Our Global Economy

Paul Norcross
March 6, 2006

Dear Saints,

I recently received the following in an e-mail, and thought it was worth a comment or two.  First, the e-mail:

Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am. While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA ) was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG ). He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA), designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA ). After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA) he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO) to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN) to the radio (MADE IN INDIA) he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY) (filled it with GAS from Saudi Arabia) and continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB. At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking    his Computer (Made In Malaysia), Joe decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL) poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE) and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA), and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in. AMERICA.....

We certainly do live in a global economy, and it is getting more global all the time.  But what is God’s plan, not only for America , but also for the world?  I am not a globalist, nor really a nationalist (though I love my country and have served over 17 years as a navy officer in its armed forces).

But as a Christian, we do well to think of ourselves as neither a Republican nor a Democrat.  Instead,  we have a king.  His name is Jesus.  When we follow Jesus Christ, we follow a higher law, and adhere to a higher standard of civil law.

But I do have a great deal of love and appreciation for the good things of my nation, as every citizen should have for their nation.  So let’s take a moment and look at some important aspects of what God is doing in the nations of the world.  Remember, His goal is to raise up a people who love Him, and desire to walk for Him by the Spirit of the Living God.  Our heavenly Father longs for one-ness.

There are blessings for nations which have faith in God.  There are curses (think of them as  “non-blessings” for nations who don’t).

One of the blessings on a people who choose to serve God is wisdom – the kind that results in prosperity.

For example, Proverbs 8 declares where all clever thoughts (such as scientific and engineering inventiveness, artistic originality, etc) emanate:

Proverbs 8:12
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. 

Among the many blessings of the nation of the United States is a blessing of ideas, ingenuity, and the capacity for hard work and self-fulfillment in that work.  There is a national character in this nation, and it is good and wholesome.  It shows up in America ’s compassion for the underdog, a willingness to help those in need, a desire to share of their abundance out of which God has blessed them.  This is part of our character, and it is Godly.

America is not the only nation with admirable qualities.  Yes, I know there are plenty of non-admirable things to see, but at the moment let’s consider those prominent good ones that seem to capture the national character.  Canada is a blessed country with hearts to serve.  England has a notable sense of nobility and tradition, France of an appreciation for the finer things of art and culture, Germany of industry and hard work, Russia of stoic resolve and determination, China of community and diligence,  and Argentina of planning and proud gentility.  India is full of patient grace and kindness, Romania of survivorship and family, Finland of plucky resourcefulness, and East Africa of fiery passion and faith.  In every nation there are very obvious and remarkable strengths of national character – all shaped and molded by rich histories, but most especially molded and gifted by God, our Father, who is still crafting character, one person and one nation at a time. 

So what does this have to do with changing economics in our global economy?  Merely this – that God is the source of national wealth and the source of national destruction. 

Deuteronomy 8:18-20
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.

God’s goal is not to prosper a nation economically before He first prospers their character.  He rewards with wealth those nations who yield their hearts to Him, and He stops the flow of blessings when the character of worshipping Him changes to idolizing the very prosperity that He gave as reward!

God can quickly reverse a nation’s negative tides, but only when the waves of worship return to its shores.  Thus, while we lament the economic signs of the times, we should more diligently lament the spiritual poverty which precedes physical poverty.

God is true to His covenant.  He searches diligently the world over for hearts that are perfect towards Him, in order to show Him self strong on their behalf (I Chronicles 16:9).  Americans have no more corner on this market than Turkmenistan or Sweden .  But we do have a precious heritage of faith, and that has produced many divine blessings.  We are quickly losing this heritage.  Can we gain it back?  Yes – 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us clearly that the land can be healed if God’s people will pray and repent.  But will we? Probably not.  It is far easier to whine, complain, and shift the blame than it is to take ownership of the problem.  Unless………..if MY PEOPLE which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways………

So – while the wonderful blessings of American manufacturing, and marketplace prosperity is indeed shifting in part to other nations, yet we must recognize that God is unlimited in His witty inventions, and will give them to the children of faith, hope, and love, and cause all who delight in His Word to prosper (Psalm 1).  The ebb and flow of manufacturing to other countries with lower labor overhead and good sources of raw materials is part of the reason the United States grew so dramatically in the 17th and 18th centuries at the expense of England.  Thus the current economic shifting of manufacturing to more cost effective labor sources is predictable.  But there is indeed still unlimited opportunity for economic blessing, because what is also predictable is the flow of God’s blessings to any country for whom God is the Lord (Psalm 33:12).  There are nations for which this is beginning to occur today – Uganda for example.  And there are nations such as the United States for which revival can sweep the land, and turn every heart back to its First Love, Jesus Christ.

So let us praise Him for His grace and His mercy as we turn back to Him with all of our hearts in this land of His opportunity, freedom, and blessing.  Let us set our affections on Him, and not on the conditions of the world around us, because what is seen with our eyes are the effects of the conditions of the spiritual heart. And God is listening to your heart’s every beat.

Much love to you in Him,
Paul Norcross

Kingdom Faith Ministries