MATTHEW 6:19 - 27. COPING WITH THE CREDIT CRUNCH CRISIS
IT WAS THE ROMANS WHO SAID OF MONEY “THE MORE YOU DRINK, THE MORE YOU THIRST” IF THAT’S TRUE THEN WE ARE ONE THIRSTY WORLD… .PEOPLE ALSO SAY THAT MONEY MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND – WELL MONEY IS NO LONGER GOING AROUND WORLD BANKS ARE CEASING TO LEND, BANKS ARE COLLAPSING , SOME ARE PROPPED UP BY GOVERMENTS MONEY SEEMS TO BE IN SHORT SUPPLY- YET THE WORLD IS STILL GOING ROUND.
HERE ARE SOME SOBERING STATISTICS
• PERSONAL DEBT IN THE UK IS £1.5 TRILLION POUNDS
• THE TRUTH BEHIND THE REAL COST OF CHEAP CREDIT IS 40,000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR VOLUNTARILY DECIDE TO BECOME BANKRUPT AFTER OVERSTRETCHING THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY THROUGH CREDIT CARDS AND LOANS.
• THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES REPOSSESSED BY MORTGAGE LENDERS IN THE UK HAS RISEN BY 48% IN THE PAST YEAR. MORTGAGE HOLDERS BEHIND WITH PAYMENTS HAS ALSO GONE UP.
• THE COUNCIL FOR MORTGAGE LENDERS PREDICTS THAT REPOSSESSIONS THIS YEAR WOULD EVENTUALLY RISE TO 45,000.
• IN THE BANKING SECTOR WE HAVE SEEN THE GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT NORTHERN ROCK RECEIVING 26 BILLION FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON THE 13TH OCT 2008 THE GOVERNMENT PUMPED A FURTHER 37 BILLION OF TAX PAYERS MONEY INTO A FURTHER 3 BANKS: RBS - LLOYDS TSB AND HBOS.
• THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE TODAY IS GRIM WITH MANUFACTURING OUTPUT PLUMMETING, BUSINESS FACING BANKRUPTCY AND UNEMPLOYMENT RISING.
• HOW DID WE GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY? EASY MONEY VIDEO (2MINS)
SO THE CREDIT CRUNCH HAS RESULTED THROUGH A SUSTAINED PERIOD OF CARELESS AND INAPPROPRIATE LENDING WHICH RESULTS IN LOSSES FOR LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND INVESTORS IN DEBT WHEN THE LOANS TURN SOUR AND THE FULL EXTENT OF BAD DEBTS BECOMES KNOWN.[2] THESE INSTITUTIONS THEN REDUCE THE AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT, AND INCREASE THE COST OF ACCESSING CREDIT BY RAISING INTEREST RATES. IN SOME CASES LENDERS MAY BE UNABLE TO LEND FURTHER, EVEN IF THEY WISH, AS A RESULT OF EARLIER LOSSES. AND SO THE EASY CREDIT BOOM HAS COME TO A CRUNCH AND THE DAYS OF EASY CREDIT ARE OVER.
AS A RESULT OF THE CREDIT CRUNCH WE HAVE A OFFICIAL ENTERED IRECCESSION (DEC 08) AND ALL OF US ARE IMPACTED BY IT SOME SHAPE OR FORM. SO TONIGHT WE ARE ASKING THE QUESTION HOW CAN WE COPE?
INTRODUCTION: TONIGHT I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEONE WHO CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE, NOT ONLY WILL HE ENABLE YOU TO COPE WITH THE CREDIT CRUNCH BUT ENABLE YOU TO RISE ABOVE IT…….. UNLIKE PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD - HE HAS GOT YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART AND NOT HIS OWN - HE DOESN’T TAKE COMMISSION - HE GIVES FREE ADVICE TO ALL HIS CLIENTS, AND HE HAS GONE TO GREAT EXPENSE AND SACRIFICE TO INVEST HIS LIFE INTO YOURS. OF COURSE THE REMARKABLE PERSON I’M REFERRING TO IS JESUS CHRIST.
THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION HE HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR LIFE RADICALLY CHANGED AROUND. AND ON TOP OF IT ALL HIS TEACHINGS WHEN APPLIED CAN GENUINELY SET YOU UPON A ROAD TO RECOVERY WHATEVER YOUR SITUATION.
SO TONIGHT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU PART OF A PROFOUND DOCUMENT ENTITLED THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT WHERE AMONGST OTHER THINGS JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT PRIORITIES IN A MATERIALISTIC WORLD.
READ MATT 6: 19 - 34. READ : HOW ARE WE TO COPE IN SUCH AN ECONOMIC CLIMATE?
1. 1ST PRIORITY: HAVE YOUR TREASURE IN THE RIGHT PLACE. V19 -21.
LAST YEAR THERE WAS A RUN ON NORTHERN ROCK AND THE REASON WAS PEOPLE HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN IT THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREASURE THEY HAD, IT WASN’T UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN DID IT BEGIN TO RESTORE A MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE.
FRIENDS IF YOU ARE STORING UP TREASURES UPON THIS EARTH I’M TELLING YOU THAT YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER YOUR TREASURE IS IT SAFE? …. SO MANY PEOPLE WILL IGNORE THIS FIRST PRIORITY , DO NOT STORE UP TREASURES ON EARTH, IF TRUTH BE KNOWN THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH STORING UP TREASURES ON EARTH .
WE LIVE IN A CONSUMER DRIVEN SOCIETY, “BUY NOW PAY LATER” AND WE CERTAINLY ARE PAYING FOR IT! WHERE TV ADVERTISING IS BOMBARDED AT US IN SUCH A WAY THAT OUR LIVES COULD BE FULFILLED IF ONLY WE POSSESS THE NEW HOME - THE NEW CAR - THE LATEST GADGETS – THESE PRODUCTS OFFER SO MUCH A WHOLE NEW EXCITING LIFESTYLE AND HAPPINESS. YET IN REALITY IT’S A LIE…
AND THEN THERE IS THE DYNAMICS OF SUCCESS – MONEY OUR TALENTS OUR ENERGIES INTO THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE’S THE TREASURES WILL COME ROLLING IN BRINGING WITH IT ALL OUR HEARTS DESIRES – BUT IN REALITY IT’S A MYTH .
HOWARD HUGHES: WORTH 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS AT HIS DEATH, HE WAS THE RICHEST MAN IN THE UNITED STATES AT ONE TIME. HE OWNED A PRIVATE FLEET OF JETS, HOTELS AND CASINOS. WHEN ASKED TO CLAIM HIS BODY, HIS NEAREST RELATIVE, A DISTANT COUSIN, EXCLAIMED, “IS THIS MR. HUGHES?” HE HAD SPENT THE LAST 15 YEARS OF HIS LIFE A DRUG ADDICT, TOO WEAK IN THE END TO EVEN ADMINISTER THE SHOTS TO HIMSELF. HIS 6’4” FRAME HAD SHRUNK TO 6’1” AND HE WEIGHED ONLY 90 LBS.
NOT A SINGLE ACQUAINTANCE OR RELATIVE MOURNED HIS DEATH. THE ONLY HONOR HE RECEIVED WAS A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HIS LAS VEGAS CASINOS.
TIME MAGAZINE PUT IT THIS WAY: “HOWARD HUGHES’ DEATH WAS COMMEMORATED IN LAS VEGAS BY A MINUTE OF SILENCE. CASINOS FELL SILENT. HOUSEWIVES STOOD UNCOMFORTABLE CLUTCHING THEIR PAPER CUPS FULL OF COINS AT THE SLOT MACHINES, THE BLACKJACK GAMES PAUSED, AND AT THE CRAP TABLES THE STICKMEN CRADLED THE DICE IN THE CROOK OF THEIR WOODEN WANDS. THEN A PIT BOSS LOOKED AT HIS WATCH, LEANED FORWARD AND WHISPERED, “O.K., ROLL THE DICE. HE’S HAD HIS MINUTE.” TIME, DECEMBER 13, 1976
IF WERE HONEST THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE SEEKING TREASURE RIGHT NOW ON EARTH, IN ALL ITS FORMS , LIKE HOWARD HUGHES PEOPLE STORE UP TREASURES ON EARTH …. BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL BRING TO THEM ULTIMATELY - -NOTHING OF LASTING VALUE - A MINUTES SILENCE AT THE CRAP TABLES HE COULD TAKE NOTHING WITH HIM. AND WHAT APPLIES TO HIM APPLIES TO US…
JESUS IS SAYING , DON’T LET TREASURES HERE ON EARTH , FOOL YOU, BECAUSE THEY ARE PASSING RATHER CONSIDER THE ETERNAL TREASURES TO COME AS MORE IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE.
LIFE AFTER DEATH WHAT THEN? YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU! CONSIDER THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF EARTHLY TREASURES. 19B MOTH RUST DESTROY AND THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL
WE LIVE A WORLD THAT IS STORING UP TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE PEOPLE ARE LIVING FOR TODAY ALONE AND THE CREDIT CRUNCH IS A SPANNER IN THE WORKS BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THE WORDS OF JESUS COMING TO FRUITION - WHILST WERE LIVING V19 JESUS SAYS DO NOT STORE UP TREASURES ON EARTH WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY AND WHERE THIEF’S BREAK IN AND STEAL. PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR TREASURES…..
IN THE 1990’S MIKE TYSON AT HIS HEIGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED HEAVY WEIGHT BOXERS OF HIS GENERATION SINCE MUHAMMAD ALI ….YET IN 2003 MIKE TYSON WAS DECLARED BANKRUPT.
HE OWED A STRETCH LIMO FIRM $309,000. A YEAR EARLIER HE HAD SPENT $174,,000 ON A WHITE GOLD NECKLACE WITH 80 CARATS OF DIAMONDS. HE ONCE SPLASHED OUT $140,000 ON TWO WHITE BENGAL TIGERS AND $1.5 MILLION ON FOUR BENTLEYS IN ONE AFTERNOON.
THE STAFF AT VERSACE IN CEASERS MALL IN LAS VEGAS WILL NEVER FORGET THE TIME TYSON AND HIS ENTOURAGE LEFT THE SHOP WITH$250,000 WORTH OF GEAR. IN 2005 HE OWED CREDITORS $30 MILLION DOLLARS. AND AFTER HIS FINAL DEFEAT AGAINST JOURNEYMAN KEVIN MCBRIDE, HE WAS QUOTED SAYING “WHO AM I? WHAT AM I? I DON’T EVEN KNOW. I’M JUST A DUMB CHILD WHOSE BEEN ABUSED AND ROBBED BY LAWYERS, I’M JUST A FOOL WHO THINKS HE’S SOMEONE.”
JESUS IS SAYING THESE THINGS WE POSSESS AND GET SO ATTACHED TOO WE CAN AND WILL LOSE….. AND WE SEE IT IN THE PRESENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE : WITH REPOSSESSIONS – BANKRUPTCY – REDUNDANCIES - CREDIT CARD DEBT - BAILIFFS COME KNOCKING ON OUR DOORS – UNEMPLOYMENT AND SO ON WE ARE A MONEY DRIVEN SOCIETY WHERE OUR TREASURE IS VANISHING RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES.
ONE OF THE WISEST PEOPLE EVER LIVED SOLOMON. SAW THE FUTILITY OF AMASSING WEALTH – POWER – KNOWLEDGE – COMPLETING GREAT PROJECTS – AND HE HAD IT ALL. YET HE LOOKED AT IT ALL AND SAID. ECCL 1:14. ALL IS VANITY A CHASING AFTER THE WIND
HUMAN BEINGS ARE HUNGRY FOR FULFILLMENT WE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A TIME OF EASY CREDIT, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ‘MAXED OUT’ ON CREDIT CARDS, WE’VE HAD MONEY THROWN AT US. THIS HAS FACILITATED THE SEARCH FOR FULFILLMENT, STORING UP TREASURE HERE UPON EARTH - IN REALITY WE HAVE A CREDIT CRUNCH, PEOPLE HAVE SUCCUMBED TO THE THE ‘BUY NOW, PAY LATER’ AND WE ARE PAYING FOR IT… YOUR TREASURE ON EARTH WILL BE DESTROYED.
JESUS IS SAYING GET YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT….. LASTING FULFILLMENT IS NOT FOUND IN THE POSSESSIONS WE ACCUMULATE HERE UPON EARTH WE CAN AND WILL LOSE THEM ALL.
THE ADVISE JESUS GIVES IS TO STORE UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN.
V21WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE? HOW CAN WE BEGIN THAT PROCESS? YOU WILL GET REAL SECURITY NOT TRUSTING IN POSSESSIONS BUT TRUSTING IN A PERSON ‘JESUS CHRIST’
WARNING V22 – 23 DON’T LET THIS BRIEF MATERIALISTIC LIFE ROB THE EYES OF YOUR HEART FROM ETERNITY…. BECAUSE IF WE DO WE FOREGO NOT ONLY THE CERTAINTY OF HEAVEN, BUT THE REAL BLESSINGS OF LIVING A FULFILLED LIFE HERE UPON EARTH, ENABLING US TO RISE ABOVE WHAT THIS LIFE THROWS AT US.
MARK 4:18-19: READ : PARABLE OF THE SOWER: WORRIES OF LIFE- DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH – DESIRE FOR OTHER THINGS ROB YOU AND MAKE YOU UNFRUITFUL.
THERE IS A SAYING THAT THE MORE HEAVENLY MINDED YOUR ARE THE LESS EARTHLY USE YOU WILL BE, BUT IN REALITY THE MORE HEAVENLY MINDED YOU ARE THE MORE EARTHLY USE YOU WILL BE.
2. 2ND PRIORITY: YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE OVER YOUR MASTER V22 -24
WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS, WE CANNOT LOVE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME AS LOVING GOD NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS.
15 PERCENT OF EVERYTHING CHRIST SAID RELATES TO THIS TOPIC (MONEY AND POSSESSIONS) – MORE THAN HIS TEACHINGS ON HEAVEN AND HELL COMBINED. WHY DID JESUS PUT SUCH AN EMPHASIS ON MONEY AND POSSESSIONS? BECAUSE THERE’S A FUNDAMENTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES AND HOW WE THINK ABOUT AND HANDLE MONEY IN THI LIFE A DIVIDED HEART OVER FINANCES AND FAITH WILL CAUSE GREAT ANXIETY IN OUR LIVES.
SO WHO IS YOUR MASTER RIGHT NOW? ALL OF US HAVE MASTERS; THOSE THINGS WE BOW DOWN TOO.
WE ARE MADE TO HAVE A MASTER, ONE WHO IS IN SOVEREIGN CONTROL. GOD MADE US FOR HIMSELF. HE IS LORD. WHETHER WE LIKE THAT OR NOT. GOD IS YOUR MASTER! BUT WHETHER YOU WORSHIP HIM IS ANOTHER THING.
• DEFAULT SETTING WORSHIP - AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR DESIGN.
IT’S THE WAY WE ARE MADE, IT’S WHAT WE ARE MADE FOR, TO WORSHIP GOD BUT THAT WORSHIP HAS BEEN DISTORTED (SINCE THE FALL) AND SO WE BECOME SLAVES TO SIN AND WORSHIPPERS OF THE CREATED RATHER THAT THE CREATOR (ROM 1:25). AND SO TREASURES UPON EARTH WE BEGIN TO WORSHIP!
MONEY HAS BECOME A 21ST CENTURY GODDESS WHOM WE SERVE AND WORSHIP, THIS GODDESS HAS OFFERED US FREEDOM, PROSPERITY, FULFILLMENT AND SECURITY BUT IN REALITY SHE HAS BROUGHT DEBT, SLAVERY, EMPTINESS AND INSECURITY. SO THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A GLOBAL ADDICTION WHICH HAS BROUGHT THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY IT TO ITS KNEES.
• NATIVE HUNTERS IN THE JUNGLES OF AFRICA HAVE A CLEVER WAY OF TRAPPING MONKEYS. THEY SLICE A COCONUT IN TWO, HOLLOW IT OUT, AND IN ONE HALF OF THE SHELL CUT A HOLE JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR A MONKEY’S HAND TO PASS THROUGH. THEN THEY PLACE AN ORANGE IN THE OTHER COCONUT HALF BEFORE FASTENING TOGETHER THE TWO HALVES OF THE COCONUT SHELL. FINALLY, THEY SECURE THE COCONUT TO A TREE WITH A ROPE, RETREAT INTO THE JUNGLE, AND WAIT. SOONER OR LATER, AN UNSUSPECTING MONKEY SWINGS BY, SMELLS THE DELICIOUS ORANGE, AND DISCOVERS ITS LOCATION INSIDE THE COCONUT. THE MONKEY THEN SLIPS HIS HAND THROUGH THE SMALL HOLE, GRASPS THE ORANGE, AND TRIES TO PULL IT THROUGH THE HOLE. OF COURSE, THE ORANGE WON’T COME OUT; IT’S TOO BIG FOR THE HOLE. TO NO AVAIL THE PERSISTENT MONKEY CONTINUES TO PULL AND PULL, NEVER REALIZING THE DANGER HE IS IN. WHILE THE MONKEY STRUGGLES WITH THE ORANGE, THE HUNTERS SIMPLY STROLL IN AND CAPTURE THE MONKEY BY THROWING A NET OVER HIM. AS LONG AS THE MONKEY KEEPS HIS FIST WRAPPED AROUND THE ORANGE, THE MONKEY IS TRAPPED. IT’S TOO BAD-THE POOR MONKEY COULD SAVE ITS OWN LIFE IF IT WOULD LET GO OF THE ORANGE. IT RARELY OCCURS TO A MONKEY, HOWEVER, THAT IT CAN’T HAVE BOTH THE ORANGE AND ITS FREEDOM. THAT DELICIOUS ORANGE BECOMES A DEADLY TRAP.
THE WORLD IS FULL OF ENTICING TRAPS : AND THE LOVE OF MONEY IS ONE OF THEM ITS NOT UNLIKE THE MONKEY TRAP, IT’S THE MONEY TRAP, THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. MONEY IN OF ITSELF IS OKAY AND USED CORRECTLY IT CAN DO IMMENSE GOOD BUT WHEN WE FAIL TO HOLD IT LOOSELY IT WILL BECOME A TRAP.
• MARK 10: 17 -23 CONSIDER THE RICH YOUNG MAN WAS TRAPPED WITH MONEY HE THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE IT ALL HE WORSHIPPED GOD AND WANTED THE MONEY. JESUS HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD BECAUSE LIKE THE MONKEY HE WASN’T PREPARED TO LET GO …..
WHAT ABOUT YOU DO YOU HAVE AN UNHEALTHY OBSESSION WITH MONEY? IF SO YOU NEED TO LET GO AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF JESUS, HE WILL ENABLE YOU TO FREE YOURSELF TO LIVE A CONTENTED LIFE WHATEVER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE YOUR CHOICE IS TO PUT GOD FIRST.
3. THIRD PRIORITY : V25 – 27 THEREFORE DON’T WORRY
WE ALL HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO WORRY ABOUT SITUATIONS IN FACT … STATISTCS SAY ……..40%—THINGS WORRY ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN - 30%—WORRY THINGS ABOUT THE PAST THAT CAN’T BE CHANGED - 12% OF US WORRY ABOUT CRITICISM BY OTHERS, MOSTLY UNTRUE – 10% OF US WORRY ABOUT HEALTH, WHICH GETS WORSE WITH STRESS AND 8% WORRY ABOUT REAL PROBLEMS THAT WILL BE FACED.
I DOUBT THERE IS ANYBODY TONIGHT WHO HAS ‘NO WORRIES’ AT ALL, AND SO WE COULD BE FORGIVEN IN ASKING THE QUESTION DOES GOD REALLY CARE? ITS A VALID QUESTION ISN’T IT, WHEN WERE GOING THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE AT TIMES GOD CAN SEEM DISTANT. .
YET IN REALITY HE DOES CARE THE BIBLE TELLS US. PHIL 4:5 THE LORD IS NEAR, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS BUT LET YOUR REQUEST BE KNOWN TO GOD……. REMEMBER THE STORM ON THE SEA OF GALILEE - AFTER ALL JESUS WAS WITH THEM IN THE BOAT WASN’T HE ......
• LOVE OF GOD TO THE INDIVIDUAL ( FIFTY POUND NOTE ILLUSTRATION)
HERE IS A VERY VALUABLE LESSON. NO MATTER WHAT I DID TO THE MONEY, YOU STILL WANTED IT BECAUSE IT DID NOT DECREASE IN VALUE; IT’S STILL A FIFTY POUND NOTE. MANY TIMES IN OUR LIVES WE ARE DROPPED CRUMPLED AND GROUND INTO THE DIRT BY THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COME OUR WAY. WE FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE WORTHLESS AND GOD IS DISTANT.
V26 ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THEY. YOU ARE PRICELESS TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON JESUS TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. THE WORTH OF OUR LIVES COMES NOT IN WHAT WE DO, OR WHOM WE KNOW, OR WHAT HAPPENS TO US, BUT BY “WHOM WE ARE LOVED.”
C. TEN BOOM WHOSE FAMILY DIED IN RAVEN HURST CONCENTRATION CAMP SUFFERED IMMENSELY UNDER THE HITLER REGIME SAID “NO MATTER HOW EVER DEEP THE PIT GODS LOVE IS DEEPER STILL.”
IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY IN CHICAGO. HE WAS INTELLIGENT, SUCCESSFUL, AND GODLY. EARLY ON IN HIS SUCCESS, HE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE BALANCE BOTH IN HIS HOME AND CHURCH LIFE. HE LOVED THEM AND HE LOVED HIS CHURCH. ALSO, HE WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF EVANGELIST D.L. MOODY. HE WAS TRYING TO BUILD A SOLID SPIRITUAL LIFE.
IN 1871, HIS REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT WAS TOTALLY WIPED OUT DURING THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE. SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THAT, HIS ONLY SON HAD DIED. WANTING TO GET THINGS TOGETHER, HE PLANNED A TRIP TO EUROPE WITH HIS FAMILY, AND THAT TRIP WAS GOING TO COINCIDE WITH AN EVANGELISTIC CRUSADE OF D.L. MOODY. AT THE LAST MINUTE, A BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DELAYED HIM, SO HE SENT HIS FAMILY AS SCHEDULED, AND HE WAS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH THEM LATER.
HOWEVER, THE SHIP THAT THEY WERE ON GOT HIT BY AN ENGLISH VESSEL, AND IT SANK IN JUST TWENTY MINUTES. ALL FOUR OF HIS DAUGHTERS DROWNED. HIS WIFE SURVIVED THOUGH AND WAS TAKEN TO WALES. FROM THERE SHE SENT HER HUSBAND A MESSAGE WITH THE WORDS, “SAVED ALONE.” RIGHT AWAY HE BOARDED A SHIP TO MEET HER. THE CAPTAIN KNEW HIS SORROW, SO AS THEY WERE TRAVELING, HE STOPPED THE BOAT OVER THE PLACE WHERE HIS DAUGHTERS HAD DROWNED.
HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY ALL THIS HAD TO HAPPEN. BUT THAT DAY HE TRUSTED IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. AND AS THAT SHIP WAS STOPPED, IT WAS THERE THAT “SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLL” AND IT WAS THERE THAT HE KNEW GOD “REGARDED HIS HELPLESS ESTATE” AND ALL HE COULD SAY WAS “IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.” THIS EXPERIENCE LED HIM TO WRITE PROBABLY THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG IN HYMN BOOKS TODAY. HORATIO SPAFFORD
SO MAYBE YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN TONIGHT STRUGGLING WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS APPLY THE TEACHING OF JESUS TO YOUR LIFE STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN, DON’T GET DISTRACTED – CONTINUE SERVING AND LOVING GOD – KNOWING THAT HE CARES FOR YOU - AND YOU ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO HIM, WHATEVER HAPPENS REMEMBER ‘IT IS WELL WITH YOUR SOUL.’
MAYBE YOUR NOT A CHRISTIAN TONIGHT, THEN ITS NOT WELL WITH YOUR SOUL, YOU HAVE BEEN IMMERSED STORING UP TREASURES ON EARTH, MAYBE YOUR KINGDOM IS FALLING APART.... WELL HERE IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE THROUGH REPENTANCE AND FAITH YOU CAN BEGIN TO BE PART OF A NEW KINGDOM – WHICH WILL ENABLE YOU TO COPE WITH ALL THAT’S TAKING PLACE IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW ENABLING YOU TO SAY “ IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL”. AS YOU STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN.
