Man’s economy or God’s call?Posted: 09.28.09 Act 1, Scene 1: God is knocking on your door. (OK, he probably won’t actually knock on your door, but we all know he does call us.) You open the door and God says, “Hi, I’ve got this plan for you. I need you to go work on … ” As God continues with his revelation for your life, you’re thinking, “This is not a good time to be called. I have a job and I need to work. I owe about $10,000 on my credit cards; I just bought a new car, and I’ve got this home mortgage that would choke a horse! I just can’t pick up and leave!” You’re not alone. Almost every American Catholic is in the same predicament. If God came today asking for help, would you have to say NO? Very often our ability to respond to God’s call is directly related to our financial situation, especially as it applies to debt. The Bible clearly discourages debt. Romans 13:8 reads: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another,” and in Proverbs 22:7 we learn that “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” If you don’t feel like a slave, try missing a payment on your mortgage, car loan or credit card. There was a recent article in the newspaper touting the latest changes that Americans are making in their financial lives by saving more and spending less. This was billed as a “secular” change, and the author felt the change would be permanent and not just a two– or three–quarter bubble in the stream of the American economy. What is driving this sudden change in financial behavior? Is it really a permanent change, or is it man’s natural instincts for self–preservation kicking into overdrive? Will it all be forgotten next year when the economy revives and our human instincts for material wealth kick in again? Is the increased saving and reduced spending a response to the world’s economic situation or is this a true conversion experience leading to a change of heart? A conversion experience is deeper and more meaningful than a knee–jerk reaction to a frightening financial situation. True conversion means turning our hearts and minds toward God. In Isaiah 55:8, God tells us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” Are we making these financial changes in our lives because we have turned to God and learned that he encourages us to live humbly and not worry about what our neighbors are doing? If you have begun to watch your pennies, pay off debt and save for a rainy day, will you continue this change when the pressure is off? Or will you go on a spending spree as soon as the economy recovers and your personal financial situation improves? We need to take advantage of the current economic mindset in the country and use it as an opportunity to simplify, focus on what is important, quit spending money we don’t have and eliminate our debt so that we can be free to serve him. As stewards of the resources that God has blessed us with, we should be careful spenders not just during the current crisis, but as a response to his call to be good managers of all the blessings he has showered upon us. Our society does not care that how we handle money has a direct impact on our spiritual life. As Catholics, we must not only care, we must live our lives according to Luke 16:11: “If therefore you have not been trustworthy in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? Use today’s economic crises as a time for conversion. Change your ways. Think about the future. We are called to act differently than the rest of the world. We are called to shine his light. We are called to make a difference. We are called to be his presence in the world. Our financial situation can hamper the response to that call. Think about a different scenario. Act 2, Scene 1: God is knocking on your door. He is actually knocking on your door, calling you. You open the door and God says, “Hi, I’ve got this plan for you. I need you to go work on … ” As God continues with his revelation for your life, your response is an excited acceptance of the call. “Here I am Lord! I will go if you lead me.” The Beans lead the Catholic Initiative for Crown Financial Ministries, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization dedicated to teaching biblical principals of money management. They have been involved in the ministry for the past 20 years and can be reached at jon@crowncatholic.org.
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