Upside Living in A Downside Economy

By Rev. Dr. Mike Slaughter

During difficult economic times, it's tough not to focus on getting by with less and waiting for the next bit of bad news. But, as Christians, how do we to respond to what's happening on Wall Street?

In Upside Living in a Downside Economy, pastor and author Mike Slaughter offers insight into seeking God's perspective in our daily money concerns. With clarity and a servant's heart, Slaughter addresses vital topics such as financial and spiritual investments, personal motivation and God's will, money and marriage, and determining priorities.

Written for individual and small-group study, Upside Living in a Downside Economy will guide participants in strengthening their spiritual connection while making economic corrections and, most importantly, responding according to God's plan.

Click here to view a clip of Mike Slaughter!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426727528

Rev. Dr. Mike Slaughter

Mike Slaughter is the Pastor Emeritus at Ginghamsburg Church. Under his leadership, Ginghamsburg Church has become known as an early innovator of small group ministry, the Church "media reformation," and cyber-ministry. Mike is the author of multiple books for church leaders, including Down to Earth, The Passionate Church, Change the World, Dare to Dream, Renegade Gospel, A Different Kind of Christmas, Spiritual Entrepreneurs, Real Followers, Momentum for Life, UnLearning Church, and Upside Living in a Downside Economy.

Book preview

Upside Living in a Downside Economy

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MIKE SLAUGHTER

ABINGDON PRESS

Nashville, Tennessee

UPSIDE LIVING IN A DOWNSIDE ECONOMY

Copyright © 2009 by Michael Slaughter

All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Abingdon Press, P.O. Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801, or e-mailed to [e-mail].

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Slaughter, Michael.

Living upside in a downside economy / Michael B. Slaughter.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4267-0305-8 (pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Economics--Religious aspects--Christianity. 2. Finance, Personal--Religious aspects--Christianity.

I. Title.

BR115.E3S57 2009

241'.68--dc22

2009008705

All Scripture quotations unless noted otherwise are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Scripture marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked (KJV) are taken from the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Please note, italics have been added for emphasis to some Scripture quotations by the author.

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Introduction

1. Seeking God's Perspective

2. Rebalancing Life Investments

3. Do It Today

4. Investing in God's Future Harvest

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We have an incredible God who cares about the little details in our lives. One of the mistakes people often make is that they think God cares mostly about later, as in eternity. But God also cares about the success of God's children in this life. The Greek word sozo, which we translate salvation, means wellness. God desires wellness in every area of our lives.

Not long ago I received my 401(k) statement in the mail. As a pastor, I am self-employed. So I have no pension apart from Social Security and what I can do in my 401(k), in which I have been investing since 1972. I was a little afraid to open the statement. All I can say is that what I saw was ugly. I realized that the statement was only through the end of September and did not even include what have been, to date, the worst months in the history of the stock market.

Perhaps you have had a similar experience in recent months. Our response to the current financial crisis tends to be reactive, coming out of the twin emotions of fear and worry. Yet we must remember that those emotions are not logical. No matter what industry does, there is only one thing that can create a downturn in the stock market, and that is fear and worry. Unfortunately, it seems there is plenty of that to go around these days.

The current financial crisis is impacting every age group.Twenty-five- to thirty-four-year-olds hold the second highest rate of bankruptcy. Baby-boomers, who are now fifty-six to sixty-five years old—years that should be a critical saving time—are continuing to live like Americans with a negative savings rate. Those of us who are in this age range continue to spend more than we earn. The average baby-boomer has over $40,000 in consumer debt, and that does not include a home mortgage.

Not only is this current crisis combining with poor money habits to create the toxic emotions of fear and worry, but it also is a source of incredible conflict in relationships. Studies show that more than half of all divorces are the result of financial tension.

Don't just believe

what God says

in the Bible; trust

what God says,

and then put it

into practice!

My aim in this book is to help all of us live beyond these challenging circumstances and experience the abundant life for which God created us. I want to challenge followers of Christ to be a redemptive influence in the world through our own biblical priorities and practices, so that we could be a community offering hope in the lives of others during this turbulent economic time. In each chapter we will look at a passage from the Book of James, a book of practical, applicable faith for hard times. The New Testament churches to whom James wrote were dealing

with harsh economic conditions as well as severe persecution. James' teaching is applicable today in learning how to live above our situations as well.

I challenge you to make a commitment to action. Don't just believe what God says in the Bible; trust what God says, and then put it into practice! I am passionately convinced that you can live upside in a downside economy when you put your faith into action by practicing the timeless biblical principles addressed in this book.

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Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from?