When you heard that the Dow dropped over 600 points today how did you feel? Concerned, worried, fearful… all these are words that might describe how many of us felt as we watched the stock market continue it’s sharp nose dive! But as Christians is this how we should respond to bad econmic news?

There are a lot of folks talking about money these days. Just turn on talk radio, do a Google search,  or watch the world news and you’ll soon discover that it is a widely popular topic. Unfortunately, most of the current news is less than optomistic.  Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain are all facing default and the U.S. credit rating was down graded by Standard and Poor — hightening fears of a return to The Great Recession! We definately have reason for a bad case of the economic jitters! But how should Christians respond to all this economic doom and gloom?

Do you know that Jesus had more to say about money than any other topic recorded in the Bible?  One of the most popular passages can be found in the 12th chapter of Luke where Jesus tells the parable about the Rich Fool; a man who had such an abundant crop that he decided to tear down his barns to build new, larger ones. When he completed the task he would be able to take life easy; “eat drink and be merry.” But God referred to the man as a fool. “This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”  Jesus doesn’t condemn possessions or money but He does warn us not to put our faith in these things to secure our future. Rather, He urges us to seek the kingdom of God “and all these things shall be added to you”. In the verse 22 Jesus tells us not to worry about how we will provide for ourselves. Why? Because God will provide for all of our needs. “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Yes, the economic news is not good right now and we should do what we can to make sure our families are provided for.  There is nothing wrong with protecting our money and  possessions or putting something aside for that “rainy day” that we will all face sooner or later. But for those of us whose faith rests in God there is never a reason for dispair — even when the world seems to be falling apart around us. “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you…”