World Economy in 2011: What Went Wrong?

[Steve Myers] The end of the calendar year brings many television programs that do a year in review. And here on BT Daily we thought we would take a couple of minutes to review the important news stories of the year. One of the biggest ones – finances. We've seen that and been affected by those things whether it be here in America or whether it be in Europe. It's a story you cannot escape.

[Darris McNeely] One of the biggest ones is what has been taking place in Europe. We have watched how that has impacted American affairs and the rest of the world. European leaders are trying to salvage their Union. Their trying to salvage the common currency they have had now for nearly decade – the Euro. Nations like Greece are on the verge of default. And several other European countries are threatening the very fabric of that very important key union of European nations - and they have been meeting on an on-going basis. They have not been able to come up with a viable solution that has settled the markets or restored confidence in the financial structure of the European Union.

[Steve Myers] And yet, it is not just a European thing. It's going to affect us here in America it's going to affect you around the world because it's just not an isolated incident. This is going to impact trade. It's going to impact oil. It's going to impact all of these things. In fact, we have already seen that - so we can't escape the impact of the financial world as events take place.

[Darris McNeely] What this had done is really created a crisis in confidence and that comes back down to main street where you and I live because it impacts the prices of fuel, energy, food, the ability of a person to get a loan and money being freed up by banks.

[Steve Myers] You mentioned confidence. Where is our confidence?

[Darris McNeely] Where should it be?

[Steve Myers] And I think that's the key. Where do we put our confidence? Is it in currency? Is it in gold and silver? Because that's where a lot of people are putting their confidence now - instead of currency they are buying gold, their buying silver. And yet the Bible says some specific things about prophecy when it comes to putting our confidence in precious metals. It can't be there. There's a passage in Ezekiel - Ezekiel chapter 7 verse 19 – here's what it says, “they will throw their silver into the streets and their gold will be like refuse, their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them” (Ezekiel 7:19). So don't get caught up in that. Don't think for a moment that silver and gold are going to save you. We've got to put our confidence somewhere else.

[Darris McNeely] Practice sound principles of financial management in your own life. Don't neglect those – none of us are going to be immune from that and those laws are going to impact us. But in the long run, understand God's laws of financial management, understand what Bible prophecy says about the world situation and don't get caught up in the fads. But put your trust, your confidence in God and in His scriptural principles of financial management.

[Steve Myers] That's BT Daily, we'll see you next time.