Don't Be A Chicken Little
We have all heard the warnings, an economic storm is coming, or its here, or the economy is bad, or is worse than expected or not as bad as expected. It can all be so confusing.
Listening to the news you would think we are all going to be in breadlines by the end of the year. All doom and gloom, all bad news, all the time. Let’s take a step back and look at the reality of the situation.
When we enter in to times of economic uncertainty the first reaction most of us have is to start cutting back. In some areas of our life this would be a prudent thing to do. But when it comes to generosity and giving I refuse to shut down, pull back, become fearful and start hoarding. In the proper frame of mind you can choose to step outside the situation and not follow the herd by hoarding.
Allow me to remind you of a Biblical account of economic down turn. This story is found in Genesis 26:1-12. 1 A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time.
12 When (not if) Isaac planted (he sowed rather than hoarded) his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.
The problem as I see it is a lack of faith, belief and confidence that God can and will provide for us if we will be true to the principle of sowing and reaping. Even in economic crisis. So yes, be a good steward, but not one who shrinks back from generosity.
