Financial crisis

What is God doing?

David Burke (Oct 2008)

The present financial crisis hurts people and institutions at large and among Christian people and Christian causes.

The question
What is God doing? The question needs refining.

Let’s start with some basics about God. The earth and all its fullness is his (Ps 24:1). He is the God was who incarnate here and who continues to be hands-on. He moves all things in our world according to his will (Eph 1:11). He gives our every breath, and it is in him that we live and move and be (Acts 17:24-28). He even uses the godless as his servants (eg Is 45:1-5). Not only is God the sovereign Lord but he is good, always works for good and does only good (eg Ps 34:8; Nah 1:7). How is God working for good in the financial crisis?

The question is intensified when we consider God’s promises to his people. The Bible tells us that he is with his ‘city’ and that it will not be moved even as nations rage and kingdoms totter (Ps 46:4-7). Further, he promises to work all things together for good for those who love him and says that nothing will separate them from his love (Rom 8:28,35-37).

Let’s re-state the question? How is God working for general good? How is he working for the good of his people?

How do we answer these questions?
It’s hard to answer these questions with certainty for ‘who can know the mind of God?’ (Eg Is 40:13, Rom 11:33). The OT prophets were able to interpret history because they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:20-21). Christian people now have the same Spirit of wisdom (eg Jas 1:5) but we cannot claim prophetic certainty for our understanding. Nor can we expect to understand all at present. Hindsight may give 20/20 vision, but we now see through the mirror darkly (1 Cor 13:9-12). This darkened vision includes our attempts to make God-centred sense of the financial crisis.

So let’s now be modest in our interpretation of present events. Later observers may more definitive. What we can do with more certainty is encourage one another to remain loyal to God in this and to be caring towards those who suffer.

Some theological guesses
Several theological lenses may be used to consider the crisis.

Judgement. The financial crisis is centred in the US. The US has been greatly blessed by God since settlement. Yet there is a dark underbelly. Much of the church is weak. This includes theological and moral libertinism and the widespread silence of the church before the privatisation of faith and social inequality and especially before the idolatry of wealth.

Has the US has lived up to its privilege or abused it and presumed on God’? Presumption on God led to the 586BC exile. See 2 Kings 24:20 for just one of many such interpretation of Israel’s exile. See Hebrews 3:7 – 4:11 for an example of driving the lessons home in a different context.

What is true of the US is true of the rest of us. We know about God but do not give him his worth as we should. Our trust is largely in ourselves and our achievements. Is the crisis is an act of judgement? Has God his protective hands and left us to the fruits of giving ourselves to the world of created things and the associated idolatry of greed? (Rom 1:18-32; Col 3:5).

A prophetic word The Bible points out the illusion, precariousness and temporality of the world’s wealth in contrast with the heavenly treasure of God (eg Eccles 2:1-11; Is 55:1-2; Matt 6:19-21; Lke 12:33; 1 Tim 6:17-19; Jas 5:1-6).

The present crisis is a painful, public and dramatic object lesson of these Biblical teachings. For those with eyes to see, heaven’s ‘wealth looks more valuable and more secure as apparently secure financial institutions tumble and investment instruments look like Monopoly money. Is God using this crisis to reinforce his words about wealth and greed?

Is God doing a good new thing? God moves his plans forward in all things (Eph 1:11). ‘All things’ means all events at all times. It fits with an eternally optimistic and linear Biblical view of history. God moves history to a good place of reconciling all things in Christ (Eph 1:9-10).

The 586BC exile brought down one God-defying kingdom and paved the way for the kingdom of Jesus. Is he now bringing down a financial kingdom in order to advance further his kingdom plans? This is hard to assess, for the future ‘glass’ is pitch black. We can’t predict what God may be doing for the future. However, we can be sure that he is moving forward in a good way towards his eternal kingdom.

Pastoral and personal
We are on more certain ground if we turn to a personal and pastoral approach. Encouragement and care of one another are more immediately useful than attempts to try and explain what God is doing and why.

The Bible and its people know a lot about suffering. The ‘why?’ and ‘how long? questions are often asked (eg Hab 1:2). The Bible generally does not answer these questions but instead gives a revelation of God’s character and words of encouragement to see God’s people though tough times (eg Job 40:1-8, 42:1-6). The following are just a few of the many pastoral and personal words that can be said on the present crisis.

The storm catches all. When judgement comes, godly people may be caught in its path as much as the ungodly. Thus Jeremiah went from God’s land to Egypt (Jer 43) and Ezekiel was with the exiles in Babylon (Ezek 1:1-2). These examples can be multiplied. God does not always protect his people from pain and the effects of judgement. Knowledge of this does not ‘solve’ the problem of the godly suffering in his judgments, but it is a consolation. The fact that a Christian suffers in the financial crisis does not mean that they are under judgement.

God’s protection in suffering. Romans 8:38-38 assumes that believers suffer calamities of various kinds including ‘hardship’ which, in context, may be a reference to poverty. That is, God’s action to work all things for good (v28) does not necessarily mean that he protects from pain. However, the passage is insistent that such things do not separate them from God’s love but that they are ‘more than conquerors’ (v37) through such things. It’s an act of great faith to thank God that he is working for personal good through the sufferings of the financial crisis, but that’s what the Bible teaches. And hence 1 Thess 5:18 applies to the bad times of the financial crisis as much as to the bull markets. Will we only accept and thank him for the good (Job 2:10)?

Prayer. We are told to ‘pray continually’ (1 Thess 5:17). We are not to be anxious but to be thankful as we bring our requests to God with the result of knowing God’s deep peace (Phil 4:6-7).

We need care in this prayer. Perhaps we don’t think it right to pray that God will reverse the markets, just as Jeremiah was not to pray for Jerusalem’s relief (eg Jer 14:11-12). However it is always right to pray that God will provide for our needs and keep his promise (Rom 8:37) to protect us through the hard times.

Continued trust. Ps 46:4-7 was cited earlier. Now look at the wider context: vv1-3, 8-11. God’s people are not to fear, despite appearances, for God is our refuge and strength. As we see his works (and note that these are works of judgement – vv8-9) we are to be still and know that he is God and that he shall be exalted (v10). Because we are persuaded that he is always sovereign and always good (see references above) we stand firm in him. That confidence in him is the basis of Christian calmness under fire. Those in the front line of the financial crisis can be calm and poised, not because they know what is happening or know what to do but because they know the one who is sovereign over the markets.

Care and compassion The Bible urges sympathy with the suffering (eg Rom 12:13) and care for the needy (eg Jas 1:27a). Most of us will suffer through the financial crisis. Some will suffer more than others. We need a sense of perspective wealth to stop ourselves being consumed by self-pity and given to selfish behaviours. Have you lost your job and all you? Even if you have lost all you are still alive to live and earn for another day. This sense of perspective about our own sufferings and our sense of loving our neighbour should lead us to share from our ‘little’ that there might be greater equality (2 Cor 9:13-15). There is a powerful Christian witness here. Let’s not be like Job’s friends and offer long-winded explanations for the crisis and its pain, but let’s get out there in Christ’s name and help from our widow’s mite.

Self examination. The crisis is a personal wake-up call and opportunity for self-examination. Let’s be still and be on our knees before God to ask such questions as these ..
• To what extent is my pain at the crisis increased because I have made an idol of earthly wealth?
• How much is my fear increased because I trust myself andf not God?

• Where is my real sense of wealth: earth or heaven?
• To what extent is my heart in the wrong place, as seen by my preferred treasure?
• How much of my pain is pride, because I made wrong decision or worse ones than others?
• Am I envious at those who have done less worse and do I covet their position?
• To what extent am I resentful because my plans for a comfortable life are now set back?

Finally, Martyn Lloyd-Jones urges that we should be thankful at anything that brings us to our knees before God. That is a good place to stop pondering and start praying.