As the economy has stuttered (in Michigan if feels like it has practically come to a halt) people have been forced to reevaluate how they use their resources. This often includes a need to scale back on consumption. This maybe a voluntary cut back, but even so it causes (at least it should) one to realign priorities. Suddenly the extra's, the luxuries fall by the wayside as the focus becomes on the necessities, they are now the priority. The first resources get dedicated to the necessities, like food, shelter and clothing. Things like, concert or movie tickets not only are no longer very important, they often are not possible.
I, probably much like a lot of you feel the effects of this lack luster economy. I also find myself doing a re-evaluation. All of a sudden I am shopping smarter, thinking through each purchase (not just the big ones) asking myself do I/we really need this? Will my children survive without the choice of 3 different kinds of cookies? Can I survive giving up my favorite (expensive) cookies?! More importantly what else can I go without? What if the economy does not turn around for a couple more years? What if my position at work is eliminated? What if…..?????? There are a lot of what if's that go through my mind. Should l be concerned and plan accordingly? Yes! Should I be afraid and walk in fear? No! The Bible is very clear that we should not live in fear. It is also very clear that we should live a prudent, purposeful life. Boy that is a lot easier to say than it is to live it out!
As I think about my response to the down economy, I could not help but see some enlightening, even frightening parallels to my worship and spiritual life. When times are good; you know, when things just seem to click and everything comes easy... I find that I naturally tend to drift. I begin to think that I can do it on my own. In reality my priorities get out of line. I do not feel like I need to go to God for everything, it all seems to just work out. But boy when times are bad, or when I am facing a crisis (most likely one I have created) I don't hesitate to go right to prayer and ask God to bring some help and relief. My focus becomes sharper and other less important things fade. Suddenly, I have the time to pray, to read the bible and to reflect. Before I was “too busy” to do these things, but now suddenly I have time. Yes it becomes a priority.
A friend of mine who has been a marketing executive at a couple of major Christian publishing houses shared with me that this business is somewhat recession proof. Yes, it had its ups and downs, but in general, the business was relatively consistent and stable. My friend went on to say that the reason for this was that when times were good, self-help and human interest books saw sales expanding. When economic times were rough, Bible sales would pick up as people turned (or returned) looking for spiritual help and comfort.
Is it time that we stopped being consumers in our worship? In reality making it all about us? Yes, it is (and always is) a Christians calling to be a true worshipper who worships in spirit and in truth.
