Recently, WLA asked Michael to share thoughts on money matters in light of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic is primarily a tragedy that elevates our concern for the physical health and safety of our loved ones.  These apprehensions are natural and each of us is burdened to pray for those individuals and families directly affected by the virus within our congregation and throughout the world.

At the same time, the pandemic has also created an unease in the hearts of many as we contemplate our financial futures. As Christ followers what are we to do as we see our business struggle, our jobs become tenuous or our savings materially eroded?

One possibility is to reflect on how blessed we are by looking back at prior generations who lived with much less, say during the Depression or the War years. We may also look around the globe and consider how as a Canadian we are financially well provided for versus the vast majority of the world’s 7.5+ billion people. There is value to this approach as we praise God for His provision for us and yet there is also a potential danger here.

The risk comes as our fallen nature inevitability tempts us to turn our gaze upon those who are financially secure (or appear to be). Comparing ourselves spiritually to others is unwise (II Cor 10:12) and so is looking at our financial prospects alongside of others. COVID-19 will put real financial stress on many of us (including our church itself along with our missionaries) and with that strain may come an impulse to be discontented in our financial situation. How can we resist the urge to become envious, bitter or fearful?

The Lord’s Prayer provides us with the antidote and though we may have learned this prayer as a child it never becomes old. Our Redeemer instructs us to “Give us this day our daily bread”.  With this familiar phrase Christ teaches us to pray for our physical needs of today. The Lord’s Prayer is silent with regards to praying for our needs of tomorrow. This may not seem quite right as we personally experience a much more uncertain financial future as a result of the COVID crisis. However, Christ deals directly with any potential misunderstanding in the passage subsequent to the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew Chapter 6.

Throughout this text we see Christ repeatedly encouraging us to not be anxious over the material things of the future. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear? … your heavenly Father knows you need them all.”   As we consider our business, our jobs or our financial portfolios in light of COVID, know that our Father in heaven is not at all worried. He will provide what we need, when we need it as we seek after Him (Matthew 6:33).

Matthew 6 closes with “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Could there be any more fitting words for us to consider as we together grapple with the trouble arising from COVID-19?

May God bless us everyone. [1]