It has happed in the past and it is happening again. Over the past 100 years there has been times of materialism and excess and then boom and bust. Many peoples’ life savings and property were wiped out. Years ago the banks weren’t bailed out and were allowed to fold. This time they were bailed out. It all has to be paid for and this time it the people. Will we never learn to save in the times of plenty like Joseph did for Pharaoh and Egypt? See Genesis 37-50.

In light of the recent economic crises and financial meltdown it is difficult to see where we should invest. The interest paid by banks is low. The return for stocks and shares can go down as well as up. If the market is doing well it is described as “bullish”. If things are bad it is a “bear” market. The toxicity present in the world’s markets  and bail out of the banks may lead to further decline with more job cuts, wage freezes, spending cuts, price rises, tax rises and even the collapse of the Euro as even countries are being bailed out!

1. Investing with the world

Look at the performance of the stock and you might get seasick. It looks like a roller coaster. Anyone investing at the bottom and selling at the top could make lots of money. But who knows where the bottom is? Who knows where the top will be? And when? It is a gamble and not everyone can win. What goes up must come down. And it always does! We have to put our money somewhere. It may be a house, savings or stock market. It is important to not overstretch our credit or run the risk of losing all. The wise will spread the risk around.

2. Investing with God

At a time when people everywhere are looking for a safe place and way to bank and finding little to quell their financial fears you will be reminded there is only one place to bank in times like these: the Bank of Heaven. There are many Bible passages to study:-

• Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).
• God spoke through Isaiah the prophet and said, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
• The apostle Paul wrote, “For the form of this world is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31b).
• The apostle John wrote, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).
• “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NIV)
• “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (Proverbs 13:11, NIV)
• “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)

The same God who revealed the details about the life of our Saviour before He was born has revealed the end-times turmoil we are currently experiencing and there is more to come. The purpose of the prophetic Word is to give us confidence in God and hope for the future which is exactly what we need today. Even when banks fail, you can bank on the faithfulness of God. His bank never runs out of funds!

Categories: Genesis, Matthew