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How bad is it? Several banks have closed. Investment houses on Wall Street that have endured for almost 100 years have either collapsed or are anxiously watching cracks spread through their foundations.

If you go out to get a loan on a new house, you must have at least 20% to put down, and some banks want 30% and you have to prove to the bank that you have secured a year’s worth of loan payments. Closing costs are prohibitive and interest rates are rising. (Interest on a non-conforming loan is 9%.)

One Leesburg realtor reported he has sold two houses in the past 10 months – and he feels good about that. With credit tightening up, he is not expecting to sell any other houses for a while.

Gas prices are high. But we can manage that. What we can’t manage is new car sales. Toyota and Ford sales are down 32% from last year. Dealerships report that many people who came in to buy a new car drove away in their car because they could not get financing.

The Report of Economic Indicators from the Economic and Statistics Administration of the U.S. Census Bureau is not pleasant. In July, construction spending was down 1.4%. New home sales were down 11.5% in August. Sales of durable goods, down 4.5%. Housing starts, down 6.2%. This report is a month before credit tightened up. What will September’s report bring?

Our Season of Stewardship begins today. We are blessed with the opportunity to read Stewardship lessons on the front pages of our newspapers, hear lessons on the radio, and watch lessons on the T.V. For those who miss the point:

Stewardship is partnership with God. When people neglect the fundamental principles of faithful stewardship the blessing turns to curse. One example of the curse: a failing economy. For those who may have forgotten:

1. Stewardship is partnership with the Lord.

2. The Lord blesses us with talent, ability, opportunity, and resources for a purpose: That we would be a blessing to others.

3. We are to use the gifts God gave us to fulfill his purpose.

4. There is no faithful stewardship without a call to commitment.

The nation’s economy today is stumbling under a weight of fear. We are witnessing the consequences of a failure of stewardship across the wealthiest nation in the world. One thing can restore our economy overnight. We hear it in today’s reading from the Book of Exodus. What the Lord said to the people of Israel so long ago, he says to us today:

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

This month we will explore the challenge of being a faithful steward. This year may provide the opportunity to experience the consequences of a failure of faithful stewardship up close and personal. There is blessing in this: It may be what a nation needs in order to “hearken” to the voice of the Lord.