What started as a housing market bubble correction in the USA took on a life of its own and fast expanded into a global economic crisis (aka “The Credit Crunch”) leaving causalities of great and small in its trail. The media did not help the situation with their negative speculations and predictions of a severe and protracted downturn in 2009. This left many people including Christians understandably concerned about their future.

I would like to encourage those who may have found themselves on the wrong side of any crisis by sharing with you some important facts I think you should know about the current crisis.

THIS CRISIS WAS NOT THE WORST THAT THE WORLD HAD EVER SEEN

Despite the pandemonium that followed the crisis, it is worthy of note that the difficult times were not unprecedented. You may be forgiven for thinking that history simply repeated itself. No two crises are the same, but in most cases, the impact is often the same – hardship. Here’s a few of the crisis the world has been through:

• The dot.com crash, 2000
• World financial crisis 1997
• The US stock markets crash of 1987
• US savings and loan scandal, 1985
• The Wall Street crash of 1929
• Overend & Gurney, 1866; Barings, 1890

Economic crisis in Bible

• The great famine in Acts prophesied by Agabus in Act 11:28
• The seven years of global famine in Genesis 41:30
• The famine of Samaria: 2 Kings 6: Perhaps one of the worst recorded in the bible. It was so bad that parents were entering into contract with their neighbours to cannibalise their children

DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS

There were some who jumped to the conclusion that the crisis represented a death sentence to their God-given dreams. However, you need to remember that the vision of greatness which God gave to Joseph came to pass in a season of famine.

The crisis of 2 Kings 6 was far worse than what the world is experiencing today yet they survived it through divine intervention. I strongly believe that despite the credit crunch, there are some people who are in for the greatest time of their life and there are those who will kiss poverty goodbye in a spectacular way this year!

YOUR RESPONSE IS VITAL TO THE OUTCOME

What makes or breaks people in times of crisis is not so much what happens to them, as it is how they respond to the things that happen to them. In times of crisis, it is essentials that we recognise and avoid those negative attitudes that can hurt us whilst we focus on displaying those that will help us. Here are some of the key attitudes we should exhibit:

I. Faith and NOT Fear
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: (Luke 21:26)

Fear will paralyse, but faith will propel you on by giving you the confidence and assurance that with God on your side it does not matter what may be happening around you because God will make a way of escape for you (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength”

Charles H. Spurgeon

II. Order NOT Confusion
According to dictionary.com confusion is defined as: “Impaired orientation with respect to time, place, or person; a disturbed mental state.”

One cause of disorientation is when we experience a sudden shift in those things that we rely on. We then go into a state of shock and commotion. A good example is a sudden unavailability of the cheap credit that encouraged many to buy into a false life they could not afford just to please people they do not like.

But God is not the author of confusion (1Corinthians 14:33), because where there is confusion there is every evil work (James 3:16). Rather He is the God of peace and due order. When God orders your life there would be no room for confusion. So, “Let all things be done decently and in order”. (1Corinthians 14:40)

III. Benevolence NOT Bitterness
Bitterness will cause you more trouble than good. The bible warns us to be careful about being bitter: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

A bitter man is an angry man, and unmanaged anger can leave you vulnerable to the devil: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26). Instead, we should focus on benevolence which is both constructive and progressive.

On Tuesday 27th January 2009 the world was shocked by the news of a Los Angeles man who fatally shot his wife, five young children and himself after the couple lost their hospital jobs. The truth is that while the credit crunch made him unemployed, his wrong choice made him a murderer responsible for deaths of his wife and five children.

IV. Enthusiasm NOT Apathy
It is hard not to show the pain especially when you are on the receiving side of the credit crunch. But should that be allowed to translate into “I don’t care” Or “Que sara sara” (Spanish – What will be will be)? Apathy (or Indifference) is a type of denial that says there is nothing I or anyone (Including God) can do and therefore I will do nothing and just wait for what will be to be.

During the siege of Samaria by Syria (2 Kings 7) when the Lord sent Elisha to prophesy that deliverance would come the next day, we are told that “Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?”. The answer is yes the Lord did as he had spoken, but the apathetic lord did not partake of it.

This is the season to be attentive to the words of the Lord and more importantly receive it with faith and enthusiasm so that you can reap the rewards it brings.

V. Analysis NOT Paralysis
There are genuine lessons to be learnt by analysing the missteps, greed and errors that led to the economic crisis, so observe and learn but please move on. Do not become fixated on the crisis. God has “bigger fish to fry” and needs your attention. Preoccupation with the past can paralyse and keep you from moving forward. The Apostle Paul shares with us important lessons on how to deal with what is past:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” (Philippians 3:13)

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin”.

Mother Teresa

VI. Reasonable NOT Irrational
A classic characteristic of a crisis is the tendency for people to act irrationally and create more damage than was initially caused by the crisis itself. Here are some areas you may want to watch out for (yes even if you are a Christian):

1. Hyperactivity: People tend to overwork themselves just to build up extra cash as security buffers against further deterioration in the economy. This can have a very detrimental effect on other areas of people’s lives such as devotion time, family time stress levels etc. So what started as a credit crunch can easily deteriorate into a family or health crisis if you fail to respond with reason.
   
2. Selfishness: self-indulgence, stinginess are all on the increase. A recent news report showed that giving to Charities has taken a serious hit over this crisis period as people become more cautious about their spending and try to save for the “Rainy day”. There are also reports of a rise in sales of comfort products such as alcohol and chocolates as more people turn to indulgence as an escape from the current crisis. Again this comes with serious health risks.
   
3. Crime: In September 2008, a leaked Home Office memo warned the credit crunch will spark a rise in crime. Burglary, fraud, violence, racist behaviour and terrorism could all soar as the economic downturn bites harder. The danger for those who turn to these unscrupulous acts is that they will probably end up with criminal records which will make it harder for them to seize opportunities even when the economy recovers.

In concluding let me say, that though these are challenging times, God is more than able to do what he plans to do. However, living the victorious life requires that we act in Godly wisdom and not irrationally like sheep without a shepherd. May the Lord grant you, therefore, the wisdom to live above the limits of the times, Amen!!

First published in 2009.