What’s the best way for us to prepare for an
economic crisis? Give a portion of your wealth.
This answer comes from Ecc 11:2. The truth of
the matter is that most people anticipate some sort of economic
crisis beyond what we have already experienced. And their fears
are not without basis. The United States is so heavily in debt
that there is no possible way we will ever be able to repay it.
It grows at such an alarming rate that we are broke and simply
waiting on our creditors to deny us anymore credit. Until then,
you will hear many strategies to prepare you for the coming
crisis, not the least of which is that you should buy gold,
stockpile ammunition, store a huge supply of non-perishable
food, and load up on water.
Solomon offers a strategy that you will not
hear. He says that since “thou knowest not what evil shall be
upon the earth,” you should “give a portion to seven, and also
to eight.” Now, isn’t that contrary to accepted opinion? Most
assuredly it is. Nevertheless, his recommendation is not
without scriptural foundation and we believe that he is exactly
right.
Let’s look at some other verses in the Bible and
see what we should be doing about the days ahead.
Continue Sowing in The Lord’s Harvest
- Consider Prov 11:24-26. Solomon tells you not to hoard.
Solomon tells you that you increase by scattering and that you
are watered when you water. This is a farming principle that is
certainly true. Imagine a farmer that is farming one acre of
corn. After his harvest, he keeps a portion of grain to grind
for food, he sells a portion of grain to pay his bills and he
keeps a portion to plant the next year. Rather than eat and
spend more now, or hoard more for the future, he reinvests
enough to be able to plant two acres the next year. And then
the next year he keeps enough seed to plant six acres. And so
forth the example goes until he is farming hundreds of acres.
This is the principle to which Paul refers in 2 Cor 9:6, “He
which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that
soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
Well, the Lord wants a bountiful harvest and so
he expects us to follow this principle of investing in his
harvest. He’s not talking about prosperity preaching, which is
a perversion of this doctrine. He’s talking about sowing more
money and more seed of the word of God in his harvest so that he
will have a bigger harvest and so that we will have more seed to
sow. When you understand and practice this principle, then you
will understand why “God loveth a cheerful giver,” [2 Cor 9:7]
and why “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” [Acts
20:35].
Continue Giving to Missions
- Many of us are counting on Phil 4:19, “my God shall supply all
your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” to
get us through the anticipated crisis. But did you know that
verse was written to a giving church? That’s right. In Phil
4:15, Paul says, “no church communicated with me concerning
giving and receiving, but ye only.” This was a missions giving
church and so Paul told them that God would take care of them.
And God did take care of them, just like he took care of the
widow and her son who gave the last of their food to Elijah [1
Ki 17:12-14]. He’ll take care of you if you are giving to
missions, just like he took care of the early Christians who
gave their houses, lands and possessions to take care of the
needs of others [Acts 2, 4].
Continue Giving to The Poor
- The promise that we need to remember at this time is Prov
19:17, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord;
and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” There’s
more assurance of the return of your principle in that verse
than in any prospectus of any investment that the world has to
offer. When you lend to the Lord, there is no way in the
universe that he is not going to pay his debts!! He’s not broke
for one thing and for another, he has more resources than all of
the combined wealth of the world.
Continue Rejoicing Even in Poverty
- Do you know what you need? You need the attitude of the folks
in the Macedonian church who, during a great trial of
affliction, abounded in joy while in deep poverty. With this
combination, they abounded unto the riches of their liberality
(they continued giving abundantly) [2 Cor 8:2] as did the widow
with her two mites [Mk 12:41-44]. Their response to the trial
and poverty was so contrary to the world’s reaction, that few
Christians would be willing to follow their example today.
That’s why the lukewarm Laodicean church which thinks it is rich
and increased with goods and has need of nothing is really
wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked [Rev 3:16-17]. They
trust hoarded riches rather than the Lord. And for this reason,
they make God sick.
Continue Building Your Heavenly
Portfolio - If you really want to get ready for the future,
then don’t worry about the size of your investment portfolio.
Just concern yourself, rather, with the size and quality of your
heavenly portfolio [Matt 6:19-21]. You will have what you need
to get through any crisis here and you will have a bountiful
harvest hereafter.
Conclusion: We’ll close with
Paul’s words from 1 Tim 6:17-19, “Charge them that are rich in
this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good,
that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundationagainst the time to come, that they may
lay hold on eternal life.”
