By Esther Rathnam

Last time, we discussed about Our God being a jealous God, as one of the reasons behind this recession. Indeed, this recession is helping bring back many a wondering souls to its rightful place, at the feet of God.

Today, we are going to see that another finding from this recession is that Our God is Sovereign. Yes, I’d like to scream it from the hill tops that our God is indeed Sovereign at all times. He was Sovereign when the economy was doing well and HE is still Sovereign when our economy is rapidly failing. The Bible tells us in many places that apart from HIM we can do nothing. Matthew Chapter 6:25-34 is definitely worth the read. We are told not to worry for none of us have the power to change our current, past or present situation, only God can do that.

How does knowing HE is Sovereign help us? Romans 8:28 tells us And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. Yes my friends, this horrible, worrisome recession will also be worked for your good. Our God has the ability to turn something ugly into something beautiful. This recession is yet another means of His doing something good in you.

So stop worrying about the recession and seek ye first your God, turn to Him and look to Him to see you through this recession. Not convinced yet? Turn your thoughts back to the Israelites! What did God do for them? He rescued them from Pharaoh, parted the red sea, provided manna and quail, water from rocks etc. When the Israelites were convinced that there was nothing that could save them, God intervened and did the impossible but first He brought them to a state of nothing, a state of pleading, much like the recession.

How do you survive the recession? Trusting in His Sovereignty. God brings you to nothing to recognize that you have everything you need for survival. Like the Israelites, we are often tempted to put our trust in everything but the Lord. We depend on our own strength and steal God of his Sovereignty and Glory.

How is God glorified through a recession? The same way He was glorified when Gideon’s army won by just blowing the horn and hitting pots and pans against a strong Midianite army! The same way He was glorified when a young David with a sling conquered a mighty Goliath, the same way He was glorified when Pharaoh’s army was swept by the waters of the Red Sea. God is glorified when man is brought to nothing, when man is stripped of all confidence in self and relies only on the Grace of God which ultimately proves that HE is always Sovereign.

This recession God is calling us to acknowledge His power and authority. We are not to doubt God’s Sovereignty nor are we to steal His Glory.

The recession has hit every country hard and has got the entire world shaken up, including the Christian world. Most Christians are asking themselves or their pastors, why is there a recession? Sadly, many have forgotten that God is Sovereign even over the recession. Yes, God does have a purpose even behind this recession.

Many of you are probably thinking that God is very cruel to allow the recession or why would God do something like this? Let us take a look at God’s word and see what could possibly be the purpose behind a recession? Remember, Scripture always has an answer to everything. Why is there a recession, how do you beat it? All the answers are in the scriptures, you just need to find it.

When I heard about the recession, the first verse that came to mind was Exodus 20:5 “Our God is a jealous God”. What does this have to do with the recession? To answer that, here is yet another verse, Matthew 6:24 “You cannot serve both God and Money.” I think the recession is here because we have chosen the wrong master. Our God is a jealous God and wants us to serve just one master, HIM! The recession is here to bring us back to God and give Him the Glory due his name.

Take a look at the world around, what is it about the recession that has affected us? Lack of money! Yes, definitely we all need money, there is no debating it but have we let God decide how much money we need? Most of us have a target salary and we don’t settle for anything less than that. In reality, what we are doing is, trusting our money to meet our needs and not God! By this act we are causing our God to be jealous. 

When you are not content in your okay paying job and are constantly on the look out for more money, you’re not honoring God, you’re dishonoring him! You are telling God “Hey God, money is more important to me and sorry I don’t trust you can provide for me and my family if I’m not doing enough earning!” You are telling God that He doesn’t know what you need and that you Infact know better.

How do you treat money and jobs? The book of Haggai really offers us one of the best perspectives. Haggai 1: 6 “You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it”. Isn’t that true? Don’t you feel like the money we earn is never sufficient? We as Christians ought not to be troubled by the recession but depend on the Lord for meeting our needs. Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Money, sadly today is our main concern. We forget that we worship a Jealous God! He will strip away distractions to bring you back to him.

Let this time of recession be a stripping away of your love for money and a time of giving our Jealous God his dues!

About the Author Esther Rathnam:

Hi! I am 23 and bubbling with life. I love life and ever since Christ came in there has been meaning and more joy to it. I have tons of friends and a huge family(practically half the city’s population is known to me). For those of you who think being a Christian is boring or taxing, I am here to let you know that you are missing out on a whole lot of fun! There is no greater joy than knowing Christ, Amen!