Yesterday morning I mentioned that this current economic recession we are in is actually a gift of God's grace for our souls. We are being forced to evaluate and think through some of the things that really matter in our lives and what things are ultimately important. God is giving us the chance to hope in Him and remember that our hope is not in our bank accounts or in our stuff.
I had planned on quoting from John Piper who had preached a sermon on this very thought a year or so ago. You can read, listen to, or watch his sermon here.
He lists five possible purposes of God in the recession (I was going to list the five in my message). They are:
(Some of) God’s Purposes in This Recession
1. He intends for this recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.
2. He intends to wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. He intends to relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods, in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. He intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. He intends for the church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.
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