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“The Sky is Falling!”

Chicken Little is walking in the woods when she is struck by an acorn falling from one of the trees.

Convinced that this is a sign the sky is falling in, Chicken Little rushes from the woods to go and warn the king.

On his way to see the king, he meets a number of friends, who are also birds, usually with rhyming names: Henny Penny, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, Turkey Lurkey, and so on … you get the idea. As he meets each of them along his way, Chicken Little tells them that the sky is falling in, and that he has first-hand evidence of this.

All of these other birds join Chicken Little as he makes his way to the king, and soon there is a large group of them convinced that the sky is falling on them. They hasten their way, intent on delivering the news.

On their way, they come across Foxy Loxy (a fox, of course), who asks them why they’re in such a hurry. Chicken Little explains to him that the sky is falling and that they’re on their way to notify the king. Foxy Loxy offers to take them to the castle where they will find the king, and the birds agree to accompany him.

However, the cunning fox leads them not to the castle, but to his den, and the birds are never seen alive again (Chicken Little).

 

“But this time, it’s different!” – A common mindset in the current political climate

Hypothetical “Dylan” – 69 year old man in the American midwest, loves to stay busy. He and his wife are traveling around the country. They love retirement. They are under the impression that the world is getting darker. Politics are becoming more and more divisive. Opportunity for recovery and growth is becoming less and less likely for them. Therefore, as we think about THIS downturn, should i leave my money in there or should i take it out now that it is 80% of what it used to be? Should I use that money to buy land? Supplies? Guns and Ammo? Wouldn’t that be better stewardship given what I am seeing in the world?

Is it really different this time? What’s different? What’s not different?

 

What is Different?

  • Every bear market is caused by a different trigger
    • In this case, covid and supply chain issues compounded by government stimulus
    • Government tried to cool the economy down while raising interest rates
    • The stock market dropped, and bonds dropped at the same time (relatively uncommon for this to happen)
  • We have an online social media causing a deep polarization of America.
    • Social media has not brought people together, it is dividing them on many different levels…and even canceling out some people!
    • Politics, social movements have caused division
    • It’s easier to stay in your own information bubble (confirmation bias)
  • The move towards electronic transactions is much greater than it’s ever been. 
    • Money can easily be manipulated without printing new bills.

What are the Fears?

  • Concern about moving to a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
    • Concerns about moving away from the dollar, and towards a total digital currency.
    • Easy manipulation.
    • Cancel culture. Any organization that runs amuck the political zeitgeist will not be able to transact.
    • The fear: Not being able to access their money when they need it.
  • Concerns about a one-world government (getting into conspiracy territory)

 

What is NOT Different?

  • Our unchanging, sovereign, all powerful God.
  • It’s a “new challenge.” We always have a new challenge or crisis to deal with. What’s the same? The fact that it’s always different.  
  • We have the tools and resources within the government to combat some of the challenges we are facing. In some sense, we are better off than we were in history. 
  • It stinks to go through it.
  • We don’t know exactly how or when it will end. 
  • It will end! One way or another…but it will end!

 

Where is our Hope & Expectation?

  • Should we place our hope in the fact that “it’s not different?” To a degree, yes. It is different. However, our hope should not be that things are different, but that God is in control of ALL things.

 

Expectations vs Reality

  • If our expectation of this life is that we should just be happy, healthy, and wealthy, it will create opportunities for becoming embittered.
  • Remember in this life, you will have troubles (Jn. 16:33).
  • Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).
  • In all these things we are more than conquerors (Romans 8). Conquerors does not mean that we will be happy and healthy. But this is an eternal statement.
  • Recalibrate your expectations. Are they Biblical? No matter what happens, Christ Jesus will be with us and be our great provider!

 

Stewardship Application

  • Going back to our Chicken Little story…
  • We might summarize the moral messages of the story as follows: (and this is from the world’s point of view, yet some good common sense here)
    1. Don’t form incorrect conclusions from insufficient data; 
    2. Don’t stoke fear in others without good cause to do so; and 
    3. Don’t take other people’s word for things, especially when those other people are making extraordinary claims (which should require extraordinary evidence).

https://interestingliterature.com/2022/02/chicken-little-folk-tale-summary-analysis/

  • Turn off the news, or any source of content that fuels your fears and anxieties.
  • Don’t take extreme predictions too seriously. Remember, they make money off your fears! 
  • Should you buy gold & precious metals? Remember, don’t buy into the sensationalism!
  • Practical things to do:
    • Pay off consumer debt. Maybe consider paying off your home early, but consult a financial professional first)
    • Have reserves
    • Live on a budget
    • Stop watching your investment accounts.
  • What can you do if you are worried or paranoid?
    • Have things to barter, like clean water, batteries, livestock, non-perishable food, guns and ammunition
    • The more prepping you do, the more you may worry about people taking your provisions.
    • Remember, our hope is not in our guns and ammo! The LORD has promised to provide. 

Get out there and share the peace of Christ with those scared and anxious people. The Gospel shines brighter during these darker times.

Daniel 4:17…so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.’

 

Takeaway points:

  • Bear Markets don’t last forever. Markets recover.
  • Breathe!
  • Remember that Jesus is LORD, and He is still in control.
  • Fulfill your calling and share the Gospel with the lost people that surround you.

 

 

 

 

Next Steps

 

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