Friday, October 17, 2008

Thoughts on our economic concerns...


As the economy is very definitely facing difficulties, and even a near collapse on Wall Street, people are very concerned. That's pretty obvious. It's hard to escape Wall Street.

Twenty years ago or so, I used to think that only the rich had money invested. Today, many people have money invested in the stock markets. Whether a mutual fund or two, a couple of stocks handed down, extra money invested since the banks interest rates are so low. Most retirement funds or IRA's are now invested in stocks or mutual funds. So declines in the stock market affect most people.

Those that have money invested are very concerned in the recent volatility and decline of many of their investments. I found a quote from the blog of Bruce Reyes-Chow, the moderator for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Churches USA. Here is a portion of that article:

As followers of Jesus Christ, let us join in a call to our own people and to our fearful nation to hear God's word that "perfect love casts out fear;" and let us look anew at our economic system-one which has been immensely productive in many respects, but which has tended to favor the strong and aggressive, often at great cost to the weak. Let us all repent of our own decisions, both personal and corporate, regarding our use of the earth's resources and of the financial resources of which we have been made stewards. And let us make clear to our legislators and to those whose are charged with the management of this nation's financial resources that any recovery of fiscal accountability must be accompanied with moral accountability for the unfortunate, so that the burdens and blessings of the future are fairly shared.

We are reminded in Scripture over and over again, "Tis better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man." That can be hard to remember when financial crises strikes, but it is so important to remember.

Our hope comes from the Lord...

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