Biblical Prosperity

As a sitting board member I was motivated ethically to make the best choice for the organization I represented.  While interviewing candidates to fill a top level management position, I was presented with an internal conflict. Of the two finalists, one candidate was a Christian (based on information that did not come from the interview process) and aligned with all I believe but the other, a non-Christian was better qualified for the position. I wanted to vote for the Christian, but my conscious would only let me vote for the one who was better prepared for the position and ultimately better for the good of the organization.

An individual can have a strong spirituality but not possess the best qualifications and competencies to lead. Even the most passionately spiritual person will be “stuck” in their leadership capacity unless they have a value for growth that is strong enough to stir them to make the sacrifices to grow. Our core values should include a passion for self-improvement and growth that motivate us to become better at what we do. We should aim to be passionately spiritual but we also should strive to be the best at our craft.

When Paul gave an account to King Agrippa of his Damascus road conversion, he stated that Jesus appeared to appoint him, “as a servant and as a witness” (Acts 26:16, NIV). It is understood what a witness of the gospel is; but can a servant be the one managing the assembly line or is it only the one feeding the homeless? Later Paul wrote a similar encouragement to the Christians at Colossae, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians 3:23, NIV).

Francis Schaeffer points out how the gospel transformed the workplace during the time of the Reformation. The Christian worldview meant that all the vocations in life came to have dignity. The vocation of the honest merchant or housewife had as much value as the King, a radical thought for leaders in this time in history and a welcome relief to the followers of the day. The one serving in their vocation is the one in the will of God. The one skilled in their vocation is the one fulfilling their calling.

Schaeffer, F. (2005) How Should We Then Live?: the Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Book

The two biggest visible players on the economic front in 2012 are the teetering European Union and the US elections. It would seem like the Euro as a monetary unit is “date stamped” and will undergo some changes. It is just hard to imagine the hard working Germans will underwrite the Greek’s ability to retire with a full pension at the age of 50. The EU will likely remain intact as a political organization but the Euro will see some adjustment; either to a limited number of countries or possibly fail altogether. Financial Markets are generally factoring this in to their pricing already.

A lot of economic activity in the US and Canada will be “on hold” until it becomes clear which way the US election is going to go this November. If it is too close to call this will remain true throughout the year. If the outcome appears predictable, markets and businesses will react and plan accordingly. Depending which way the election goes, there could be a sharp upturn in economic activity by the fall.

China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Russia and Argentina will increase as economic powers and lead the world out of recession. People are fond of saying that the China “owns” the US. This is partially true but not to the extent that people think. Of US bonds held, only 50% are held outside the US. Of those bonds held outside the US, only 50% are held by China giving them 25% ownership of US bonds. A potential limiting factor for China is the dualistic economic and political systems they currently operate. There will be another “Tiananmen Square” moment with unpredictable outcomes. A positive for China is the unprecedented growth of Christianity there.

Real Estate is by far the most undervalued asset around the world. Since the crash of 2007 the real estate markets have lost trillions of dollars of net value. In the US right now one in every four houses is underwater, meaning individuals owe more on their mortgage than what their home is currently worth.  Though this is discouraging, these individual should tough it out and over time the value of their homes will rise again. This decline in value is squeezing home equity line of credits which is making it hard for new small businesses to start.

Currently one in seven mortgages in the US is in foreclosure. This will keep the house prices down for at least another year and maybe longer. It will take 5-10 years for Real Estate markets to get back to 2007 levels. This is the perfect time for individuals to get in to homes; currently home prices, construction costs and mortgage rates are all low. If you can manage this or help someone get into a property now is a great time to do this.

Energy is seeing some historic shifts as well. Energy companies are shifting away from politically unstable countries to invest in the more stable Western and developing countries. Lessons have been learned in places like the Middle East, North Africa and Venezuela, where turbulent economies and political changes have led to the loss of multiple billions of dollars of investment. Conversely, in 2011 the US became a net exporter of petroleum products, mostly refined gasoline and diesel. Canada has been a net exporter for years.

Is the world a very volatile, unpredictable place? Yes and some are predicting economic collapse. There will be economic changes to be sure. However, we must have confidence as Noah did that whatever is coming, God will prosper us on the other side.

All of the above is the author’s opinion and not investment advice.

With tears in his eyes the veteran missionary gathered his children and grandchildren around him at the front of the church building. I had just finished teaching that God wanted to be, El Shaddai, the God of more than enough. Generally as I proclaim this message people respond and ask for prayer for freedom from poverty. But I realized God was doing something different as this man approached me with his extended family.

Here was a precious man of God and his wife who had spent much of their lives on the mission field. He shared that early in his life he felt called to the mission field and he told his wife and family they would “always be poor” because of their missionary calling. He went on to share about their experience of never having enough, both when they were on the mission field and when they were home. And now he saw the same lack reproduced in the lives of his children. He wanted me to pray and break the power of his words over his family.

I asked him to pray first and cancel those words of financial lack he had spoken. He stood in his place of God-given authority and prayed. Then I followed in a prayer of financial blessing for the family as God met them in a beautiful time of prayer and restoration. The whole family left with a burden lifted and anticipating God’s abundant financial blessing.

In studying spiritual gifts we find a gift called voluntary poverty.¹ Voluntary poverty is defined as voluntarily living below a normal standard of living to minister to a people group or an individual. It works many times alongside of the gift of missionary. Church history is full of stories of people who operated in this gift.

Could it be that some Christians see this gift in well-known missionaries and church leaders (past and present) and hear their powerful, inspirational testimonies; yet they make the mistake of thinking this is the standard for everyone rather than a special grace that is given to only some? Many times Christians who live in financial lack hold as their heroes of the faith some of these spiritual giants who had the gift of voluntary poverty, not realizing they themselves do not have the same grace. This could be the cause of some Christians not experiencing God’s abundance in the area of finances.

Next Blog: 2012 Economic Forecast

1   C. Peter Wagner, Finding Your Spiritual Gifts, (Ventura, California: Gospel Light, 2005).

 As a 1983 Penn State University alumni, I have always enjoyed meeting other graduates and comparing our “Penn State Proud” memories and notes. Though I remain proud of the University in general, the administrative and athletic leadership is currently experiencing a crisis of integrity related to a sexual abuse scandal. The Penn State scandal draws my attention to the issue of character. The lack of godly character in leaders hinders and in some cases neutralizes their leadership.

 But character flaws are not limited to leaders from the Western world. Following the 2008 Kenyan violence due to electoral fraud, Ibrahim Omondi wrote Changing the Political Landscape of a Nation to call his fellow countrymen to a higher standard of character and integrity in leadership. Additionally, in discussing the billions of aid to Africa with seemingly no permanent results in offsetting starvation and economic development, Dambisa Moyo in her book Dead Aid, identifies corruption of government leaders as core to the problems facing the continent. The lack of integrity in leaders breeds mistrust which hampers their ability to lead effectively. If a leader cannot be trusted their leadership is compromised.

What is character? Bill Hybels uses the title of his book on this subject, Who You Are When No One is Looking, to define godly character. Galatians 5 lists the fruit of the spirit and then concludes, “Against such things there is no law”. That means there is no argument against good character.

However, to only identifying the lack of character in leaders does nothing to solve the problem. Action must be taken to bring about change. As a starting point I suggest the daily reading of one chapter of the book of Proverbs. I have found this transformational. Profound gems of wisdom such as “…better to have self-control than to conquer a city”, (Pr. 16:32) help us to identify character flaws and implement practical changes so character flaws will not limit us.

This is the start of the Future n’ Hope blog by Brian Sauder.  I will be discussing God, economics, business, leadership, money,  property management, financial markets, book reviews, current events, life and family with all that are interested. Starting in 2012, I invite you to an interactive forum of discussing what I am learning through study and life experiences.  The inspiration for this blog comes from a Bible verse in Jeremiah 29:11…For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.