Reaping During A Recession
By: Dr. Mike Jones
We just came out of an Economic down turn that started in 2008 and we’re still seeing effects of it until this day. Saints, when you think about it, recession, inflation and economic hard times have been with mankind since the beginning of time. The are not new conditions demanding new solutions. The biblical answers to these economic conditions first appear early in the book of Genesis. Let’s look at Genesis 26:1,
“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham…”
God gave Isaac very specific instructions to follow in order to prosper during those economic hard times: they’re outlined in Genesis 26.
- Stay faithful to God’s commands.
The Lord told Isaac He would bless him because of the Abrahamic covenant covering the same three areas. Those elements were land, seed, and blessings.
“…Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statues, and my laws.” (Genesis 26:5)
- Don’t follow the world’s philosophy. Get all you can then set on the can: Do unto others before they do it do you.
Because of famine, everyone was leaving to go to Egypt, but the Lord has a different program for Isaac:
“…Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee…” (Genesis 26: 2-3)
During a time of famine, and you don’t know God’s will? This is why you pray the prayer of dedication and concentration: Lord, NOT my will but Your will be done.” Move only upon God’s command, not because of a rumor that there is prosperity elsewhere. Remember: God can bless you in any location.Deuteronomy 28:3, Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
The beatitudes found in Deuteronomy 28, summarizes the various places where the blessings of God would extend to Israel’s life and to ours, on the condition of obedience.
- Sow generously during the famine.
Isaac went forth under the Lord’s instructions, and he… “sowed in the land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him” (Genesis 26:12). And when you read down through the fourteenth verse, you will see where he was envied by the Philistines.
These three biblical principles apply to you and me today. Let’s look at another biblical principle that we can also call a “Wisdom Principle” for success in God’s abundant kingdom. It’s called GIVE AWAY THE LITTLE SEE YOU HAVE REMAINING for a greater harvest.
Saints, God wants us to deal with famine. We saw in Genesis 26, how Isaac survived the famine through his obedience to God and his willingness.
Look at how God rewarded the widow at Zarephath for her willingness to obey God and follow His principles of biblical economics. (see 1 Kings 17: 8-16)
This poor widow was nearly out of food. She had only enough for one final meal. Elijah represented God The same way churches do today. When the prophet Elijah came and asked her for “a morsel of bread,” she replied (1 Kings 17:12):
“…I have not a cake, but (only) an handful of meal in a barrel, …and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress (prepare) it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
So the poor widow obeyed, and met the need of the man of God. As a result of her willingness to play seeds, and her refusal to observe the winds and clouds of famine, God miraculously met her need.
“…the barrel of meal wasted not (was not used up), …according to the Word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:16)
Another biblical principle is to make sure that you don’t just scatter the little bit of economic seed left, but concentrate on where to put it, meaning, plant it in good soil; don’t just throw the remaining see to the wind and let it fall where it may. All ministries aren’t called/ ordained by God, and you don’t want to plant seed in an unprofitable ministry that will yield you no return. Sow into good ground!
When times are financially difficult, you can reap your most abundant harvest by planting your remaining seeds into God’s proven, producing works.
Don’t ever forget: when the dark clouds of hard times come into your life, God’s Word can guide you out of your difficulty and into good times. Simply trust the main source: your heavenly Father.
Saints, the one main thing you have to remember about prospering in God’s kingdom is that the world ways of prospering is NOT God’s way to biblical prosperity. (Isaiah 55:6-9)
Ecclesiastes 11:4 clearly indicates how to world’s way is different from God’s way when dealing with economic matters:
“He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”
Conclusion: Don’t ever feel that you are the only one going through hard times. Everyone goes through hard economic situations from time to time but do not make that fatal mistake of “tightening up” with God when things get “tight”!
Remember Isaac. He was one of God’s children, and he obeyed God’s laws. He planted goo, valuable seed in a time when everyone else was hoarding seeds—and his seed came up, even in the midst of a famine! Why? Because he planted in accordance with God’s command.
(Adapted from Reaping Your Harvest in the Time of A Recession; all Scripture references are taken from the KJV unless otherwise noted.)