I just finished reading an editorial that ridiculed a few companies for running advertisements on television encouraging us with assurance that we as a nation will gain from the economic downturn. According to the optimistic advertisements the gain will be a better appreciation for what we have and how to better manage our resources when the economy upturns. I think James 1:3 supports the optimistic companies. James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing our faith develops perseverance.”
Perhaps the author of the critical editorial is young and has not yet matured in enough wisdom to understand. The generation Tom Brokaw refers to as The Greatest Generation are those who endured the great depression and sacrificed through WWII. These are ones who throughout the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s labored hard to build and to save and to be frugal. They knew what it was like to be without. Perhaps the same work ethics can be instilled in our present young people as we work together to restore hope and prosperity.
I realize how difficult it is to count trials as joy. It isn’t in our nature to do so and some consider those who do to be a bit daft. But we do know that bad times don’t last and lessons learned do make us stronger and wiser. Already this year our little city has lost two large businesses. Is it comfortable to do so? Absolutely not. Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not. Good times and blessings will follow and all of us will be wiser and better stewards.
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 26, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574