God or Government?

 

 

Because of my husband’s interest in economics we have watched the recession for years.  The warnings of a serious problem started being spoken of in our home at least five years ago and maybe longer. Apparently, those who were paying close attention saw this huge financial crisis growing at rapid speed.

All I ever wanted to know was “How can we prepare for this?” We did a few things, like sell our house while it was still worth something, but we’re as much victims to it as anyone.

It’s been interesting to watch individual Christians as it affects them personally. The differences are astounding. It may relate to level of faith or teaching but it’s not pretty to watch some of us as we lose a portion of our income or, in some cases, our jobs. When I think about it I come back to the verse from John 15:8, ” By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

I am particularly talking about the way we respond to government help, i.e. unemployment benefits, and the motivation shown to look for and find a new job.

We know one person who lost her job at the very beginning of the recession, about three years ago. I’m not sure it was at all related to the economy. She got about a year of pay and then went on unemployment. I spoke to her this week. She is still on unemployment. She jokingly calls it “Obamacare!” The timing has been such that every time it’s been about to run out the Obama administration extends benefits. She has only recently seriously started to look for work. If the government was going to pay her, she was going to enjoy it.

Contrast this with another friend who lost his job directly related to the economic downturn. He, too, got a couple of month’s severance pay and would then be eligible for unemployment benefits. He wanted to get work quickly. He believes that God has called him to provide for his family. He does not believe that God wants his government to support him or his family. According to the scriptures government has clearly defined roles. Insuring that every citizen has a paycheck is not one of them.

This man applied for any job opening he saw that he was qualified for and then went knocking on doors of companies he thought he could serve. He spoke to people letting them know what he was looking for. He found a job and was back to work in less than two months. He believes Paul’s teaching from 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 … aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (emphasis mine). He also believes 2 Thessalonians 3:10b, If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat and 1Timothy 5:8, But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Both of these Christians show up in church every Sunday. Both of them claim to be whole hearted followers of Christ. In His word God repeatedly reminds us not just to read, study, listen, and hear His word but to “Do what it says.” (Deuteronomy 6:18; James 1:22).

Do most people even understand where the government gets its money? We rob each other when we take too much advantage of our government “help.”

If you or I lose our jobs will God be enough to provide or will we insist on taking our government for every penny they are willing to give? Will we take every extension of benefits or ask God to provide work?

This is the bottom line to me, in times of any kind of need, who do we trust to care for us? Is it our Almighty God whose resources are endless or our unholy government whose resources come from us and our brothers?