Lessons from Inflation

If you’re like me you’ve probably noticed how the economy of the United States has transformed over the past two years. It’s noticeable on many fronts. The price of goods at your local grocery store have probably increased. A trip through the local drive thru can cause a quick double take as the price of food combos has reached double digits. But the place where you’ve probably noticed the change more than others is at the gas pump. A gallon of unleaded gasoline has doubled in two years. When I see the price of gas I have to remind myself that I don’t live on the West Coast, that’s just how high it’s gone up. I’ve found myself over the past few weeks “engaging” in conversation with my fellow “sufferers” as we try to make sense of all this. We usually begin by pointing fingers at others and then offering up solutions and mixed in between is some self pity in order to help each other through all this change. All of this has taught me a lesson.

I’ve realized a few things as I’ve reflected back on all this. A lot that has to do with me and not other people. I’ve realized that I don’t trust God to provide for the needs of my family and me. I trust in the strength of my own arm to provide and I just don’t take too kindly to the federal government taking more of my hard earned money, especially when they’ve made illogical decisions. I’ve realized that I don’t trust God as a good and loving Father to provide for the needs of His children.[1] I think my needs are provided for as long as the bank account doesn’t fluctuate more than I want it to because of forced excessive expenditures, and here lately that equates to paying way more at the pump than I should. I’ve also noticed that when I complain about all this to others, I’m getting in the way of keeping their eyes on God and acknowledging Him and giving Him thanks for what He has provided. I’m not encouraging them to trust God, but instead to subconsciously create a dependency on man and when he fails them how to complain.

Perhaps you’re thinking from reading all this that I think ignorance is bliss. Not at all. But I do believe that as Christians we talk excessively about how government fails us when instead we ought to be giving thanks to God and encouraging one another, not by reminding each other that the midterm elections are right around the corner or that the presidential election is only two years away. No, God’s people, His children ought to be talking with one another about how great and good their Father is. That never changes.

1.  And my God ^mwill supply every need of yours ⁿaccording to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
   ^m Ps. 23:1; 2 Cor. 9:8
   ⁿ See Rom. 2:4
    The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 4:19.