How then should we live?

I have been extremely challenged of late as I look at the economic landscape not only of our country but also of our world. My associate and I are in the process of writing a book on financial strategies and the research has opened my eyes. I have been a financial professional for 13 years my associate for 22 years. The following is only a piece of what we are seeing.

A few days ago I was watching a course on economics and the speaker was explaining the concept of Time Value of Money. I hope you have some understanding of the time value of money; money received tomorrow is worth less than money received today. But he made a very powerful statement that really shook me up. He said that the concept of time value of money was a very controversial topic with moral and religious implications as well as economic impacts. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by this statement but I was.

This really caused me to slow down and think. I have always been frustrated with the idea of inflation. Gas will cost more next year than last year, your house will cost more next year than last year, you will earn more money next year than last year etc.. I know, call me weird, but this never made sense to me and I am in the financial industry. I consider myself one of the more educated people in my field. This week I had an epiphany.

The reason we have inflation is that we don't follow God's laws of economics. Stay with me here. If you open your bible and look into the old testament law you will find some rules regarding ownership and sale of land etc., (see Lev. 25). If you bought land from someone you could only hold it 49 years but in the 50th year, the year of jubilee, you had to return it to its original owner. You could not hold a Hebrew slave for more than 6 years. In the seventh year he was set free. Nothing could be taken from someone forever, it had to at some time in the future be returned. This did not allow people to rise in power over others and rule people. There was no central bank loaning money and collecting interest. Let me explain.

In today's world if you borrow money to purchase a house let's say $200,000. You don't have the $200,000 dollars so the bank loans you the money and charges you interest. The interest you will pay on the purchase will cause the actual cost of the house to go be substantially higher approx. $386,000. The problem here is that the additional $186,000 is not in the money system so in order for them to receive the money they must print more money to make it available to pay back. This creates an inflationary effect in the money system and requires a piece of penny candy to cost .75 cents over time. Who benefits from this process? A very small number of people controlling the overall financial system. We call them the "Central Banking System".

All this said to say this. As our economic system is breaking down and more accurately melting down you need to know where your security comes from. If you look to money or possessions as what will sustain you, your entire world will fall apart. The US Government has confiscated gold four times in our nations short history. You do not own property in the United States your are given the privilege to live on property as long as you pay property taxes and don't break the rules. The United States Government has and is still in the business of confiscating land. You need to be aware that the United States is on the verge of an economic meltdown beyond what has ever been seen in history. The most powerful nation on earth, with the most prosperous people in human history is headed for complete financial meltdown. Think of Greece or Portugal on steroids.

I don't want to sound melodramatic but you need to know the truth. More importantly you need to know who your God is. If it is money and for most of us it is a struggle to be able to say it isn't, we must repent and run to Jesus and seek understanding as to how we should live. Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19-34. Be blessed as you seek first the Kingdom.