HOW TO LIVE IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

In the past few months we have seen the sliding of the Uganda shillings to such an extent that the exchange rate between shillings and a dollar went up to 2700 for one dollar, the pound has gone up to Shs. 4100/= and the euro has gone up to Shs. 3600/=.
What we have seen is that a litre of fuel is at Shs. 3650/= and diesel Shs. 3350/= per Liter. With this the cost of living has gone up so high that even some one wonders how our people survive on a day to day basis. With this we have seen different reactions from the public; one of them was the walk to work demonstrations that turned into riots where we lost several people. Women have walked on streets demonstrating due to rising of prices, shop keepers recently decided to close their shops for several days and tax drivers went on a sit down strike.
Through all of this everyone has been affected in Uganda and we have heard that it is the same situation in our neighbouring countries.
When all of this happens what does a Christian do?How should we respond and where can we go?
Below are a few ideas for us as Christians as to how to respond.

1) WE SHOULD LIVE BY FAITH (Rom 4:18)
“18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be.”(NIV)

– Living by faith means trusting God knowing that He knows and cares.
– Living by faith means having an attitude knowing that God will intervene in my day to day affairs.
– Living by faith means that I have a God who does miracles, He can provide inspite of my small salary.

The passage that we have shared above shows that Abraham trusted God even when it did not make sense that he would have a child at 100. Living by faith challenges reason and rationale but God’s people can only live by faith.

2) LIVE CREATIVELY AND WISELY (EPH 5:15)
“15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (NIV)

– Being creative means we should think outside the box, we should look beyond our income and beyond our circumstances.
– It means we need to look at ways of saving
– Being creative means we should not spend when we do not have to.
– It also means we should not waste, switch off that light at home when you are not using it. You do not have to use electric heaters at home. Instead of driving alone to work, you should get other friends and drive as a team then share the fuel costs.

3) WORK HARD
God has decided to bless the work of hands. This means that I need to get myself to work and not waste time.
It means that I should not despise work, when you do not have a job do not despise the temporary openings that may not fit your profession. It is better to earn a small living than to let your people starve.

I know that today’s income from your salary may not be enough, but can you consider other ways that can bring money.
– You can raise chicken at home even when you are a teacher.
– You can bake and sell food items as an office worker to your fellow staff.
– You can grow some food in a garden and get multiple ways of earning an income.

4) BE FAITHFUL
At the time when things are hard the temptation of not being faithful to God are very high.
The temptation to cheat and to cut corners becomes very high, but we need to realize unfaithfulness will never have God’s blessing.

Temptation to stop our daily commitment to God and serving is so high especially when you realize that you are not earning, but remember it is God who gives us power to make wealth. When I am walking in the right ways, God takes good care of my life.

When money is scarce, usually the first thing to drop is giving tithes and offerings but I am challenging you today when money is scarce the best thing to do is to give tithes and offering for it attracts God’s blessing.
Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land” (NIV)

Philippians 4:10- 13 “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (NIV)

5) GOD IS FAITHFUL (Psalms 37:25)
“25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (NIV)

The psalmist wrote that he has never seen God failing to fulfill his promises and not taking care of his own.
Let people be liars but God be true, He knows you and me, He cannot abandon you, He is very faithful. Trust Him, he will see you through in these hard times and will take good care of you.