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Christianity Today, January, 2009 |

A Surefire Investment

How to pray in the midst of financial catastrophe.

Philip Yancey | posted 2/03/2009 10:22AM

Historians will look at the year that just ended as a financial tsunami that left in its wake millions of foreclosed homes, bankruptcies, and lost jobs. As if competing to abandon the basic tenets of ...

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modjack

Posted: February 11, 2009 12:11 PM


Yancey hits it out of the park...again.

Anonymous

Posted: February 06, 2009 8:08 AM

I think that the root cause of this present crisis has to be looked at..............and that is tht our whole economic system is based on the charging of interest. For 1500 years the Christian church did not permit this, but now the churches are in on a system which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. C.S. Lewis in his book "Mere Chritianity", couldn't understand why the church tolerated something which under both Jewish and Roman law was rewarded with the death penalty. Western churches and church leaders have a lot to answer for.

Winston Seejattan

Posted: February 05, 2009 7:57 AM

I agree totally with Phillip Yancey since GOD has been directing me and my wife for some time now to invest in the work of the kingdom. The problems have come with the impending financial collaspe but the feeling of helplessness is not there since a practice of trusting GOD has been cultivated over a period of time. What has happened in the USA is affecting the rest of the world therefore the world christian body need to reassess its standing and basis of provisional security. Winston Seejattan

maria 5 stars

Posted: February 05, 2009 5:25 AM


God is always faithfull, we cannot out give Him, it can be scary but God has called us to trust him, it was about 8years ago he called me to tithe on some money I recived, he has always provided what I need but there is a difference in what we need and what we want. this is the year God is calling us to trust more than ever. Amen.

Marc Jonathan Haney

Posted: February 04, 2009 7:23 PM


This is certainly an opportunity for each of us who is in Christ to "give an account for the hope" that is in us (1 Peter 3:15), providing that's where we've placed our hope!

arthur hemmi

Posted: February 04, 2009 3:24 PM


we should put our trust in AlmightyGod prayers love and help.

Dena	Posted: February 04, 2009 10:36 AM

Wise words as always from Yancey. I am hopeful this country will grow through this crisis and as a nation we will come together. However, I am realistic in knowing that politics don't seem to change much from president to president. I too wonder how many of our congressmen and women have 'forgotten' or 'overlooked' their tax resposibilities and would be able to stand the stoplight if it were shining on them. I have long been frustrated by the way this tax system works for those who 'have' and how it doesn't work for the middle class who can't'use everything they own as a tax write-off. We as a country need to grow up and accept our responsibilities, first and foremost that of caring for those who truly need our care. When we are in pain, helping others is the surest way to lessen ours.

H. D. Schmidt

Posted: February 04, 2009 10:01 AM

However my brother Yancey perfect your advise is, but as long as this Nation keeps disobeying the commanding orders, that of the Founding Fathers, all your advise will continue to fall basically in deaf ears especially as to what a Nation under God should be in general all over the world. Guns have now fully replace most of the commanding orders, given by the ones who under God gave birth to this nation. Thomas Jefferson in a few words did truly gave the perfect formula with these words: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none". "Overgrown militaty establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican liberty. By George Washington. In reality of late George W. who claimed Jesus as his hero, who in my estimation never ever spoke and acted like his hero, it has made Christianity really what some call America as the Satan. Mr. Yancey, am I wrong on George W.?

Shirley Morgan

Posted: February 04, 2009 8:21 AM


I do sometimes feel sorry for myself and I know God does NOT want us to go there! Thank YOU, MR. Yancey, for your article! There are so many parts that I can use in my prayer time, but the most important is that Jesus did suffer for us!! So why are we so much better to NOT suffer?? God, HELP us!!!

Fanfaron

Posted: February 04, 2009 8:18 AM


Mr. Yancey always delivers!

Fran	Posted: February 04, 2009 7:53 AM


Well said, Mr. Yancey. That was one of the most insightful articles I've read recently. I especially like this part: " I have learned to resist the tendency to edit my prayers so that they sound sophisticated and mature." That made me chuckle. Yes, we should pray like a child, and love like a child and give like a child. It is so simple. If only the world would see...

pete Benson, editor UNITYINCHRIST.COM

Posted: February 04, 2009 6:20 AM

I've been studying through Proverbs, and I saw all the points Philip Yancey made about money in Proverbs. 'Riches of the wicked is worthless', 'he who withholds to the poor turns poor himself, he who gives to the poor never runs out, real labor produces real wealth. And the biggest of them all from Jesus. 'Build your house on the Rock, Jesus, and not on a foundation of shifting sand.' 'Also the rich man storing all his wealth in his barns, and wanting to build new barns to store more died that night.' My father, a graduate of Harvard Business School, said 'The American economy is built on the faith the American people have in it, nothing more.' All Christians must learn to start giving as they are able right now. The big donors are gone. Time for the many Christians to do the job the few Christians have been doing. Many hands make light work. See http://www.UNITYINCHRIST.COM/missionstatement.htm for some good ideas along this line. Time may be short, let's get at it.

PREMKUMAR

Posted: February 04, 2009 4:59 AM

I have learnt valuable lessons from this crisis.I have lost my Job and God is teaching me valuable lessons .Brother Yancey is right about prayer.We need to pray at all times not only in a crisis.The Bible says Greater is He in you than that who is in the World.Focus on eternal benefits as the son and daughter of a King.God is the source of unlimitless Goodness.He says He will supply all your needs according to his riches in Glory.I am learning that being in debt is like being a slave to the lender.Learn to wait God has the best for you dont settle for second best.Give generously willingly and cheerfully.The seed sown will always come back multiplied,how do i know ? It works for me.Trust in God.As Brother Yancey says Focus on helping others in need.When in Crisis remember God is shaping you to be more like Him,He is the potter we are the clay,so we must count it all joy when we suffer as we have the privelage to be partners with Christ.In His Will i am Free indeed.

Chris

Posted: February 04, 2009 2:59 AM

Yes I agree with Yancey that I should look away from my problems and look toward others who are more in need under normal circumtsances. But what about the issue of paying back the loans taken. Shouldn't we show to the world that despite the economic meltdown, we believers will honor the agreement to pay back to the banks, no matter how painful it is to do so? Which one do we give priority to, the more needy or cleaning up the mess we have made because we chose to borrow from the banks? If we choose to attend to those in desparate needs and donate, will we not be a bad testimony for not paying back as agreed? Is it the will of God for us to help the truly desparate and take the view that the banks should know better than to lend to those who may not be able to pay? Is it okay to say to the banks: "Actually I have just enough to pay back but because there are those in more desparate needs, the money will go to them rather than back to the banks."

Rex Joshua

Posted: February 04, 2009 1:00 AM


I am in a developing country, where development work often happens with donors from developed countries. I am eager to see how Western Christians respond to Yancey's call to give during a crisis. Would be a great life lesson to me! Thanks for the initiative Yancey

Tom Wilhelm

Posted: February 03, 2009 6:46 PM

We must stand strong with God and not depend on "wise men" of this nation. We now have 3 people in government who "forgot" to pay their taxes, but I ask how many people in Congress and the Senate "forgot" to pay their taxes that are not in the spot light or people in any other form of government? God and prayer is our only salvation in this financial crisis or any other situation in our lives. My wife and I continue to contribute to our church even though I have been laid off and just recently had back surgery because God is our foundation and our only hope.

ounbbl

Posted: February 03, 2009 6:37 PM

Several observations made through the election noise and the turns and twists of the economic turmoil: (1) Money you have is not really yours until you have spent it - wisely. Money wasted was not really yours, was it? (2) Gone up or fallen down in value? Assets and investments you have is not really your money, until you have cashed them in. (3) Economy will go through booms and bursts, played by Satan with his trick of trade - the evil trio of people's greed, speculation, and manipulation - be it personal, corporate, national level. (4) Prudence is in not being Optimistic about Obamnation's Optimism. (5) His mantra of 'change' is nothing more than rhetoric for the hidden agenda of 'Great Leap Forward' (remember Mao Zedong?) of socialism, deep in the Democrat's ideology. Note: trillions dollars in smoke - It' must be all shadow shown on the (accounting) books (just like the statements Madoff used to send out to his clients). The money gone was actually not there to begin with.

Mali	Posted: February 03, 2009 4:00 PM


Yes, for sure, the very worst (and most unscriptural) thing that we could do right now is to begin hoarding our resources, financial or otherwise. "Give and it shall be given unto you..." Jesus said. Now is the time to believe in and act upon the promise!

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