Perspective

   By L. Jim Tuck

February 16, 2023

“Consider Your Ways”

Greetings from Phoenix,

            We live in a time when some possess incredible wealth, and the number of millionaires and billionaires is increasing as each year passes. The USA has 20.2 million millionaires and 724 billionaires. In 2021, Jeff Bezos was named the world’s richest person with a net worth of $189.3 billion. Worldwide there are 2,755 billionaires. Chances are someone will come along and knock Bezos off his pedestal.

 

            With all this wealth you would think everyone would benefit and prosper. The truth is nearly two-thirds of Americans, or about 63 percent, say they’ve been living paycheck to paycheck since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. That number has been increasing since March of 2020, according to a survey fielded in October of that year of roughly 2,000 U.S. adults by an information technology company, Highland Solutions.

            However, it’s not completely due to Covid-19. About 44 percent of respondents say they were living beyond their means before the pandemic started, and two-thirds say they regret not having more emergency savings. 

            And for many Americans, the financial squeeze is less about personal choices and more about the rising cost of living — including food, housing, education and medical expenses. Stagnant wages also play a role. Real wages effectively remained stalled in 2019 despite the booming economy. This year, real wage growth has only amounted to 1.1 percent, according to the PayScale Index. Looking longer term, Payscale found median wages, when adjusted for inflation, actually declined 8.8 percent since 2006.

            While there are some who want to feed off the system, and most people are hardworking and they want to support themselves and their families. However, the majority of households are on survival mode. They can either get deeper in debt to make up the difference, or do without what they may need.

            The pandemic has caused a change in housing in the U.S. that began well before the spread of COVID-19. Millennials, adults between the ages of 24 and 39, continue to move back home with their parents in significant numbers. For some it is by choice, but for many it's a necessity for economic reasons. Is this generation the first to live on a lower standard of living than previous generations?

            Haggai the prophet challenged Judah, who had returned from Babylonian captivity. The Jews were again doing those things which led to captivity in the first place during the time of Nebuchadnezzar.

            God said to them in Haggai 1:5-7, “Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!

“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!’”

            With all the working and building and getting in this world, do you think the average person considers their priorities?  We do!  However, we live in a nation and world where there is much labor, much business, much information and people going to-and-fro busily, and often selfishly, leaving God out of the picture.  God is telling everyone to look at the results, and “Consider your ways.”  God has called a different people, a spiritual nation, a holy priesthood for the future.  Those God calls strive to put Him first and faithfully give tithes and offerings. Judah wasn’t. The money they made was like putting it in pockets with holes.

            Most people think there is no command to tithe in the Bible, and this simply isn’t true. They believe in Christian giving, but most don’t even do that. The Bible does say, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7)

            Abraham gave tithes of all to Melchizedek long before the covenant God made with ancient Israel (Genesis 14:18-20).  Jacob followed his grandfather’s example and gave a tenth of all as well (Genesis 28:22-24).

            God declares to anyone and everyone who will listen across this planet, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8-10)

            We know blessings come in many forms. No matter what difficulties we face personally or as we see the downward spiral of our nation and the world, it is encouraging to remember Psalm 103 and all the far-reaching benefits God bestows on those who put Him as a priority in their lives: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things…”

            When we see what is transpiring around us it is good to reconsider our ways and be careful.  We yearn and pray for this entire world to wake up and hear Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ’s words, “Consider your ways!”       

            Have a good Sabbath and a happy weekend.