Posted by
peripheral on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 5:52:25 AM
From My Perspective - - -
In December 1963, LET’S MAKE A DEAL became a daytime entry in television as a contestant-driven program. A summary states: “One of TV's all time greatest and most successful shows, Let's Make a Deal
was a game of intuition, skill, luck, decision-making and greed...all
mixed into one…” People would carry signs, or dress in all kinds of
costumes hoping to attract the attention of the Host, Monty Hall.
Currently, there is another program that is rated very high – DEAL OR
NO DEAL. These programs demonstrate the inner-struggle as contestants
determine if a “greed principle” might pay off with a prize of
considerable value. Some contestants claim “intuition” and others
express “confidence” or “hope” that their selection is the top prize or
bring about a valuable outcome.
In
December 2008, we have a different “game” revealed that people and
organizations have been playing. It, too, has been “…a game of
intuition, skill, luck, decision-making and greed…” However, we are
reading of the sad result for too many people and organizations as the
“jackpot” became elusive and disappeared. In today’s news (December 16,
2008) is the following item: “A
federal grand jury is investigating how a company that advised
Jefferson County, Alabama, on bond deals that threaten to cause the
biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, did similar work in New
Mexico after making contributions to Governor Bill Richardson’s political action committees… The investigation reflects another front in nationwide efforts by U.S.
prosecutors to investigate so-called pay-to-play in the municipal bond
market. The term refers to banks and advisers who make political
contributions or personal gifts to public officials in return for
fee-paying financing assignments…”
In
a similar news item today, there is a continuing revelation of people
and organizations who have been ultimately defrauded of Billions of
Dollars. The Hedge Fund Scam indicates: “The fallout from Bernard
Madoff’s alleged $50bn fraud spread through the global financial system
on Monday as more banks revealed exposures to
his firm and the beleaguered hedge fund industry braced for withdrawals
from worried clients.” Banks, some of whom have received Billions of
Dollars from the Federal Government Bailout, have also lost more than
$10 Billion Dollars in this investment scheme. We also read: “Outraged
philanthropists worldwide nursed wounds on Monday from the alleged $50
billion fraud by former Nasdaq chairman Bernard Madoff, forcing some
charities to shutter and hitting others with massive losses…As of
Monday, at least three foundations had closed or planned to shut.” It
won’t be surprising if we soon learn that a number of religious
organizations have been caught in this investment web and considerable
loss.
Consider
these things with me - - - A strong case can be made Biblically for an
investment strategy (See Matthew 25:14 through 30 – The Parable of the
Talents). A key conclusion made by Jesus to the servant who had not
invested his talent was: “you
should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I
returned I would have received it back with interest…” Religious
Organizations and Local Churches
have taken their Bequest Funds, or Excess Cash, or Endowment Funds and
placed them in Stock Portfolios and Management Funds. This entire
concept at first blush is ludicrous. Many of these investments are now
gone! Some have lost 40% to 50% of their original worth. While many
Board Members of Churches and Religious Organizations would argue to
the contrary, the fact is they have gambled and lost. It will be
interesting to see transparency by these same groups as appeals are
made for funds to help them stay on television or to keep their
religious empire intact. For religious organizations – from the small
local church to the most visible national/international ministry – many
people would love to see transparency as admission is made to the poor
judgment in investment and the commitment not to get caught up in Ponzi
Schemes of any sort in the future. Also, the commitment and
representation to practice Luke 6:38 (NLT), “If you give, you will
receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down,
shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever
measure you use in giving – large or small – it will be used to measure
what is given back to you.” When will we learn to do God’s business
God’s Way? When will we trust Him for all we need?