One of the recent fears voiced by economists is over the drastic drop in consumer spending. This is a bad thing, they contend. Consumers are cutting way back on how many times they eat out. They are delaying major purchases for cars and appliances, and overall looking for ways to save cash so they can pay their bills and reduce debt.
When I read in the newspaper how evil reduced spending was for the economy, my inner moral voice rebelled. Something is wrong with the logic here, I protested.
When my family has too many bills to pay, we cut back on expenditures, save up and pay off our debt. It’s a sound way to manage one’s financial affairs. It keeps one out of hock to predatory creditors. Why would it be any different on a national level? I asked.
The economists reason that less spending, translates into fewer products purchased, which means less jobs to produce those products. That is bad for the economy. Granted, people need to work to earn money to pay their bills. But when spending more money than one has is advocated as a virtuous act, something is wrong with the reasoning. A fundamental change is needed from the ground up when morally unsound practices are preached as healthy for one’s well being.
How to remedy this error? I wondered.
I look to Jesus for guidance.
Jesus lived in a Spirit-based economy. His primary motive was not to earn a monetary profit, but to live a spiritually productive life.
An economy motivated by pursuit of monetary profit above living moral and spiritually sound principles, is going to advocate unsound practices, like “It’s good to spend beyond one’s means.” Seeking the ends of earning a profit above all else, compromises morals to get there.
It seems that one way out of this financial conundrum is to make the pursuit of sound moral and spiritual living the number one goal above earning a monetary profit. Put seeking spiritual profit at the top of the list of desirable achievements. The money needed to pay bills will still come, per God’s law of on-going provision, but vital principles will not be compromised on the way.
I don’t know how many years, decades, or centuries it will take for mankind to learn the value of putting spiritual goals above purely monetary goals, but the laws of God will get us there someday. It’s inevitable.
Won’t it be invigorating to wake up one morning, and read on the front page of the newspaper, “Morals at a record high today!” or, “People growing spiritually at record pace…” or “Time spent in prayer on the increase!” These are indicators I could get excited about…
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus Christ
Interesting!
I’d been thinking lately that this was less of a “market adjustment” and more of a thinking adjustment for the country. Without meaning to I often found myself thinking my house wasn’t quite good enough or furnished well enough or maybe not in a good enough neighborhood…. It was that little whispering over your shoulder thought saying it because I was comparing it and myself to others and to popular thinking. I have come to realize in the last month how grateful I am for my modest home that is perfect for me and has an abundance of everything I need.
What a great lesson on how thinking can get reversed if one is not careful and alert to what is being whispered into thought.
I have really loved all the ideas posted here since the financial “crisis” began. How wonderful to have our very own Stanford educated economist and former business man to manifest spiritual guidance through it all. Nothing is wasted in the spiritual economy, including a degree in economics held by a Christian Science practitioner and teacher. God is good. Thanks, Evan.
Evan:
Your continued comments in assisting us and guiding us through these material and evil thoughts existing in our economy has provided me with the right thinking and thus that love passed on to my fellow men and women has generated a spiritual understanding which calms the thought for us redirect our efforts.
Thank You!
This couldn’t have come at a better time. I had just looked at my stock holdings and was tempted to be terrified. Then, a comforting angel message assured me it would be well. In checking out my email, your message was waiting. Error doesn’t stand a chance against the “floodtides”of Truth and Love. Thanks, Anon.
Your blogs on the economy and employment have been quite uplifting; and have reminded me of past demonstrations that have awakened me to the great possibilities here and ahead of me. At one poing late in my career I met with a company vice president that didn’t seem to espress good qualities. The outcome was that I lost my management position (wasn’t told, my replacement just came in). I prayed to see God in this situation. The outcome was that in my being reduced from management back to an engineer I actually got a promotion and a pay increase much above the average. God at work!!!!
About six months later I decided to retire. God had more for me. I took on a non-paying job as curator at an aviation museum, work full-time and long hours and had the greatest sense of fulfillment and joy in those years. God still at work–the full force of Spirit filling me. And it continues.
Garry
How blessed we are to have you, Evan – I can just feel Love pouring out on all of us through your words. Bless you and keep on keeping on…..
Miki
Evan,
It’s funny that I was thinking along these same lines a few days ago. I was thinking about how we hear all the time that the health of our economy is based on how much money we spend on goods! No wonder Americans have a spending problem! In other countries, economic health is rarely discussed, much less people being told to spend spend spend!
We critically need a new model to follow for economic health. I hope the prayers of Scientists are effective in this regard.