A Very Interesting Weekend With Great Ramifications

Things around the world are happening almost at warp-speed.  This past weekend was no exception.  Recently, in one of my prophecy lunch settings, I shared with the group that one of the areas of the world upon which I was keeping my eye was Europe.  An unsettledness seems to hang as a dark cloud over the entire continent.  Many of the nations of Europe are bogged down in the morass of failed economic policies that have been in place for many decades.  Last year we witnessed the effects of those policies and the accompanying reaction on the citizens of Greece.  With limited funding and without the ability to print their own currencies - the countries in Europe are dependent upon the European Central Bank for the printing of the euros - austerity had become the watchword.  Basically what had happened is that politicians, eager for people's votes, had promised their citizens everything from fully-paid early retirement (we are talking in the 50's) and fully-paid health insurance among other promises. 

When there is no more money and promises are made that can no longer be kept, what are the people to do?  Well, there are two things they can do.  We witnessed the first last summer with the riots that occurred in Greece.  And we witnessed the second this past week. 

Let's begin in France.  The now former President Sarkozy had instituted some tough economic changes into the French economy that would impact every level of French society, but especially hitting the middle class harder.  During the campaign, Sarkozy had pledged to cut heath care spending and find savings of over $125 billion euros over the next four years through spending cuts and new revenue.  His challenger, Francois Hollande stated that he would increase government spending by over $20 billion euros over the next five years.  Angela Charlton, writing for the Associated Press, stated: "Hollande wants to renegotiate a hard-won European treaty on budget cuts that Germany's Angela Merkel and Sarkozy had championed.  He wants more government stimulus, and more government spending in general despite concerns from markets that France needs to urgently trim its huge debts."  As the election returns came in, Hollande was declared the winner having received 52% of the vote.  Hollande, himself a Socialist, has declared that the way out of national economic problems is to "tax and spend" even when there is nothing to spend.  One of the consequences of the French elections is the uncertainty in the stock markets around the globe this week. 

Now, let's turn our attention to Greece.  Yes, the Greeks had an election on Sunday as well, voting for members to its 300-seat Parliament.  The question was: would the two centrist parties retain enough seats to continue their coalition based upon severe economic reforms and austerity measures.  When the dust settled on Sunday evening, the Greek voters were heard loud and clear.  Two extreme parties - one on the left, the other on the right - had garnered enough votes that those seats will now make an impact upon the Greek economic future.  Some analysts immediately proclaimed that Greece would be leaving the Eurozone and reviving its own currency.  The people had grown tired of the hardships.  They wanted a return to the way things "used to be."

So, what is happening in Europe.  People have come to view entitlements as rights.  Big governments are to take care of the people.  Big governments are to provide for my needs.  The only problem with big governments is that they demand a lot of money.  It takes a lot of money to take care of people.  It takes a lot of money to provide for people's needs.  And, where does the money come from?  It comes from the people through taxes.  Did you know that the Bible commands us to pay our taxes?  In fact, Jesus Himself declared that we should "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matthew 22:21).  The Apostle Paul reminded his Roman believers, "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes..." (Romans 13:7).  In the ancient world, everyone paid their taxes.  Even the very poorest paid their taxes.  Even as God was giving the Law, it was provided that no one was to be exempt from offering sacrifices because of poverty - there was the offering of the poor that was instituted.  The problem today is that not everyone is paying their taxes.  In fact, nearly half of Americans do not pay any income tax.  When you cut revenue sources by stating that some do not have to pay, yet, at the same time, increase spending - the inevitable is a financial crisis of epic proportions.  The old guard leaders in Europe have finally come to their senses...but it has not trickled down to the general population.  When one becomes used to having "free bread" it is hard to now have to earn it. 

Let me share just one more very important news item that occurred over this past weekend.  Moments before a resolution dissolving the Israeli Parliament, known as the Knesset, and authorizing new elections on September 4 was to be voted upon, Prime Minister Netanyahu, leader of the Likud Party, announced formation of a "unity government" with the new Kadima Party leader Shaul Mofaz.  (You might remember that the Kadima Party's roots were in the Likud Party; the Kadima Party being formed by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon back in 2004 or so).  With now a super majority in the Knesset, national elections were rescheduled for sometime in 2013.  Analysts are still studying the impact this "unity government" will have upon Israel and its relations with the Palestinians including the dialogue concerning a two-state solution, and upon the continued threat of an attack upon the nuclear facilities in Iran.  Stay tuned - this could get very interesting.

Friends, we didn't have time this week to talk about what is happening in Russia with the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as the new President.  Mother Russia wants to play a role in world politics and from Scripture we know this will happen.  We also didn't have time to talk about what is happening in Africa, a continent that has seemed to be in constant turmoil since the days that colonization ended in the 1960's.  And what about Syria - will Assad survive?  And Egypt - what will be the result of its presidential elections later this spring? 

Friends, become a student of your world because you are a study of His Word.  You cannot separate the one from the other.  Remember these words of Jesus: "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28).