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In God We Trust? Or Do We Trust in our Money?

Economic fears have gripped the world. While the U.S. attempts to recover from recession and high unemployment, its credit rating has also dropped. The global markets are fluctuating daily, and many investors are panicking out of fear of losing the money they have set aside in stocks and bonds. 

How should a follower of Christ react to huge worldwide economic problems?

As neither an economist nor a politician, I have no clue what should be done about the crisis or the long-term issues involved in the recovery and credit ratings. I don’t even know what to do with my own money. My husband and I have most of our savings tied up in retirement funds and other investments, which we need sooner rather than later.
 
I can easily panic as I watch the Dow Jones go down, wondering how we will make it through retirement if the value of our investments never recovers. Worry and fear are natural when we trust in our money, our portfolios, or Social Security for retirement–or simply for tomorrow. 
 
At issue is faith. Do we really trust in God, as is imprinted on the money we handle? He never fluctuates or changes. He is in control of our lives and of the money market, and these problems don’t surprise him. Because he knows the end from the beginning, he can be trusted with the future. I need to turn my eyes away from the situation and look to him, our true provider. Even if our retirement is not as early or as easy as I once expected and even if our standard of living is lowered, God will continue blessing me with his good gifts of love, salvation, church, family, friends, and faith. Can’t I trust Him to provide for my real needs through the tough times?

When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass  through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm  you. (Isaiah 43:2)

Kay is a life-long Texan whose favorites are Tex-Mex, books that feed her soul or make her think, good movies and travel to new places. Her great joy is to serve God by teaching the Bible and developing women as servant-leaders. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Ordinary Women Ministries, which provides free videos, podcasts and articles as well as low-cost Bible studies to prepare Christian women for leadership. (beyondordinarywomen.org) Kay spent ten years leading women’s ministries on church staffs, most recently at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas. Kay is the author of From Ordinary Woman to Spiritual Leader: Grow your Influence, a practical guide to help Christian women influence others by applying foundational leadership skills to their lives and ministries, and a number of Bible studies for women, some are available at bible.org and the newer ones are found at beyondordinarywomen.org. Kay earned an M.A.C.E. from Dallas Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Effective Ministries to Women. Kay’s family includes a husband, two grown children, one son-in-law, two hysterical granddaughters and a Goldendoodle.