August 2008

Wow! Over $4.50 per gallon! And I’m talking about gasoline. The Dow Jones Averages have been declining as of late. The housing market is in chaos. I don’t know about you, but I see my fortunes falling. Last week, a statistic showed that 63% of Californians say they are worse off financially than they were a year ago. This figure doubled since December of last year, when only 33% felt the economic pinch. There are so many foreclosures in real estate, and so many people filed for bankruptcy. The federal government is trying to patch up this chaotic situation. We also see the US dollar dipped to an all-time low against other currencies. A few months ago when I went to Toronto to visit my in-laws, the Canadian dollar was higher than the US dollar for the first time. Will this economic situation rebound? Nobody knows for sure. Some put their hope on the next President. Some think that it depends on when the troops in Middle East will be withdrawn. There are too many unknowns.

What can we learn from this? First of all, things change rapidly these days. One of the reasons for this is the tremendous speed of transferable information around the world. Things happened on the “other side” of the world can be seen on TV or via Internet within seconds. The Book of Daniel, which was written some twenty-five hundred years ago, prophesied that knowledge will increase at the end time. Surprised? We shouldn’t be. After all, the Bible is the word of God. It allows us to see a glimpse of the future. This brings out an important point, and that is, the Bible is a trustworthy document.

Second, economy is going to be the controlling factor of the world. Money is important to every individual and nation. On a smaller scale, nobody can survive in this world without it. The Bible speaks of money as an asset given by God, and therefore, we need to be a good steward of it: give generously, spend wisely, and save purposefully. Develop a plan to control money. Otherwise, it will control you. I’ve heard a line that may be helpful for you: “A plan today is better than a ‘better’ plan tomorrow.” No doubt money is important, but is not the most important asset in life. The Bible says, “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” (Rev. 18:17) Money could vanish in a very short time, so do not hang all your hope on it. Though it is useful, it cannot buy you everything. It can’t even buy the most basic need of humankind. It can’t buy love! Psychologists tell us that when we are loved, it will change our perception of life.

Before I sign off, I would like for you to imagine being loved by no other than God Himself. What a warm and secure feeling! But this can never be experienced except through believing Jesus Christ who died and rose from the death to ensure this possibility. He is inviting you to come to Him. He said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35) What are you hungry and thirsty for?

Pastor Larry

嘩！每加侖超過四元半！我是指著汽油而言。而最近的股票指數又一直 下降。房地產市場亦非常之混亂。我不知你的境況如何，我感受到家財買少見少。根據上星期的統計發表，加州有百份之六十三的人認為他們的經濟狀況比去年差。 相比去年十二月的報導，這數目是倍增的，因去年祗有百份之三十三的人是感受到經濟的壓力。現時有很多房地產實業被銀行沒收，亦有很多人在宣怖破產。現時聯 邦政府正在要設法解救這經濟不境的情況。美元的價值現時亦非常的弱。幾月前我到多倫多探望外親的時候，美金與加幣的對換律相信是最低的，一元美元換不到一 元加幣。這經濟狀況是否會有好轉？沒有人能肯定。有人將希望放在下任總統身上，而有人又認為要視乎美軍是否會從中東撤退。這實在是有太多未知之素。

從這些我們可以學到什麼功課呢？首先，事情變化萬千，而改變的速度 是很快的。其中原因之一就是資訊的發達。發生在地球另一面的消息可以在數秒鐘之內就從電視中看見。其實，先知但以理在二千五百年前預言在末日之時知識會發 達。驚奇嗎？我們不需要驚奇，因為聖經就是神的話語。它啟示有關將來要發生的事，讓我們可以對未來知道一、二。這更帶出重要的一點，就是聖經是可靠的。

其次，經濟將會控制整個世界。無論是個人或國家，金錢都是非常重要 的。從某角度來看，沒有錢是不能生存的。聖經告訴我們金錢是神賜我們的資產，所以我們要理所當然的去好好地管理：要慷慨地施與、智慧地使用及有目標地貯 蓄。要有計劃去管理錢財，否則錢財就會控制你。我曾經聽過有人這樣說：「今日的計劃總比明天的好」。意思是明天的計劃可能不會出現，因為明日復明日。無可 否認金錢是重要的，但卻不是生命中最有價值的東西。聖經告訴我們：「一時之間，這麼大的富厚就歸於無有了」（啟示錄十八：17上）。財富可以在一時之間就歸於無有，所以不要將所有的希望放在金錢上。雖然金錢有很多用途，但金餞卻不能買到所有的東西，什至連人最需要的都不能買得到。金餞買不到真愛！心理學家告訴我們如果獲得到愛話的，生命的觀點亦會因而有所改觀。

收筆之前，我希望你可以想像被神所愛。這真是又溫暖又有安全感的感受！但除了藉著信那位為我們釘死在十字架來保証這可能性的耶穌以外，我們是得不到這經歷的。祂正在要請你到衪面前。祂說：「我就是生命的糧，到我這裡來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴」（約六：35）。你為著什麼飢餓、為著什麼飢渴呢？

唐若愚牧師