Christian Values in Economics: Cycles

©Millie McNabb

Over the course of ten days, we’ve had snow storms and now warming expected to go into the seventies. That is springtime in Idaho—a transition from winter to summer. We are affected by larger climatic cycles, such as El Nino which shift weather patterns over the course of years. “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven….” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

There are also cycles in other facets of life. Jesus asked the religious leaders, “Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot {discern} the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3b) A Christian value that you want to teach your children is discernment.

Someone has described luck as preparation meeting opportunity. Discerning the cycles of life, lets you see the opportunity. Shakespeare described this in his play, Julius Caesar.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men.
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”

There are people who have invested much time in identifying cycles. As humans, their predications have not always been accurate. (Biblical prophets are 100% correct.) Nonetheless, they provide valuable insights about what to look for in our times. Harry S. Dent, Jr. has done extensive studies of demographic cycles and their correlation to economic cycles. His website is www.hsdent.com. Strauss and Howe have traced and predicted the patterns of America in their book Generations.

We are affected by cycles that are longer than our lifetime. The sequence of a 200-year cycle of civilizations was conceptualized by Dr. Alexander Tytler, a Scot professor, in the mid-1700’s:
"From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependency back again into bondage."

You would not live long enough to see that complete cycle. The Christian worldview is long term. In Genesis 15 God makes a promise to Abraham that won’t be fulfilled for four hundred years. That inheritance came to his offspring because of Abraham’s faithfulness to God, who is always faithful.

What Christian heritage did you receive from your parents? What legacy are you passing on to the generations that come after you?

God bless….

Millie McNabb, founder of Christian Values Legacy, offers parenting seminars that focus on passing on your Christian values. Request your free report “Considerations for Intentionally Raising Children to Become Christian Adults” today at www.ChristianValuesLegacy.com.