It’s an interesting providence that I had planned a message on money and the gospel for this Sunday. With the sharpest NYSE drop in history occuring today, and unemployment numbers coming out on Friday, people are going to have more questions about how to theologically and practically navigate these troubled financial times. Should we continue to give to the Lord? How much? How should I respond to lay offs and unemployment? I hope to address these questions this Sunday.

Until then, an excellent resource on developing biblical discernment on matters of faith and money is Randy Alcorn’s web page devoted to what he calls The Treasure Principle. He provides a general theology of wealth, spending, and giving. Check out the following:

• Money, Possessions and Eternity
• An excerpt of his brief book on giving The Treasure Principle
• Free MP3s and handouts from his Theology of Money course

While you are at it, you may want to consider John Piper’s reflections on Some of God’s Purposes in the recession:

1. He intends for this recession to expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.
2. He intends to wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.
3. He intends to relocate the roots of our joy in his grace rather than in our goods, in his mercy rather than our money, in his worth rather than our wealth.
4. He intends to advance his saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of his church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it. This is how he guards his glory.
5. He intends for the church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.