Global Prosperity: Two Guidelines for Nations

 

      The State of the World

 

The global economic crisis has resulted in many a rich person becoming poor; it has exacerbated fear among individuals and governments. Its effects have impacted countries from as far as Russia to Latin America. Stock markets in most parts of the world have crashed, Iceland has become bankrupted and a series of Western financial institutions have been nationalised. Strident efforts by the United States to halt economic decline have to date been overshadowed by a wayward stock market.

 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has resumed lending money to Western countries after more than thirty years of loans mostly to developing states. Meanwhile, major industrial states and other influential players are set to meet in Washington, the US capital, on November 15 to come up with new initiatives and possibly a new global economic paradigm.

 

Robert Winnett, writing for the UK newspaper The Telegraph, notes: "So far, Britain has pledged £500 billion to bail out British banks, the EU states have committed £1.16 trillion and the US has invested £457 billion in their efforts to bring a halt to the crisis.

 

The total £2.1 trillion cost of the bail-outs is a third bigger than the entire British economy. It would fund the NHS for more than 20 years.

 

Talks on an international crackdown on the excesses of the global financial world will begin today in Brussels to help prevent a similar crisis developing for at least a generation.

 

But fears are growing that the initial relief of apparently averting the banking collapse may be quickly overshadowed by wider problems in the economy. "¹

 

In addition, ABC news quotes International Labour Organisation (ILO) chief Juan Somavia as saying that the financial crisis could lead to a 20 million rise in the number of unemployed worldwide by the end of 2009.

 

Estimates from the ILO indicate that the "number of unemployed could rise from 190 million in 2007 to 210 million in late 2009," said Mr. Somavia, marking "the first time in history that we pass 210 million."

 

The population of working poor living on less than a dollar a day could rise by 40 million, and those on two dollars a day by over 100 million, added the ILO.

 

But Mr. Somavia said these projections "could prove to be underestimates if the effects of the current economic contraction and looming recession are not quickly confronted."

 

ABC continues that, in the US, thousands of jobs have already been slashed on Wall Street and other financial centres as banks collapse or are forced to merge due to the credit crunch.²

 

The question one may ask is what can be done now? The following two recommendations will provide governments with new policy initiatives to create a new culture – socially, economically and politically – based on Biblical principles that, once implemented, could work for the benefit of the entire international community.

 

1)      Good governance or Godly governance?

 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) explains the principles surrounding the concept of good governance: "Good governance is, among other things, participatory, transparent and accountable. It is also effective and equitable. And it promotes the rule of law. Good governance ensures that political, social and economic priorities are based on broad consensus in society, and that the voices of the poorest and the most vulnerable are heard in decision-making over the allocation of development resources."³

 

However, instead of absolute reliance on the advancement of good governance, let's try promoting "godly governance" as the best option. In order for good governance to succeed, we would need good officials at all levels to implement those principles, and they have failed miserably, On the other hand, godliness comes from God Himself, and only God can help state leaders to govern aright. God has availed Himself to help any nation, any people that would seek Him.

 

King David, who reigned for 40 years in Israel, states, "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters." (Psalm 24:1).

 

The prophet Isaiah provides insight into God's views on being sought out for guidance at all levels:

Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord,

Who take counsel, but not of Me,

And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,

That they may add sin to sin;

Who walk to go down to Egypt,

And have not asked My advice… (Isaiah 30:1-2)

 

King David assessed his attitude toward God, and he was obviously pleased with the relationship he had with God. The king notes:

 

       The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;

According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord,

And have not wickedly departed from my God.

For all His judgements were before me,

And I did not put away His statutes from me.

I was also blameless before Him,

And I kept myself from my iniquity.

Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,

According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. (Psalm 18:20-24)

 

It is important to note that all men everywhere will face God in judgement someday. Every human being must hold this truth sacred. Meanwhile, Jesus cogently warns, "Take heed that no one deceives you." (Matthew 24:4).

 

2)      Support Israel

 

In the Book of Genesis we have an account of God calling Abram, whose name He subsequently changed to Abraham. God says, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse them who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3). Furthermore, the Lord reiterated His promise of land to Abraham. It is recorded in Genesis 13:12 that "Abram dwelt in the Land of Canaan… And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot (his nephew) had separated from him: Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever." (Genesis 13:14-15).

 

The Arab-Israeli conflict has for more than 60 years preoccupied state leaders around the world. There is much ignorance surrounding the conflict, and, despite Israel's attempts to make peace with the Arabs by agreeing to United Nations Resolution 181 and a number of other initiatives, much pressure is being brought on the Jewish State to "make peace" with the Arabs. When persons call for peace, they really mean Israel should give in to Arab demands and give them land. It is clear, however, from numerous statements by Arab leaders, that, in essence, the dispute is not over territory but, rather, over Israel's very right to exist as a Jewish nation in its ancestral homeland. Giving up more land, therefore, will not bring peace any nearer – nor will the division of Israel's capital, Jerusalem.  

 

God will defend Israel, and He will bless those who bless (support) Israel. In Isaiah 30: 27-28 it is recorded:

Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar,

Burning with heavy anger,

And His burden is heavy;

His lips are full of indignation,

And His tongue like a devouring fire;

His breath is like an overflowing stream,

Which reaches up to the neck,

To sift the nations with the sieve of futility;

And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people,

Causing them to err.

 

Finally, thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,

And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

I am the First and I am the Last;

Besides Me there is no God.

And who can proclaim as I do?

Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,

Since I appointed the ancient people.

And the things that are coming shall come,

Let them show these to them.(Isaiah 44: 6 & 7).

 

Conclusion

 

Today, state actors and non-state actors are called upon to make a paradigm shift. The decisions are tough, but they are necessary for success and the healing of nations. One must factor God into the decision-making process, the administration of justice and the principles of governance. One's domestic and foreign policies ought to advance the tenets of godliness. God will hold both governments and individuals accountable. Remember, bless Israel and your country will be blessed. It is simply God's way. Likewise, the governing principles of every nation must line up with the statutes of the Lord God Almighty.

 

Sources:

 

¹Effort to halt financial crisis costs two million trillion pounds. Telegraph. co.uk., by Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3198470/Effort-to-halt-financial-crisis-costs-governments-two-trillion-pounds.html, October 15, 2008.

 

²ABC News. Global Financial Crisis. Financial Crisis could cost '20million jobs by end 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/21/2396536.htm, October 21, 2008.

 

³Governance for sustainable human development. A UNDP policy document. Good governance - and sustainable human development. UNDP, http://mirror.undp.org/magnet/policy/chapter1.htm.

 

Other:

 

Prophecy Study Bible. New King James Version. John C. Hagee, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1997.

 

Cherub A. Nicholls

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