The Great Stock Market Crash Myth

According to John Kenneth Galbraith in The Great Crash 1929, 'the suicide wave the followed the stock market crash is also a part of the legend of 1929. In fact, there was none.' Instead what we find is that for several years prior to 1929 'the suicide rate had gradually been rising.' This is of particular interest because it suggests that people loosing all their wealth was not the cause of suicides, in fact suicides had been on the rise while the stock market was doing incredibly well.

How can we explain this increase while the market was doing well? While I have only anecdotal evidence I would suggest that society had become dissatisfied and this was the cause for the increase in suicides prior to the great crash. The years prior to the great crash there was a massive increase in speculators in the stock market as it became the modern day gold rush. The stock market was a road to quick wealth based on a house of cards. As investors gained wealth there was was also an immediate dissatisfied with the wealth they acquired. As the old saying goes, "wealth doesn't bring happiness." Likewise those that did not play the stock market or lost money doing so also became dissatisfied because they saw those around them gaining wealth and they felt left out.

The increase in suicides prior to the stock market crash suggests that people were not content. Paul says in Philippians 4:11 'I have learned to be content in all circumstances.' It is important for us in this modern day stock market and economic downturn to remember to be content in all circumstances. How can we be content in all circumstances? We need to know that God is still in control and that He will work it out if we continue to put our trust in Him.

Make me a Macedonian

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 the apostle Paul describes the Macedonians as having the gift of generosity. It seems as if more often than not we wish to be the beneficiary instead of the deliverer of generosity. I don't think I have ever heard someone open a prayer by saying, "God, make me more generous" We can blame society as the reason for our selfish nature, but the reality is that it is we are born with it. We can see this lack of generosity or selfish behavior early on in children in the playground with their refusal to share their toys.

The Macedonians were commended by Paul because of their generosity. In fact he called it a gift, one that others need to follow their example. What I find even more compelling is that the Macedonians we generous despite their poverty. It is easy to be generous when you are Bill Gates or Warren Buffet, but God expects us to be generous when we have nothing. We find an example of in the Old Testament when the prophet asks the widow woman to use he last bit of flour and oil to make him something to eat. This was all she had, she tells the prophet that she was going to use it to prepare a last meal and die. Her ability to muster up generosity in a time of famine was what later on gave her access to the miracle healing of her son.

In these difficult times there is nothing more powerful that we can do to during difficult times that giving. This past weekend I saw an incredible amount of giving at the Here's Life Inner City "Boxes of Love" packing party. It is an annual event where hundreds of people from all over NYC line up in the cold just for the opportunity to come together to pack Thanksgiving dinners to 4000 of NYC most neediest families.

Give to our church, give to our community and those in need. If you are looking for places other than just the church to give to here is a list of my three favorite non profits in alphabetical order:

www.betel.org/us
www.charityis.org
www.hlic.org

Market King

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it wherever he pleases" Prov 21:1

In our modern marketplace our Kings maybe our bosses or the companies we work, but God needs to rule over our lives. When we let him reign we are submitting to the destiny he has in store for us, irregardless if the circumstances appear dire. We have faith and trust in his word that he can change those circumstances.

God is a jealous king, he wants us to have no other kings above him. If you have made your employer, business or the market king over your life, it is time to remember that he is sovereign and he reigns over all. It is time to submit to his will and stop putting your trust in your business and start putting your trust in God.

Peace in (Market) Turmoil

"Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest"

This verse in speaks specifically to those of us that work and work in the marketplace. The last time the market was in this much turmoil I was but a child, so I can't say that I know what it was like to experience previous recessions, but I do know the result, we came out the other side and stronger.

I know that God's promises are true. In Matt 11:28 he gives us a promise of rest (peace) for such a time as this. It may seem hard to find peace in the midst of all this volatility, it may seem like trying to drink a cup of tea on a roller coaster ride; impossible. But God's promises are true. His peace surpasses all understanding.

This market feels like a roller coaster market ride and during this time we have to pray for God's peace. Jesus gives us the ultimate example of peace, he was so peaceful he actually fell asleep in the boat while his disciples thought they were going to drown. Sometimes we feel like Christ is asleep, he is silent, we feel he is not with us in the midst of the storm, but He is there. If you are not praying in this market turmoil it is not too late to start, cry out to God and he will hear your plea. He will give you peace and in that peace will come wisdom and clarity as to what to do during this market. He will direct our sails and set us do north to were it is he wants to take us.