How do you respond when you hear about or are confronted with difficult economic
cycles?
Some Christians personalize the situation. This is particularly true if
difficult times affect us directly. When we face difficult circumstances of any
kind, we may begin to wonder if God is trying to tell us something. We may even
begin to make long-term decisions from emotional places.
Having been a pastor, I have too often heard people make statements that amount
to, “God must be trying to take my business away from |
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me,” or “God wants me to lose my home and job.”
While we know this is not the case, it is a sure sign that
our minds are working on loss avoidance. From this place, we
are in danger of missing the opportunity to discover
creative ways to add to our lives and vocations.
Let us begin by looking at this in a macro sense. God is an
Economist. He operates His universe with cycles and seasons.
We need only look at ecology and how He has created cycles
for nature as an example. These cycles are designed to allow
for growth through short-term and long-term adjustments. We
only need to examine the growth bands in a tree to see how
God has provided different seasons of drought, excessive
water and strong growth years. These various seasons
naturally manage the forests – ultimately for our good.
Some would say these adjustments are a result of the curse
and that may well be. But there will be cycles. We so often
sabotage ourselves if we do not allow these adjustments and
focus on the present rather than the longer term affects. I
have watched these economic cycles for many years and they
are predictable.
Benefiting from economic cycles
Another example is the size and number of forest fires in
the United States. When we created the United States Fire
Department, the organization believed its primary purpose
was to avoid forest fires altogether. But by eliminating or
minimizing the forest fires we did not allow nature to take
its natural course of action. Then, as the ground cover
became deeper and drier it allowed for larger and hotter
fires that could not be stopped. This has led to very large
and destructive fire damage.
Think of economic cycles the same way. These economic cycles
are for God’s purposes, and we need to learn to benefit from
them. We have tried to administer and manipulate the
economic cycles rather than taking a Joseph approach and
utilize them for Kingdom purposes. We must do the latter to
benefit from these cycles.
God uses His economic cycles for two reasons: to bring
nations to an awareness of Him and His purposes and to
adjust their attitudes. The truth is, the resources He
releases through His creation control the prosperity of
nations. These resources may be natural or material
resources, information resources, or human resources.
Economic cycles also allow God to bridle our greed and
selfishness so we become aware of the spirit of mammon.
Mammon is a very destructive spirit of the enemy. Remember,
the reason God brought the children of Israel through the
wilderness was to humble them, prove them and to know what
was in their heart. He had to prepare them for the land of
milk and honey. He had to teach them economics.
Nearly all of our greatest times of discovery, inventions
and advancement came out of times of lack, hardness and
brokenness – if we are able to allow our survival thinking
to become our creative thinking.
Economics of an Election Year
Being an election year, 2008 will see God use the economy to
direct the agenda – and ultimately use His person to lead
our country for His purpose. We will notice some shifts in
the next several months and even witness an unexpected
upturn kick toward the end of the year. This will direct our
focus to world opportunities that are currently going
unnoticed. Be aware.
In the political agenda, there will be a focus on caring for
the needy and promises will be made toward that end. There
will be a connection. God is preparing for an economic shift
if the biblical economists will arise. Here are some
highlights I expect to see in the coming months as we head
close to electing the next president of the United States of
America.
There may be a slight edge toward a “united” government. I
am speaking primarily concerning the equity or stock market.
Politically, this may be desirable to some. Others are
concerned over the idea of a one-political-party or a
“united” government rather than the “checks and balances”
paradigm we consider the ideal.
Economically and historically there has not been any major
difference in the stock markets when just one political
party is in control. However, this does not hold true for
the bond market. When there is a united government bonds do
appear to suffer. This is especially true where there is a
super-majority, over 60 percent of one political party
controlling.
As the election goes to the White House – and if the
Democrats prevail – there will be greater changes in the tax
laws by allowing the existing tax cuts to expire in 2010 or
a reform package. Republican Presidential Candidate John
McCain has expressed his support for extending the Bush tax
cuts and making them permanent.
As growth indicators recently have fallen and inflation
indicators have risen, there are certainly concerns that the
Federal Reserve’s job has become more difficult. In recent
years, the Fed had been primarily concerned with a growth
economy. This current economy will lead to one and probably
two more rate cuts in the future, but that won’t ease the
overall monetary policies. Meanwhile, the housing market is
beginning to show signs of stability. But consumer
confidence is at its lowest point since 1992, when the U.S.
economy was coming out of recession. This also has an affect
on the housing market.
Prophetic Economic Insights
I believe the equity markets will continue to have a
heartbeat effect – up again, down again – as they did in
February. In April we will see what many will consider a
bottom of the trough and the institutional investors will
begin to feed into the equity market. This will cause some
short-term adjustments. But then the equity market will
settle down and there will be a good opportunity in the
beginning of the third quarter. There are going to be
bargains for the astute investor at that time, both in real
estate and equities.
The real estate market will begin to stabilize toward the
end of the year while the equity market remains erratic. Oil
prices seem to be on the rise, but as the economy slows down
this should cause the oil companies to consolidate as
reserves begin to rise. Some economists are predicting
levels at $75 to $80 per barrel for 2008.
Here’s my perspective: God is a world Economist. He desires
us to focus on nations and not settle for our little four
and no more. He has used the U.S. economy on an
international scale. It has become the most productive in
history and has had an overwhelming influence on world
markets. Today, God is teaching us to have a world economy
perspective while using a worldwide economy for His divine
purposes and strategies. Though our worldview economy we are
going to see how God is bringing about the full Gospel
message of restoration to His Kingdom.
All comments and opinions are
solely those of the writer and are not in any way comments
or opinions of Jonas Clark Communications or its affiliates.
Dr. Paul “Buddy” Crum, Director of Life Center
Ministries; Founder, President, The Marketplace Alliance. He
has a heart to empower God’s people for the marketplace.
With a successful business background Dr. Buddy Crum is
uniquely qualified to help churches develop marketplace
ministry that changes businesses, communities and
ultimately, nations. He can be reached at
www.buddycrum.com
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