control

Control is something that we all desperately seek. Control of others. Control of ourselves. Control of our destinies.

As we face an economy that continues to slide into recession we are faced with the truth that we cannot control everything. Even with the billions, or trillions of dollars available to us, we cannot stem the tide.

Someone told me recently that this is recession is not like other recessions, but is direcly caused by the hand of God. It is leading us up to the end times; specifically the things that are believed by those who subscribe to things in the Left Behind series (a bunch of hogwash if you ask me). I have even heard people refering to Barack Obama as the anti-Christ.

For some reason people like to point these kinds of things out. I think it gives them a sense of control. If they know what is happening, especially what will happen next, then they feel as though they are making it come about.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to know what is coming next. I would love to be able to figure out exactly what is going to happen. The trouble is, we know that we cannot. Jesus said that he himself did not know the day or the hour when everythign would come to completion.

We do, however, have very specific instructions on how we are to live in the meantime. Not looking to the future for something to change. Not looking back to how things ‘used to be’.

Living today.

“Do not worry,” says Jesus.

Do not worry about all the things that others worry about; food, clothing, shelter.

Do what you are called to do, today. Live rightly. Live justly. Work so that you have something to share with the poor.

These are all things that the Bible teaches us.

I am not advocating that we stick our heads in the sand and hope that everything will be all right. I am saying that we need to start living like humans are supposed to live; as Jesus has taught us to live. We need to forget about squirrelling massive amounts of money for a rainy day and help out our neighbour who is worried about paying the bills. We need to forget about having the most fashionable wardrobe and start giving what we do not need away.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

Live.

Share.

Love.

Today,

and everyday.