Good morning on this Saturday, October 4th. Last week's blog focused upon the steps of the downward spiral which produced the financial mess our economy is in that led to the 700 billion dollar bailout package signed into law this week. The Bible is filled with financial principles which if followed would have prevented much of the pain we are currently enduring.
Romans 12:11 commands that we not be slothful in business and there are literally hundreds of verses in Scripture about money and its management which direct us about how to practice the principles involved in fulfilling that verse. There are warnings against greed, covetousness, theft, usury, extortion, fraudulent practices, and financial injustice (Ex. 20:15; Lev. 19:13; Ex. 22:5; Proverbs 10:2; 11:1; 13:11; 20:10; 15:27; 19:26; Luke 3:13; James 5:4 to name a few). The Bible admonishes us to diligently care for our own finances (Proverbs 27:23-24) and to be especially diligent as opposed to carelessness or recklessness in handling other people's money (2 Kings 22:7; Matthew 25:14-27; Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:2). Money is to be wisely invested (Matthew 25:27; Luke 19:23). The Bible also has much to say about borrowing, buying and selling, credit, debt, interest, lending, security, and taxation. Financial principles clearly taught in Scripture were not practiced by many from the bottom to the top of the money chain in the creation of this financial crisis and now we are reaping that which was sown. Once again it is the taxpayer who will reap what others have sown and make straight that which is crooked. I'm reminded of a quote from the late senator, Everett Dirksen of Illinois, "You take a billion here and a billion there and soon you are talking about a lot of money."
Tomorrow Jon Konnerup, Mission's Director of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International will speak in both of our morning services. It is a great privilege to have him with us. Please join us for these services.
Mel Brown