back?” YES, so long as you are looking to God for the return! Remember, when God gave His only Son, He expected something in return for His giving too – He gave Jesus expecting to get back man!
5。 As part of God's family – as a child of God – He desires for you to materially prosper, be in health physically, and Spiritually prosper. 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. That is a stark contrast to what the devil and this world wants – according to John 10:10, they want to steal, kill and destroy you and all that is about you in your life! Stop listening to the lies that try to pull you out of the victory that Jesus established! You are prosperous with long life! You are strong in a victorious Spirit! And you have all that you need, with plenty left over to give, in Jesus name!
While this is by no means a complete exhaustive listing, these are some of the keys that will prepare you and set you up for the blessings that God has for you, even in the midst of a world economy like this. Living according to the way that the world wants you to, prepares you to fail and it is living below the victory that Jesus has given you access to – it's living the defeated life when Jesus has given you life and life MORE abundantly (John 10:10)!
這就是真理!
了PD2
(Most, if not all, of the above tips were taken from Dr. Gerald W. Davis' book “How to Function in This Economy According to Heaven's Economy.” For more information, visit him on the web at http://www.geralddavis.org/ )