Whatever your interest in the academics and the economics, I’d like to briefly touch on two life applications for you today.

First of all, there is value to you in understanding the principle behind what has happened on Wall Street. The markets are complicated, but the crisis did not come out of nowhere. As I said in the video, the economic explanation for our market volatility is really just a dollars and cents way of echoing what Proverbs 22:7b (NKJV) says: “The borrower is servant to the lender.”

What is the application for your life? This crisis provokes fear for you because of how it affects your own savings and your own feelings about your future. As you understand my explanation of what happened, I truly hope that you will grasp the simple fact that your own economic well-being depends on following God’s truths about money and money management. Using credit wisely and seeking to get out of a heavily debt-dependent lifestyle makes as much sense for our day-to-day life as it does for the money managers on Wall Street. Truth works, no matter how simple or how complicated the situation. 

My second point is for those of you whose losses are very real. Some of you planned to depend on money in the very near future that is not longer available to you because of this crisis. This weekend, I’ll be speaking at a Generous Giving conference in Washington D.C. Stephen Curtis Chapman, a popular Christian singer, will provide the music at the conference. Last spring, Mr. Chapman’s young daughter was run over and killed in his driveway in a tragic accident. Mr. Chapman has spent years ministering God’s love to his audiences through song. I am certain that Mr. Chapman’s academic understanding of God’s presence and help in trouble has been sorely tested during his time of grief. He could probably do without meager human explanations and would probably prefer God to comfort him directly in his grief.

Some of you are on the brink of retirement and have lost nearly half of your future provision. Others were heavily invested in a single company that has lost much more than the 40% that Dow Jones has lost in the last year. I know that, for you, the academic exercise of understanding God’s principles of money management probably feel inadequate and hollow to answer your pain or your fear. 

My encouragement to you is that God knows. He sees, He knows, and He cares. His overarching truths remain, but for you, His quiet, strong, individual words of comfort and wisdom are what matter. 

Your situation is confusing. You may be losing sleep or experiencing strained relationships right now. I encourage you to find a trusted financial advisor who shares your faith so that you can receive good nuts and bolts advice for your situation. I also encourage you to ask God to speak to your heart about His grace in the midst of fear and loss. God weeps with those who weep. Allow Him to share your pain.

Often, as Christians, we quote Romans 8:28 to one another in tough times, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV) That verse can feel like a small band-aid if you are in deep pain. However, if you read what follows in Chapter 8 of Romans, you will be reminded of the massive effectiveness of God’s love for a hurting Christian. Take the time to read the rest of the chapter. Let me just give you a taste of the closing words: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37 – 39 (NKJV).

May God’s peace encourage you as you pursue financial wisdom and depend on His truth.

Blessings, 

Ron