Instant Gratification

“… the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

According to MSNBC, the president’s top economic adviser Larry Summers said fear must be broken before recovery can begin. Summer’s said “transition from an excess of greed to an excess of fear” was what President Roosevelt had in mind when he made that statement – in his first inaugural address, March 4, 1933.

1933? But the stock market crash was October, 1929? Two and a half years? And our reporters and pundits believe we can come out of this economic crash in two months? After more than a year of being told that unless [take your choice of political end-of-life-as-we-know-it statements] happens we must fail?

After reading some of our more recent headlines, I’ve come to an unscientific conclusion: Reporters are so used to controlling stories that they expect ‘instant gratification’ in its resolution and moving on to newer startling stories.

Unfortunately, that’s not working with this economic melt down. National publications – such as this Time article make outrageous suggestions to raise money. Answer all of California’s money problems by legalizing and taxing marijuana. Doesn’t matter that the nation has been working for years to stop tobacco use and tax it out of existence, we need money. Doesn’t matter that the nation has expressed physical health concerns from smoking, we need money. Doesn’t matter that marijuana use induces lethargy, we need money – and the people will be more relaxed, too.

Ah, such logic. What else might we legalize and tax at the same time? Pick your own ‘victimless crime’, add a good-sized tax to it and every government entity will be rolling in dough, right?

Somehow, it hasn’t worked that way in the past. The Bible has multiple examples of “fear not”, beginning in Genesis, with Abram:

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1 KJV)

They end with Christ’s words:

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17 KJV)

Always remember Christ’s promise that no sparrow is forgotten by God: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7 KJV)

Do bad things happen to good people? Certainly! Harold S. Kushner wrote of answers to that question in his 1981 book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”, knowing they happen not just that they might. Yet we are admonished “Fear not.”

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV)

So what should we fear? The Bible has that answer, too:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)