What's the Recession For?

I was talking to my friend Shawnda yesterday at church about all that is going on in our life, etc... and she pointed me to this message by John Piper on the recession.  I highly recommend you read it (you can read the whole sermon on the website), listen to it, or watch it.  This link should work, hopefully.  The link is from the Desiring God website.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2009/3566_What_Is_the_Recession_For/

Here are the points of the message:

(Some of) God’s Purposes in This Recession

Now what are some of God’s purposes in this recession? I will mention five:

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.

My heart is definitely stirred now to live this recession for God's glory and to experience His grace.  I look forward to what He is going to do in and through me, my family, and my church to serve those around us and throughout the world.

If you listen to it, let me know what you think.  Enjoy!