economic crisis?

On Friday, our economy took another nose dive. Unemployment numbers rose, gas prices set records and the stock market fell drastically. How does one keep their head about them in a time like this?

Just a few bullet points to help us stay focused:

1. Do you have food to eat, clothes to wear and place to sleep? If you do, you are wealthier than 90% of the rest of the world.
2. Do you have to make decisions today that will change your life? (sell your house, move to another city, default on a loan…) If not, be thankful things are not that bad for you, they are for many.
3. Are there things you can do to help your financial position? (Ride a bike or public transportation to work, skip Starbucks, brown bag it instead of going out to lunch, quitting the gym). If so, take the plunge and enjoy the financial impact.
4. Is there a “margin” in your finances? Honestly, is every penny spoken for? Or are we seeing things worse than they really are? If you have any discretionary money left over, be thankful.
5. Can you share? Is there anything left for you to give to someone who is less fortunate than you? If so, thank God and, if you can, help someone else. I believe that this is one of the keys to surviving tough economic times.

I realize times are hard. Lots of people are really hurting. We need to be compassionate and sensitive to people in financial trouble. But let’s not allow our past economic prosperity to cloud the reality of how good things still are. I Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (TNIV)