If you've been listening to much news lately, I'm sure you've heard as much as I have about how put out so many folks are because they were responsible, and now they're having to foot the tax bill for the bailout of irresponsible homeowners who bought too much house or used their house like an ATM or took crazy loans out, etc. etc. etc.  I don't know that I've adopted that particular attitude, but I know it's a mess, and it's not an easy fix one way or another. 

An interesting thought did come to mind, though, a few days ago, the story of the prodigal son.  I realized that there is an attitude that is prevalent in media and such, an attitude of outrage at the people who were frivolous, who took their homes, their inheritance of sorts, that big investment of one's life, and spent foolishly to the point of poverty, foreclosure, bankruptcy.  When the son returns home, hoping merely to find employment and sheltered in his father's home, he is received with a far better than hoped for reception...from his father.  The big brother, however?  Not so much. He is offended and outraged.  "Dad, don't you see how he was irresponsible?  Don't you see how bad he blew it?  Why are you killing the fatted calf to reward that behavior?  I did all the right things.  I was responsible.  You never killed a fatted calf for me.  Something's not right about it, Dad."

The dad wasn't rewarding the behavior.  He was rejoicing over the return of his lost son.  Perhaps, from a national perspective, it's not the same.  But, the high and mighty tone is the same.  Perhaps some folks were frivolous.  But many were not.  They did what they could to keep their heads above water.  The domino effect took it's toll.  And the unsympathetic voices of the land broadbrush all.  I have no answers.  I just realize that God doesn't always see worldly events the way we do, and that those speaking so critically may have done all the right things, but aren't necessarily right in their attitudes. 

 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8

Thankfully, God is a loving Father, who welcomes with open arms the one who humbly returns to Him upon blowing it.  His economy will never collapse, and His promises will never fail.  That treasure, I can invest in, that treasure I can bank on, and that treasure, though it makes no sense to the lost one, is the one I count on most.  The dividends are worth the sacrifices in this life.