The Great Recovery: A call to return to God's ways of doing things.

Economically our country is in a mess.  A mess most of us are tired of living in and are ready to do something about.  Dave Ramsey, a financial expert who has offered millions of people a way out of debt, is heading up a new movement called The Great Recovery.  He has rightly said that God is still in control and is stirring in our country.  As God's people we are called to do things His ways, not our ways.  Many Americans are suffering with financial issues that seem endless, filling them with a sense of despair and near-panic.  This is not how God intended us to live.  The Bible has much to say about how we handle money, and it comes as no surprise that people who don't handle money God's way don't always do so well.

We all eventually have to come to a point where we recognize that everything we have is God's.  We are called to be good stewards with what He has given us because none of it is ours in light of eternity.  If we are responsible with money and resources He blesses us with, we will prosper.  On the flip side, if we are irresponsible with money, we will lose it.  Being irresponsible can include things like going into debt for things you can't afford (i.e. a house.)  I'm not sure where we got this idea that we all deserve to live in a big house, drive nice cars, and have fancy things, but it's a lie.  In some ways the whole American Dream is never ending spiral of having to have more.  When we are sucked into that spiral we become obsessed with always wanting bigger and better things, leading to debt or other bad money-related choices.  Wake up!  Having more stuff isn't going to make you happier.  That should seem like a no-brainer since we've all experienced the disappointment at realizing we aren't fulfilled when we finally get something we've wanted for a long time.

The Bible has much to say about how we are to handle money.  God says that anyone who lives according to His Word is wise, but anyone who ignores it is a fool.  We have the tools at our fingertips.  Let us not be called foolish by the Almighty God!

Proverbs 22:7 reminds us that,  "the borrow is the slave of the lender."  Anyone who has been in debt understands that it is indeed a kind of slavery.  Unbelievers are held captive by the sinful nature of man, which is never content and always wants more.  1 Timothy 6:6-10 sums up the ultimate outcome of this kind of living.  "But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."  

Handling money God's ways means more than just avoiding debt or making wise investments.  We are also called to give back to God what is His to begin with, and do so with a joyful heart.  Deuteronomy 15:10 says, "Give generously to him (the poor) and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.  There will always be poor people in the land.  Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."   It's not up to me to say how much everyone should be giving to the Lord, but if we are withholding from God what is rightfully His, we clearly have our priorities out of whack.  We should give generously unto the Lord and he will bless us greatly, though not always in a material sense.  Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, but we can rest on the promise of God that He will always provide for our eternal needs.

Dave Ramsey has made a video explaining The Great Recovery movement, and I encourage you all to watch it.  It's absolutely worth the time to sit down and hear what he has to say.  If nothing else, at least watch the first few minutes of the introduction.  His captivating way of speaking will keep you hooked, and you'll be inspired to start living differently.