"Coming to Our Senses" in a Time of Recession

Dr. Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and former speaker of The Lutheran Hour, offered the following thought in his "Meyer Minute" for January 7:

Monday most automakers reported 30% drops in sales during December, with Hyundai off 48% and Chrysler 51%. Oil is going back up and a gallon of gas may soon be back at $2. We’re poorer than we used to be.

It’s easy to overlook the obvious. When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor,” He was speaking to His disciples, not to the general population (Luke 6:20). Yes, God loves all people but Jesus doesn’t say “Blessed” to all Americans in this recession but only to His followers. How’s that?

Because His followers are reminded what we’ve professed all along, that ultimately we have zilch, nada, nichts, nothing. America is like the prodigal son, broke after a spending spree, wallowing in recession. But the prodigal “came to his senses” and said, “I will set out and go back to my father” (Luke 15:17-18). A Christian identifies with that. Getting poorer is reminding us that we have nothing of our own, no hidden accounts that permit us not to need God. That means that wondering when the economy will come back is off the mark, at least faith-wise. “Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness….” (Lutheran Service Book, p. 311)

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