Living Well In Times Of Recession

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Created on Wednesday, 01 December 2010 00:00

Written by Richard Avery

It has been a hard year for many people: lost jobs or few job opportunities, no pay rise, bigger bills, pensions that don't keep up with prices, and another disappointing summer weather-wise. Not everyone is facing harder times, but many of us are. And when times are difficult we may be pleased if we can just get by. 'There's not much to cheer about but I have got through the year'. In austerity, we settle for just getting by.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

Our British caution may make us wary of such extravagant claims. But this invitation is loud, clear and trustworthy: COME, ENJOY, LIVE! The words are a message from God; a message given to people worn down by hard times. The kind of people who thought that only a win on the lottery or X-factor or a brilliant business idea could lead them to a good life.
God challenges this thinking. God says, 'Listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare'. That's quite a claim. Through the prophet Isaiah God says that soul-food is the most wonderful we can enjoy. It is his gift to us when we come to him in faith. And it is receSSion-proof.

In our culture it is all too easy to focus on what we do not, and perhaps cannot, have. When the lives of celebrities are paraded before us in magazines or television, we may notice what they have that we cannot even dream of. When we hear about what our neighbours or friends get up to it may be less extravagant but it can be even more galling. This way of thinking can creep into church life too, as we get frustrated by what we do not or cannot have. Flushing toilets, a warm building in winter, bigger congregation, salaried youth worker, more choir members, a drummer and base guitarist, our own meeting room, a priest for every parish .....

Soon it will be Christmas. A reminder of what God has already given us, His Son, Jesus. And in Him is life, light, forgiveness, peace, a new family outside and His Spirit within. So rather than worry about what we do not have or cannot afford, let us celebrate what God has already blessed us with. Jesus describes the way of faith in God as abundant life. St Paul celebrates this in the start of his letter to the Ephesians:

'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ' and goes on to
write about 'the riches of God's grace that he lavished
on us'.

Christmas is a time of thanksgiving for all the blessings that come to us through the gift of Jesus, the original Christmas present. Because of this lavish outpouring, we can live well through times of recession or boom. We can be part of churches that flourish regardless of the state of their buildings or size of their congregations. We can make the most of what God does give us rather than bemoan what we lack.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Happy Christmas!
Richard