Every Great Empire Suffers Collapse - Is it Our Turn?

Let me first say that I am not against helping others. In fact, as a Pastor, it is one of the strongest messages we preach. Never do we choose to leave anyone else hungry, homeless or suffering. We believe in helping any and everybody that has a need.

However, there is such a thing as priorities.

If my neighbors children are starving, and I have food, I will feed them. But if my children are starving as well, I will feed them first, as would any parent. If it came down to housing my children in a warm place or housing others, of course I would house mine first. That is my responsibility as the head of my home. We are instructed in the Bible to take care of our own family. I Timothy 5:8 says, "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." Provide for those of our own house...hmm...

Throughout History every great empire has suffered a financial collapse. Some never recovered, others spent years rebuilding. Is America so arrogant that we believe it can't/won't happen to us? Are we so blind to History that we don't see a revolving pattern? Have we forgotten the Great Depression?

It has been reported that President Bush has released $200 million in emergency food funds for Africa and elsewhere. Believe me, I agree wholeheartedly that this world is in great peril and the suffering continues to climb. Africa needs help, Egypt needs help, Brazil needs help etc. Our church supports missionaries in Mexico and Africa and they need help as well. Each need is important, heart breaking and terrible, but we must wise up and understand that we ourselves are on the verge of financial collapse.

I also understand the economist say we are not in recession, and in no way a depression. However, at 37 years of age I remember $.89 cent a gallon gasoline and the fit my Grandfather threw over that price. Bread was $.25 and the list goes on and on. Am I being nostalgic? Hardly...only realistic.

Many never consider the fact that we have only been a Nation 232 years. Is that really so long? Considering that we started from scratch, fought for our independence, went to war amongst ourselves and have won several other wars abroad, 232 years really isn't such a daunting time frame. Can we continue another 232 years by operating on the same principles? NO WAY!

I won't take your time to list all the statistics here, but it is estimated that there are over 800,000 homeless people in America, 48% of which are children!
Gas is a ridiculous price, driving up prices of virtually everything else, jobs are being lost and people are losing their homes to foreclosure at a record pace. How can we hope to continue at this pace?

I admire the various charities and organizations that work so hard to give back. American Idol gives back is wonderful and noteworthy event that actually leaves some of the collected money here in the United States. But I wonder, how many movie stars, business men and women, professional sports players, movie stars and entertainment "icons" easily clear over 5 million a year? If all of them gave 10 percent (God's tithe) what kind of funding would we see? How much help could be given?

Where are our priorities really? Sports tickets are expensive. We will step over a homeless man to get in the gate. We dine at fine restaurants while others stand in soup kitchens. Where are our priorities?

My final question. Should America suffer an economic collapse, which I believe it will, how many of these other countries will line up to help us? You would be naive to think many would.

Am I saying that we stop helping others? Of course not. But I am saying we need to make it so we can live here in this Nation for the long haul, not just the immediate. If we don't take care of us...

Our White House Administration needs to make this country it's top priority. Equal rights, being politically correct, racism, presidential elections and frivolous lawsuits will all be non-issues if we lay starving side by side. Poverty, starvation, disease nor death have respect of persons.