Fixing the Economy
“The economy is suffering. Who is going to turn things around?” Americans cry out to Washington to deliver them and restore their prosperity. Politicians hear their petitions and promise to save: "The government will provide more jobs and fight unemployment; the fed will do some quantitative easing and stimulate the economy—the state will restore prosperity!" People rejoice in their savior's promises, praising the god of government, but something is awry. The dollar buys less and less, public debt rises higher and higher, and the tax man still claims more of our income than God most high. Even some devout statists are questioning the wisdom of this god. Some even ask whether a nation with trillions of dollars in debt is really wealthy.
Let us challenge some assumptions. Can civil rulers make a nation wealthy? No doubt civil rulers can make some people wealthy. They can use their power to favor friends and family or to line their own pockets! Civil rulers can also create an appearance of wealth by increasing debt and inflating the money supply, but these practices do not make a nation wealthy. In fact, these practices overthrow the justice that makes true prosperity possible.
Ultimately, a government cannot make a nation wealthy; at best it can create a legal environment where people can, with God’s blessing, become wealthy. If rulers obey God's law by establishing justice: enforcing contracts, punishing fraud, and protecting private property, then a country can become a place where diligent people prosper. When justice rules, hardworking people can keep and enjoy the fruit of their labors. This is good.
The source of our economic trouble, however, is deeper than our failing economic policies. It's true that our economic policy is not working, but it is not bad policy because it does not work. It does not work because it is bad policy. Our economic policy is unjust and God is opposed to injustice. So our economy fails for lack of God's blessing.
America did not get rich because of capitalism. America is not prosperous because leaders effectively managed the economy. The United States became a great and wealthy nation because God blessed America. “For it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” (Dt.8:18)
The Bible teaches that God delights to bless the faithfulness of his people with material prosperity (Dt.28), but it also warns against forgetting God while enjoying His good gifts. “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today… if you by any means forget the LORD your God…I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.” (Dt.8:11,19) Sadly, we have forgotten.
We have eaten and are full, we built beautiful homes, silver and gold has multiplied, but now we say in our hearts, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ (Dt.8:17) Like Israel, we ungratefully snub God and take credit for our prosperity. Some praise the state for their deft management of the economy; others thank the capitalists for their work. The statists offer sacrifice to Baal, and the capitalists sacrifice to their own nets (Hab.1:16). Wealth, however, does not come from the state, the capitalists, or the might of our own hands. The power to get wealth comes from God (Dt.8:18).
So how do we 'fix the economy'? We must forsake our idolatry and turn again to the true God. We must forsake unjust policy and turn to the God of justice, establishing His just laws in all of life, including our economic life. In sum, we must trust and obey God! Sounds simplistic, but God promises amazing things to those who trust and obey.
"It shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.” (Dt.28:1)
God promises to bless faithful obedience with lavish wealth and power (Dt.28:1-14). It's almost embarrassing how He lures us to obedience with such offers. He invites people to enjoy an amazingly rich life in this world and the next. So when it comes to fixing the economy, we must remember it's not the economy...It's the idolatry, Stupid!