World News and Trends: A shaky world economy
Economic downturns, including the current one, have been a part of the fabric of national and world politics since time immemorial.
The biblical patriarch Joseph once forecast seven good years followed by seven bad years for the land of Egypt. He was unerringly accurate, but he had the distinct advantage of being led and inspired directly by the Creator God.
Today the economic situation is much more complex than it was in Joseph's time. Even with the benefits of modern computer technology, we are left with uncertain and unreliable economic predictions.
Professional forecasters generally reject the Bible as a source of wisdom and understanding.How bad will the economy get? The Bible confirms that a cause exists for every effect and that nations cannot indefinitely get away with trampling on God's laws. The big crash will happen, but we don't know when. The present economic realities are a timely reminder to Christians of the words of Jesus Christ: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20.) He adds, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (verse 21).
Our relationship with God is far more important than whatever riches we can accumulate in this life. Whatever physical things we gain can always be lost, but the spiritual growth we achieve from living God's way can last forever. In the meantime, we can do our best to weather the storm by getting our own houses in order. You might want to request our free booklet Managing Your Finances. (Sources: International Herald Tribune, Newsweek.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: September - October 2001
Course Content
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Melvin Rhodes
Melvin Rhodes is a member of the United Church of God congregation in Lansing, Michigan.
