President Obama went “biblical” in his economic speech at Georgetown this week. You caught the reference right? I know…I know….I understand you may be a little too busy in your lives to read the text of his speeches so since that is what I do for a living let me share a portion of it with you. Read below and then let’s discuss:
There is a parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount that tells the story of two men. The first built his house on a pile of sand, and it was destroyed as soon as the storm hit. But the second is known as the wise man, for when “…the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house…it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
We cannot rebuild this economy on the same pile of sand. We must build our house upon a rock. We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity – a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest; where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad.
It is that house upon the rock. Proud, sturdy, and unwavering in the face of the greatest storm. We will not finish it in one year or even many, but if we use this moment to lay that new foundation; if we come together and begin the hard work of rebuilding; if we persist and persevere against the disappointments and setbacks that will surely lie ahead, then I have no doubt that this house will stand and the dream of our founders will live on in our time. Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
I get it. The “house upon the rock” parable relates to the foundation of our economy. OK. Nicely done. Speechwriting gets an “A.”
Of course the real “rock” that the Bible is talking about is not the economy of course but Jesus. If you don’t have Jesus as your rock then forget it. You have a house built on sand so when the storms come you’ll be in trouble. Don't think for a moment people around this country aren't praying for an economic turnaround. They are. They know God is in control.
I guess President Obama couldn’t have ended his speech with the sinner’s prayer. That probably would have been too much not to mention that whole separation of Church and State thing. (Insert laughter here)
Oy-vey.
Comments?