Being a Vessel to Bless Others

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:24-25

Today's reflection is from my devotional message of the same title "Being a Vessel to Bless Others" by Os Hillman from Today God is First.

Not too long ago, I receive an email from a friend with the title "The ONLY way to Help the Poor is to Raise their Consciousness, NOT by Giving "Money"". Mismanagement of donation funds by charity organization was the reason he gave. 

Yes, I do not deny that there are a lot of bad cases of mismanagement of donation funds by some charity organization. For example the infamous case of National Kidney Foundation in Singapore back in 2005. You have probably also heard news that a lot of aids for disaster victims not reaching the people that need the aids, especially in the third world and developing countries where corruptions are not controlled. But does that mean we should stop giving? Or is raising the consciousness of the poor the solution? There are issues that is up for discussion. One is the concept of giving to bless others and the other is the concept of raising consciousness to help the poor. 

First I thought it is important to understand the reasons for giving to the poor.

1.  First God uses the transfer of wealth within the Body of Christ to build unity among Christians which was covered in Hillman's message.

2. Secondly and more importantly, giving and helping the needy is also a mean to reach out to the unreached. Showing compassion with the act of giving not only helps the needy to relief their  sufferings in some ways, but most importantly helps in extending God's Kingdom by financing the spread of the gospel via the thousands of missionaries who are sent out to help the needy around the world. It is only through this that the "Good News" can reach the unreached and the awareness of the great hope that Jesus has given us.

3. Finally, giving is a test of our obedience and willingness to surrender the gifts that God so generously blessed so many of us, for His glory. As what Hillman said, God will not be able to accomplish His will through us with the blessings he gave, if all of us are disobedient. 

However, it is important also to ask for God's wisdom and His protection in giving. Just like an investor, before you put your money in a company or organization, it is important to do your due diligence to understand where your money is going to, what they will be used for and how the money is managed. Most importantly pray and ask God to protect these gifts purely for His work.  

Now, let us discuss about the concept of raising consciousness of the poor. The concept of raising consciousness is not new, but I always doubt the true effectiveness of this concept. The key purpose is to get the affected people to discuss and understand their feelings and the original source of their problem(s). Hopefully, from these discussion, they are able to lead them to a set of solutions or actions. However, not all problems can be solved by just merely talking about their feelings and the source of the problem. Probably in a longer term for some issues. But the immediate needs of relieving sufferings and allowing these people to live with dignity are not satisfied, while the larger political, environmental and economical issues are being resolved (if they ever will). Will raising the consciousness of a poor child suffering from brain cancer relief their pain physically and their financial stress? Do you think by understanding the root cause of a natural disaster (which is almost impossible) that destroyed all their home and took away their love ones, is able to help relief their hunger, physical and emotional pain? 

It is impossible to understand everything that God allowed to happen in our lives, but it is more important to understand and let those unreached know that there is hope in the midst of all these sufferings on earth. So, for those of us who are already been blessed with plenty, our purpose is to be a vessel to bless others especially those who are in need for help. 

Doing Small Things for a Bigger Purpose

"Who despises the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10

 My devotional readin today is from Today God is First by Os Hillman, titled Small Things.

By end of this month, it will be exactly 4 years from the day (31 July 2011) I left the corporate world. The decision to stay home to take care of the family was not any easy one and those days out of the marketplace was not easy too. I was so used to getting so much done in the marketplace being a manager. Although there is a fare share of problems and challenges, running huge projects with a big team of engineers motivates me daily. Suddenly, I found myself managing the "small" daily family chores, preparing kids to school, getting the meals ready when the my wife and kids comes back the evening, spending most my time alone reading and trading for a living. The morale and self-esteem level dropped to below sea-level.

Four years working at home seems like forty years in the desert. However, reflecting back on my walk in the valleys and over the peaks in the pass four years, I saw a slightly bigger picture of what God had planned for me. Although I will not be able to see the whole picture, those experiences doing small things forms the bigger picture of what I have achieved so far.  Although they are still not perfect and the uncompleted part of the picture is still a mystery, it gave me the motivation to continue walking and doing the small things God asked me to do.

In the message by Os Hillman, he said:

 "Jesus grew up as a carpenter's son and learned the trade from His daily routine. For 30 years He worked. When it was time to beging to fulfill His purpose for mankind, He countless stories of people and their work...He related to the everyday man because He Himself was one. This is why it was important for Him to have some personal work experience.

Life is filled with daily routines.  Every now and then, God takes us to the mountaintop to experience His presence in a dramatic way. This is not a norm....Moses spent 40 years in preparation before he led the Israelites out of Egypt.  Paul spend a great deal of his life working toward the wrong purpose until a dramatic event changed his life."

God uses work to develop character qualities that He plans to use at the appropriate time. We may not know when and how, but putting us where we are now is part of that great plan. Continuing doing the small things in our daily routine develops our faith and trustworthiness with God.  Hillman ended his message: "The day-in and day-out grind of working life molds us and makes us into what God desires. God may be preparing you for something far greater.  For now, however, you are learning the daily lessons of small things".

Jesus said "Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade" Mark 4:30-32.

So, for those who felt the same way I did, don't be discourage for doing the small things daily leads us to His greater and bigger purpose.

11. Finding God's Purpose in the Financial Trading Marketplace 3 - Kingdom Building & Conclusion

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ...Matthew 5:13-16  

We have discussed in my previous post Finding God's Purpose in the Financial Trading Marketplace - Kingdom Transformation, that God's main purpose in the financial trading marketplace is the extension of His Kingdom in the financial marketplace. God not only wanted to extend His Kingdom in the marketplace, but to all nation, reaching out to the corners of the earth to build His Kingdom. In order to do that, God's resources generated from the financial trading marketplace can be channeled into the other part for His great Kingdom Building plan. In the "Parable of the Bags of Gold" (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus shared about the three men who were each given a bag of gold (with different amount of gold in each case).  The bags of gold symbolize gift or talents God gave us so generously. Although the parable is telling us to invest the talents or gifts given to us for His kingdom, it is also saying whatever belongs to God, will be returned to our Master in Heaven. God has the plan to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans for you...to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."), however we need to be aware that God's plan is to serve His purpose, not ours on earth. and the profits from our investments should be returned to Him for His purpose.

 

So, are we doing enough with the gifts and talents God have given us in the marketplace? 

 

Different people is given different gift and there is one that most of us is able to do by God's grace, that is giving. For those who are blessed abundantly from the financial marketplace, you are given the gift to gain from the financial marketplace and the gift of giving to the needy. As stated by Paul in Romans 12:6 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us,....if it is giving, then give generously,...". But rest assured, God will not give anyone of us the gift of giving if He does not give us the gift of making money. But the question is what are we doing with God's resources? Is His resources being used effectively for His purpose or for our earthly pleasure? 

 

Exodus 4:17 says "But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it". God have given each one of us a staff in our hand. In our context, it is the talent to gain from financial trading or investment. Moses miraculously turned the Nile into a river of blood, and parted the Red Sea with his staff by simply obeying God. It is only through yielding to God's command that He is able to do great things with the staff given to us. Have you given the staff for God's purpose in Kingdom Building? 

 

Matthew 5:13-16 says "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  If God's purpose of creation (see previous post on Finding God's Purpose in Financial Trading Marketplace - Kingdom Transformation), is to bring everything He created under His Son, Jesus Christ, then we were tasked to be "Salt and Light" of Jesus. Do not hide your talent under the bowl where no want is able to see the light of Christ. See that the saltiness in you is able to bring flavor to those who need it. Otherwise, you are wasting your talent given by the grace of our Heavenly Father. Proverbs 3:9 says "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops". Honor God and give your wealth to the needy, for Kingdom building and be the salt and light of Jesus Christ. 

 

Matthew 5:13-16 apparently is also the objective of GiFT Ministry, which I hope those brothers and sisters in the trading marketplace who are also driven by the Spirit to serve the same purpose would join God at work in the financial trading marketplace. God is calling, are you willing to join Him!

 

Conclusion

God has commanded us to invest the resources and talents given to us and expected the resources plus the profits to be returned to Him for His purpose. The financial trading market allows us to do that in a fair environment without being controlled by individuals who are driven by greed. God does this for all those who loves Him. However, God did this, not only for us, but for His purpose, to bring His Kingdom onto earth. We are all commissioned to share the gospel to the corners of the earth, especially the marketplace where most of us spend majority of our time in. We are commissioned to make disciples and teach them to obey His Words so that the demons can be driven out of the marketplace. Finally, we are told to be "Salt & Light" of Christ by honoring God with the fruits we gained from financial trading and investment. Being the light of Christ by doing good deeds and allow all to see the glory of our Father in Heaven. These, I believed are God's purpose in the financial trading marketplace. 

10. Finding God's Purpose in the Financial Trading Marketplace 2 - Kingdom Transformation

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And sure I am with you always, to the very end of the age."...Matthew 28:19-20 

Is protecting those He loves the main purpose? 

 

I would like to look at it in God's perspective and thought the question can be answered from the original purpose of creation, for everything we experience in the pass, in the present and in the future started from creation. The bible did not give a direct answer to this question. Some says it is to glorify God himself, but I found the best answer in this article by Ernie and Mary Kroeger on "God's Purpose for All Creation". The answer is found in Ephesians 1:9-10 where apostle Paul gave us a rare insight into God's wonderful plan - "....with all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect the times reach their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.". Ernie and Mary Kroeger explained that God's will and plan for creation has been a mystery to us because we did not know the future. A mystery has a hidden answer, but it remains a mystery until the answer is revealed to us. Here we have the answer: "...to bring unity to ALL THINGS...under Christ".   It is reaffirmed in Philippians 2:9-11.. "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that all the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

 

 

How then can this purpose be fulfilled other then the great commission to extend His Kingdom to all nations commanded by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And sure I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 

Surely God has a purpose for investors or traders in the financial marketplace just like God has a purpose for every entrepreneur. The point is whether Christian financial investors/traders in the trading marketplace, like Christian entrepreneurs, are able to identify that purpose using their influence in the marketplace to change the world and most importantly to fulfill the great commission, to extend His Kingdom to all nations on earth. 

 

For those who are in the financial trading marketplace, are we doing enough to answer the most important call from our Lord, Jesus? 

 

In the book "Anointed for Business" Ed Silvoso said "To be anointed for business is to be set aside by God for service in the marketplace. Once anointed, we are to use our ob as a ministry vehicle to transform the marketplace so that the gospel will be preached to, and heard by, every creature in our sphere of influence.".  Christians who are placed in the financial trading marketplace, God placed us in where we are now is not just to make a living, we are called to use our influence as gifted traders or investors, brokers, financial analyst, wealth mangers to reach out to the unreached. Transforming the current spiritual desert of the financial marketplace into God's kingdom. Many of us, including myself, find it difficult and uncomfortable to live a secured life in a secular world. Those with influencing power and talent due to their God given gift in the financial world has the greatest opportunity to do so. But many find it most difficult with the fear of loosing his or her reputation or with the possibility of loosing their customers. Some financial marketplace Christians might even avoid being involved in any kind of marketplace outreach given the opportunity to do so. Here you are, the answer to your question of God's purpose in the financial trading place, now are you willing to join in God's work to fulfill the purpose given the fact that you are already in the middle of His office?

If your answer is still no, then what are the reasons of your reluctance? This leads to the question we have to answer ourselves, is it God's Kingdom that we are extending or our kingdom of wealth that we are expanding through the God-given talent of trading or entrepreneurship? 

 

Jesus in Matthew 6:20 said "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal". And for treasures, Jesus said in Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasures hidden in a field....". Are we constantly seeking to build up the kingdom of heaven in the marketplace or building our earthly treasures from the marketplace? Are we constantly looking out for how God is working in the marketplace and how we can join Him in His work, even better if we consciously make our trades a tool to serve God's purpose? Or are we only interested in drawing out whatever we can to satisfy our greed and personal materialistic gain or wealth status from the financial trading marketplace where God created for His purpose?   Maybe Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" will help us to understand your position and where you stand in identifying God's purpose in the financial trading marketplace.

 

Jesus said to the rich man who asked Him what he can do to get eternal life in Matthew 19:23-24 "Truely I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." I believe this applies to some of us who has a certain status in the marketplace and unwilling to let go the "rich" reputation of the position they are holding. 

 

This is exactly how the demons wanted us to feel and act. He wanted Christians to compartmentalize our time between the secular and secured world, reserving only Sundays for God. This attitude gave the demon a huge chunk of opportunity and time to contaminate the financial world with sin.  The result is the demons winning in the financial world. The most obvious outcome was shown in the 2008 sub-prime financial crises which wiped out billions of dollars from the market, making thousands of innocent people loosing their savings, their jobs and their homes. Are you prepared to give up your reputation for the kingdom of heaven? If you are those who restrict your service within church premise and have the Sunday Christian mindset, think again for Paul and all the other disciples of Jesus Christ did not spend their lives giving sermons in church but risk their lives in the marketplace to extend His kingdom. So, are you willing to join force with like-minded marketplace Christians to do His work in the financial marketplace? The key point is that we all are strategically placed by our Creator in the financial marketplace, and we are called to minister in those places for His purpose...the great commission of making disciples! 

9. Finding God's Purpose in the Financial Trading Marketplace 1 - Protect Those He Loves

"And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"...Romans 8:28

 

We have now come to the core of our whole discussion on God in Financial Trading Marketplace, which is the God's purpose in the financial trading marketplace. I am sure everyone of us have a reason why we have taken up financial trading or financial investor as a career or why we took up hours in a week analyzing technical charts, keeping updated with economic trends and news or investigating companies fundamentals. Some of us,like myself ,may be doing this to earn a living,  some may be doing it to earn a passive income while having a full time job, some may be doing it because you are doing what you like to do, some may be doing it thinking you can have a good life and have a early retirement. Whatever the reasons, have you ever thought of God's purpose in the financial trading marketplace? 

 

Like most of us, the life of a financial trader consists of many ups and downs just like the stock market. It was one of those series of consecutive downs that strike me thinking God's will for me in financial trading. I asked myself if earning money the main reason? Is there a divine purpose other then earning a living? It was when I was studying "Experiencing God" by Henry & Richard Blackaby that I noticed that asking for God's will for me was not the right question. The proper question should be, "What is God's will?". Using God's gift of logical thinking, I started off searching for an answer if financial trading is something God approved in the first place. The answer was explained in my first few post on "Role of a Trader", "Is Trading Sin?" and went to some extend trying to answer the question "Is Trading Gambling?". The research clarify my thoughts and opinion on financial trading. There is perfectly nothing wrong or sinful in financial trading. Just like money which is not a sin by itself, it is the love of money that is evil as stated in 1 Timothy 6:10. In fact God has instructed us to invest in Luke 19:13-27..."Actively invest or trade until I come". 

 

God has approved financial trading and investment, but He also knew that the financial marketplace must function fairly so that those who obeyed God to invest their money in the financial market like stock market are protected from the monopoly control of price. The same reason why God gave Moses the 10 Commandments to the Israelites that is to protect His people knowing the Israelites would fall short in their walk with God. However Romans 8:28 says..."And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". Thus, I can concluded that one of the God's purpose in financial trading is protect the retail investors like most of us so that there is a fare market where investors are able to purchase stocks or currencies at fair price not manipulated by a single or a handful of big dealers in the market. Knowing the sinful nature of man, He placed people in the financial marketplace to create a financial system that is fair and manage it so that it is stable for the global economy to function effectively. The most fundamental purpose of financial trading is to protect those He loves and the reason is because He loves us. 

 

The next obvious question that most of us would ask is .."Then why are there so many financial crises caused by men's greed in the financial marketplace?" The most recent in 2008 which wiped out billions of dollars from the financial market, causing many to loose their life savings and retirement funds. The first answer to the question of God's purpose in financial trading will not be complete if do not attempt to answer this doubt.

 

It all started with God's gift of freedom of choice to man.  He did not create robots. He created human beings not only with emotions and feelings, but God also gives human the power of logical thinking and the freedom of choice. Every suffering that we experience in our life, all started from the Fall of man.  Man were given the choice to obey or disobey. Obedience leads to life and disobedience leads to death. Those men and women that God placed in the financial marketplace chose to disobey because of the sin of greed and the love of money.  They have turned something that God designed to be good into something evil for their selfish desire.  It is very easy to blame God whenever something bad happens in our life. But it is in such time that God is able to separate the goats from the sheep. It is in crises that our faith is tested and polished. It is through bad times that we are made small and Christ made big. These are God's purpose in the financial trading marketplace. The only way to overcome this endless war with sin is through the great commission of Jesus Christ. 

 

8. Where is God When Our Trading Fails?

...I Cried Out to the Lord...

"Staring at the monitor, looking at the charts and the value of your portfolio sinking every second...This can't get any worst. I called out to God...Why?"

 

 

For traders who are Christians and makes their living by trading, does this looks familiar to you? I am very sure at one point of your trading life, you might have wondered if God was ever there whenever you trade. Especially, for those who walked with God closely, serve the Lord as much as they could, tithing and giving offerings with his earnings from the profits of his winning trades. Like most entrepreneur, one of the most trying moments are when everything seems to be pointing south and the strain of looking at the value of your portfolio shrank by half in a matter of seconds and the concerns of providing for your family in the coming days. This toll can cause us into grief and self-doubt.  Many times, testing our faith to the limit. 

 

Although my initial experience in financial trading started off with occasional success, but there are probably more failures then success. There comes to a point when I asked myself, should I give it all up. 

 

Psalms 18:6 says "In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.". 

 

- I called out to God. But nothing change, in fact it got worst. 

 

Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". 

 

- But my funds were reduced by more then half of my initial capital. Where is God? Is He for real? 

 

It may sound familiar to some of you. These are the questions and doubts that circles around in our mind during the time of panic and fear. If we fail, not only will we have real worldly consequences, we sometimes feel that we are not able to glorify God in our trading business as the world do not see God in our work.  However, there is this fundamental error in seeing the logic that God sees success the same way we do. Does being an obedient and committed Christian guarantee success in our trading or in everything we do in our life? I do not see any evidence in it but see otherwise instead. We probably experienced more failure then success in life. That does not make God any lesser in our strive to be a successful trader. God need to test our faith occasionally in our walk with Him. What better way to test us then using failures in our life. 

 

As Henry Ford said "Failure is the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently". The reason why God allows failure in our lives is not to break us down, but to provide us opportunities to be broken down and then built us up again into what God intended us to be. Moses did not succeed at the first try in asking Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. He failed nine times before finally Pharaoh agreed to set the Israelites free. 

 

Isaiah 55:8-9 : “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

 

As Christians, we are very often guilty of judging ourselves and others by results rather then by actions. Or at least, most of us are more concern with the results instead of the effort we put in to glorify God. But our definition of failure is probably different from God's. God is more concern about the relationship with Him, our character development, our trust and obedience to Him then the outcome of our effort or the work that He called us to do. The question we should be asking is "Are we wiser after the failure?" For being wise, It has to be in God's perspective. Are we a step closer to what God want us to be? 

 

I know it is hard to embrace failure for I will be lying if I say I can rejoice in every failing trade. But it is through these failures that I became a better trader and through these tests, my faith became stronger. 

 

It is through those failures in my financial trading that I understand God's plan for me. The plan to develop my patience and wait for His timing to enter and exit the market, the plan to teach me the sin of greed through effective money management, the plan to show me His wisdom in understanding through education of the tools I required to learn in order to equip myself in the financial trading battle ground, and most importantly, the plan to build up my faith and trust in Him in every trade I made believing His plans are to prosper me, not to harm me even if the trade is not profitable. His plan is to make me rich, yes, rich in character. His plans to give me hope and a future, a future far beyond my time on earth so that I am ready and developed into someone according to His will. 

Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". 

7. Finding God in the Financial Trading Marketplace

Is God working in the financial trading marketplace?

If you have read my first few blogs, I wrote about why trading is not a sinful activity. It seemed like I was just trying to defend my position as a trader.  Don't get me wrong, I was not trying to promote financial trading in any way.  In fact, financial trading is a very a risky business. It is definitely not the most glorified business as far as value added to the society is concern.  The society tends to see financial trading a "a sinful, non-value added" way of earning a living.  Even the idea of giving money profited from trading, to the needy can sometimes seen as "Robin Hood style giving".  The society often see financial trader's method of gaining profit by taking advantage of the financial system and exploiting the weakness of the general public due to the lack of knowledge of the system, "immoral and evil".  When traders give to the needy, they are viewed as "Robin Hood" giving to the poor, especially for those who intentionally trade to give to the poor.

So, let us come back to the basic question..."Is God working in the financial trading marketplace?"

 

There is always a reason and purpose why God placed us in a specific job in a particular time of our life.  Some may be doing something that they like, some may be doing it for money and survival, but ultimately, it is for His purpose as stated in Proverbs 19:21..."Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Surely, God would not be placing a person in a particular job if there is no purpose. In fact, I believe that God has a plan for everyone and everything He created in the universe and the only reason for Him to create all these is to glorify Himself for He is the creator of all things. God has called man and given them the wisdom to create a financial system so as to benefit the world He created. Jeremiah 29:11..."For I know the plans for you," declares the Lord, plans o prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". If God has a hand in the creation of the financial system, then, does not it make sense that God is also working in the financial trading marketplace? 

 

The next logical question most people will ask, "If God is good and He created the financial system for the good of man, then why is there so much sins and evil in the financial world? Why is the money of so many innocent people, especially Christians who committed their lives to Him, lost their investments in the financial system?".

 

A lot of us, especially those who experience the pain and agony of loosing all their life saving overnight in the global financial crises in 2008, found ourselves asking these questions, many doubting the existence of God. Much faith were tested and lost. Firstly, if the purpose of creating the financial system is good and God's purpose of this creation is to glorify Himself, logically, the last thing God would do is to create something that will defeat that purpose.  Secondly. the answer can be found in John 3:19 (NIV)..."This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." or  MSG version says..."God's light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God."  Men and women who were called to serve to create and manage the financial system which is for the good of the people, decided to do it not for God's purpose but for their own gain. 

 

Then why did God allows this to happen?

 

I found a good answer from an article "Why Does God Allow Evil?" written by Rick Warren in his website Daily Hope with Rick Warren on May 21, 2014.  Rick Warren said, the answer lies in what is both our greatest blessing and our worst curse: our capacity to make choices. God has given us the freedom to decide how we will act and the ability to make moral choices. Every one of us is capable of making selfish, self centered or even evil choices...which ends up as sins. Unfortunately, sin always hurt others, not just ourselves.  God could have eliminated all evil from our world by simply removing our ability to choose. But God doesn't want us to be puppet. He wants to be loved and obeyed by creatures who freely, voluntarily choose to love him and each other. Love will not be genuine if people are not given the freedom to choose. So don't blame God for all the bad things that happened to us that are created by men and women by their own choice.

 

Whether is it in church or at home or in the marketplace, God is always working for His purpose. Romans 8:28..."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.". The truth is God is working amongst us in the financial trading marketplace, but He is asking whether you are willing to join Him in His work for His purpose and for the good of those who love him, who undoubtedly includes you.

 

Romans 8:28..."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."