[Monday's Devotional] - Inhuman economics

Recently I came across an interactive page where you can see a real-time global debt clock.  At the time I checked the total was $52,845,614,308,165 but it is rising all the time and I guess it will be more than that if you check it out now.  Over the past decade we have experienced a massive shift in the level of debt around the globe.  Where did all the money go?  Well - it seems that most governments have borrowed from their citizens to fund the shortfalls they have had and to prop up the banks who have contributed to the global financial meltdown we are still struggling to get to grips with.  Why does it matter?

I think that this issue is just one symptom of the inevitability of human greed.  Another is the fact that the distribution of wealth amongst the people of the world is terribly uneven - I recently shared a video about the distribution of wealth in the USA, here is one about the distribution of UK wealth which you might find more relevant.  The problem is that greed is a sin and one that is hard to resist.  We all think that other people are greedy and we all think that some people have too much money and many people too little - the problem is, are we willing to personally pay towards the imbalance?

What does the bible say about this? 

Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy:

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  
1 Timothy 6: 6-10 [NIV]

How do you respond to this today?  What part can you play in improving equality in our nation and world? 

Lord, help me to be generous with my time, my possessions, my words and my money.  Keep me strong to resist the temptation to be greedy.  Amen

Dave MacLellan