Letter of the Month

What can you do about the financial crisis?
By Miguel A. Cañete


Be Generous 

The Bible says: “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Pr. 11:25*). So don’t stop being generous even in a time of financial crisis—especially in a time of financial crisis! But what if you don’t have much money? The Bible says that we should give “in keeping with [our] income” (1 Cor. 16:2), so the issue is not whether we give a lot or a little, but whether we trust God to give at all.

Expect God’s Provision

When it comes to financial needs, the Bible is very clear. As Paul put it: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Does that apply to you and me? You bet! So we can expect God to provide for our needs (though not necessarily our wants) according to His riches. The key here is that we expect God to provide for us. After all, what is faith but the expectation of that which we cannot yet see (Heb. 11:1)?

Pray for those in authority

We are not very good at it, but the Bible is very clear: If we pray for those in authority, we will have a much better chance of being able to “live peaceful and quiet lives” (1 Tim. 2:2). The Greek word for “peaceful” carries the idea of not being troubled from the outside, while the word “quiet,” that of not being troubled from within.  I think that a financial crisis, like the one we face, can certainly cause both of these things. But we can be sure that if we pray for the government and everyone whose decision-making will ultimately impact the financial markets, we will see God at work (or, is His hand not big enough to steer the global markets in the right direction?).

Learn the lesson

Paul wrote: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:12-13). What lesson is God teaching you through your financial troubles? Could He be teaching you to be content with what you have? Could He be teaching you to depend on Him, and not on your ability to make money? Whatever it is, ask God to give you the wisdom to learn it and learn it well.

So let us give, expect, pray, and learn as we face difficult financial times. After all, hard times are nothing but a miracle waiting to happen.