“Hold onto your money now.”

“Sit tight for now.”

“Wait till things settle down, after what’s coming in a few months.”

“Don’t do anything for the rest of the year.”

That seems to be the growing, widespread financial advice this fall of 2015.

In 2008 most people were caught blindsided and suffered severe loss of their stash.

In fact, it was so significant that I even heard some Christians saying maybe we shouldn’t have so much tied up—stored up—here on earth.  (a hint of Biblical admonition from Jesus)

But we got over it, just like we got over praying and going to church and singing “God Bless America” on the Capitol steps soon after 9-11.

New and improved financial advice kicked in, and people were taught smarter investment strategy.

And so it continued until now.

UNCERTAINTY LOOMING—CERTAIN INEVITABILITIES

It makes me think of an article I’ll be writing, how the over-used word “absolutely” in every interview is being replaced with “I don’t know”.

The coming economic “correction”, “downturn”, aka “crash” leaves the experts without answers, and only two choices for giving advice.

One, keep talking the same as always to your clients and your audience, so you can keep your own job as long as you can, like everybody else going to work one more day until the day we can’t.  And when it all blows over, we’ll pick up the pieces again and rebuild like always, because this is America.*

or,

Two, tell your people to “get out of the market”, “put your money under your mattress (literally)”, and wait till next year for updated advice.  (translation, “I don’t know”)

Oh, and if you’re really clever, you try to combine one and two.

DUAL LIVES – – – DOUBLE – MINDED ? ? ?

Such is the challenge for all of us living in today’s complex world.

Open your Bible—read James chapter one, especially about “double-minded” and “unspotted from the world”.

*Is this America?  Not the America that survived the crises of the past and defeated evil threats to liberty.  Not the America that turned to God in times of trouble, because it turned to God before times of trouble.