401k in Perspective

High anxiety in the financial world seems to get everyone’s attention lately.

Did you withstand the urge to check out your 401K and see if the bleeding has reached the critical stage yet?

Wall Street spins out of control and causes needless worry on Main Street. Financial pillars come crumbling down (Lehman Brothers, AIG, Bear Stearns) and it’s enough to have some Americans checking on their supplies of canned food and shotgun shells.

But is this high finance really worth the worry? Sure, I admit that I checked out my 401K during the drastic drop in the markets. I nearly fainted. Can I really be losing that much money? I pinch myself and repeat over and over again that it’s a long term equation. Wall Street is fundamentally sound. Right? This is a part of the normal pattern of ups and downs. Isn’t it? It’s time for a reality check and a gut check.

Time to slow down and add some perspective. I’m worrying about my retirement account and there are families around the world and even down the street worried about feeding their kids today. Perspective. God never promised me a 401K bursting with abundance. God promises to take care of me if I trust in Him. He could call me home tomorrow and my 401K suddenly loses its significance.

Don’t allow yourself to get wrapped up in the worries or anxieties of a fickle stock market. Didn’t Jesus have a word about worrying? Something about worrying not adding one minute to your life? In other words, don’t sweat it. Maintain that perspective. We happen to live in the richest country on earth.

You are rich. Do you know that? You are rich.

I own a house, two vehicles, and both my wife and I have good jobs. Rich, rich, rich. And still I complain about my retirement account taking a dive? Who am I kidding?

This latest crisis on Wall Street is the perfect time to take stock in your lot in life and take hold of your faith. God is bigger than Bear Stearns. Bigger than AIG. Bigger than Wall Street itself. I can picture God shaking his head when we Americans make such a big deal of financial markets and stock prices and retirement accounts.

God, thank you that I am abundantly blessed. Thank you that I live in the richest nation on this earth. God, grant me the humility to give my life perspective. May I focus on your love and the abundant blessings you wish for me. I thank you that you love me in spite of myself. I thank you for your son Jesus who washed me clean and made me presentable to your holiness. Thank you for life. Thank you for love.

The next time Wall Street decides to dive 500 points, take a deep breath. Your life isn’t dependent upon that 401K. Pause and thank God for your health, for your family, for your job. Ask yourself what you, in your abundance, can do to help your less fortunate brother. Perspective.

I don’t think Jesus would have a 401K. I think he’d prefer to live in the moment and do everything possible to love his brother here and now.

Not a bad idea. Are you listening Wall Street?

I didn’t think so.

- Steve

(Live Bold would like to welcome Steve Fandel to the LB Team. Steve will be featured each week with insight, wit, news, and possibly a few rants here and there. Welcome Steve, we’re glad to have you on board.)

About

Welcome, and thanks for dragging yourself over to Live|Bold! My name is Greg Arnold and I am pumped to see you here. This interactive online community is here to point every man toward the cross. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for ages, or you are just stumbling into this strange new world of faith, we have something of value to offer you. This online e-zine is a cross between a blog, a social network, a resource center, and a pulpit. My hope is to inspire you to live your faith on the outside and be a real man for God. We need you in the fight.