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Today on MoneyLife

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Jack Alexander: How God Makes You Strong in Weakness

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Chuck Bentley Many of you have been beaten up by the economy and you may be feeling down and weak.

Our guest today is Jack Alexander and he’s going to talk about how to respond to times of weakness in your life. Jack is an entrepreneur and had a company with 6,000 employees at one time.

His perspective on weakness will be a blessing to you. Jack is also a member of Crown’s Board of Directors.

Weakness is discussed throughout the Bible. There's a difference between weakness and helplessness. We’re never helpless as Christians. The life of Hudson Taylor is a great example.

One extreme is trying to solve problems yourself and leaving God out of it; another is to depend totally on God and take no action yourself. There should be a balance between the two. You must rely on God to do His part, but you must do your part, as well.

Jack Alexander Jack says last year was the year the expert died. People used to put all their confidence in someone they thought had all the answers, now they don’t know who to trust. But you don't need an expert to know current government spending is unsustainable.

The stock market is up, depression is off the table because of the government spending, but jobs are still being lost. People have insecurity. I expect we'll see 10% unemployment or greater.

There are opportunities in the marketplace, but we have to look at opportunity in a new way.

God is driving us more into community, depending on the body of Christ
Success and technology have helped isolate people
As people think they’re doing well, they become more independent
Insecurity makes us more vulnerable, transparent, allows God to work

Jack says the government is propping up the economy instead of letting the market go down and work its way out. When the money isn’t there to prop up the economy, what will happen?
Jack says we need to cry out to the Lord and ask for direction in times like this. He's been in the Word more than ever.

God seems to use a process with Christians of drawing us to a place of weakness where we become dependent on Him and cry out to Him and ask His Spirit to fill us. His Spirit responds, and we become strong.

Jack's is in a career situation he never expected, working with a company involved in biochemistry, genetics, and manufacturing. He's working in areas he doesn’t have knowledge, where he’s weak and vulnerable.

He’s become more dependent on the Lord, and He has made him strong. Jack is naturally a problem-solver, but he's had to become a listener and learner. He's learned that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in our weakness.

The apostle Paul had a thorn in his life that he wanted God to take away but He didn’t. Many people have thorns in their finances. They want God to take the thorn away, but He wants to teach us that His grace is sufficient for any thorn.

God sent Christ to save us because He knew we were weak. God calls us to become weak to serve someone else. Your weakness should be part of your testimony.

Don’t try to get rid of your weaknesses; God wants to use them in your life. It’s part of God’s economy. You may not like it, but when you understand, you can have peace.

People who are overwhelmed by finances feel weak with money. That’s where God wants to be strong. The ultimate answer is in heaven. The world will not provide any lasting solutions to our problems.

God will bring opportunities to us. Jack says he's glad that Crown teaches God has a part, and we have a part. Even when we feel weak, we need to do our part. We have to be willing to trust God, turn to Him in our weakness, and take actions he leads us to take. God opens doors, we have to follow through.

God likes us to wait upon Him. He renews us as we wait. Waiting is not a time of helplessness; it’s an expression of faith in God that he will show us the next step we need to take.

When He does, it’s time to take action. With finances, you must do your part and get on a budget. You may start out weak, but over time, God will make you strong.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

I hope you'll consider becoming part of Crown's effort to teach biblical stewardship by making a gift online or by calling 800-722-1976. Thank you!

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