Rejoicing and Recession (R&R)

 

It is easy to appear Christian in the absence of suffering. Recession reveals the reality.

 

Recession is defined by Webster as: 1 : the act or action of receding 2 : a departing procession (as of clergy and choir at the end of a church service) 3 : a period of reduced economic activity. For the purpose of our discussion, recession occurs when the elements of our life on earth recede: our finances, our job, our health, our relationships, etc.

 

One of the trademarks of Christianity is hope. (1 Peter 3:14-15) The evidence of hope is diminished in the presence of abundance. When our finances are abundant and our job is abundant and our health is abundant and our relationships are abundant, we are expected to be hopeful and filled with joy. But when life recedes the presence of hope resounds. And some will notice and ask the reason why. And God will be glorified in us and we will be satisfied in Him.

 

As the Lord permits, we will explore the concept of R&R on Sunday evening, April 5. Together we will seek and prayerfully find from Scripture how to rejoice when life recedes.

 

And life on earth will recede. But thanks be to God that life in Christ will eternally abound.

 

…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. (Proverbs 11:4)

 

Bernard L. Madoff has become a lightning rod for pundits, politicians, philosophers and preachers about what is wrong with business, politics and morality in America.  He is by his own admission criminally guilty.  But is there more?

 

In the end, is he not also guilty of simply giving people what they wanted, namely the hope of riches?  Mr. Madoff perpetrated his Ponzi scheme on the back of a culture of greed.  And while he is admittedly guilty under the laws of this land and must pay the price for his crime, his greater concern must be answering to the just and righteous Judge of the universe.  As must be our greater concern.

 

While the rest of us may not be running a Ponzi scheme out of our basement, is the hope of riches running our lives?  We will one day stand before the Judge.  And the question will not be merely criminal, but of the heart.  Did we live our lives from greed or for God?

 

All Mr. Madoff's wealth has done him no good in this his day of criminal wrath.  And all the riches that all of us might aspire to acquire on this earth will do none of us any good in the Day of Judgment yet to come.  So let us all repent of our greed and cling only to the life changing righteousness of Christ Jesus.