Too Big To Fail?
During
the past year the term Too
Big To Fail has been used to describe auto companies, financial
institutions, insurance companies, brokerage firms, and other entities in our
country. The term was used to justify our government bailing out those too big
to fail. In reality, the very fact they had to be bailed out meant they were not
too big to fail. The very bail out was proof that they had indeed failed.
Therefore, too big to fail, really meant that our government was not going to
allow them to fail.
I
remember studying about the Titanic. It was the biggest ocean liner of its day.
We went to the Titanic Exhibit in
Memphis
. The Titanic was the most luxurious ship of its time. Supposedly, a woman
boarding the boat asked the question if the ship was un-sinkable.
A deck hand replied, ”Yes, lady. God himself could not sink this
boat.” (http://www.snopes.com/history/titanic/unsinkable.asp)
On
April 15, 19
12
the unsinkable ship hit a piece of ice in the
Atlantic Ocean
. Roughly two hours 40 minutes later she was at the bottom of the Ocean. The
Titanic was not Too
Big to Fail!
Reading
through the Bible we find a lot of people, nations, and institutions were not
too big to fail.
Adam
and Eve were created by God, Genesis 1.26-27. They were made in His very image
and placed in the Garden of Eden. They were to tend to the Garden and not eat of
the tree of knowledge. One might think that since they were the only two people
on the face of the earth and their relationship with God would mean that they
could not fail. But we know better. Given the freedom of choice, they chose to
fail. By eating of the forbidden fruit, they sinned and were separated from God,
Genesis 3. Subsequently Adam was told he would have to work harder for his food
and he would return back to the dust of the ground, Genesis 3.17-19. Eve was
told she would be in subjection to her husband and experience pain in giving
birth to children, Genesis 3.16. They were then cast out of the Garden and from
the tree of life, Genesis 3.23-24. Adam and Eve were not too big to fail.
Israel
was God’s special people
as He promised Abraham a nation that would come from his seed. Reading through
Genesis we see God through His providence protecting Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
Joseph. Four hundred years after promising Abraham the
land
of
Canaan
we read of
Israel
coming out of
Egypt
, Exodus 13ff. At
Mount Sinai
, the Law of Moses was given and ratified by the blood of bulls and goats,
Exodus 24.4-8. A special priesthood was established from Aaron and his sons. One
might think that surely this nation would be too big to fail. Yet, as one reads
through the Old Testament we read of one failure after another. They failed to
take the
land
of
Canaan
the first time God told them to do so, Numbers 13-14. Before his death, Moses
warned the generation that would take the
land
of
Canaan
of what would happen if they were not faithful to God’s Law, Deuteronomy
28ff. We know they did fail to reject idolatry, eventually the priest taught
falsely, and their worship displeased God. The Northern Ten tribes were
conquered by
Assyria
and they were taken from the land. The Southern Two tribes were defeated by
Babylon
as
Jerusalem
was destroyed.
Israel
learned an important lesson; They
were not too big or important to fail.
We
need to learn that we also are not too big to fail. One problem of this mindset
is pride. The Bible condemns pride
every time the word is used. Consider the following passages from Proverbs. Prov
8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate. Prov 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But
with the humble is wisdom. Prov
13:10
By pride comes nothing but strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom. Prov
14:3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod
of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them. Prov
16:18
Pride goes before destruction, And
a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov 29:23 A
man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
While the word pride is not used it is implied in 1 Corinthians 10.12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fail.
No one is so important or so big that they can not fail.
No
nation is too big or important to fail. Frankly, I am afraid many Americans
think this nation can not be conquered or be destroyed. Throughout the Bible we
read of nations being destroyed. The Philistines were eventually wiped off the
face of the earth.
Egypt
was conquered by Assyria, Assyria was defeated by
Babylon
,
Babylon
was replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire, which was followed by the Greek
Empire, and of course they were supplanted by the
Roman Empire
. Every empire of man has been replaced by another. Most of the time we can see
the reason for their demise being immoral conduct and rejection of God’s word
leading to their internal problems. The Bible warns us of this lesson. Prov
14:34
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”
On
the other hand, we can take consolation that no person is too little to succeed.
Each person can do the will of God. On the Day of Pentecost, the Jews were told
that they had killed the Son of God, but they could still go to heaven. Acts
2:21
“And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall
be saved.” It does not matter if one is man or woman, free or slave, American
or Russian, rich or poor, for every one can be baptized in to Christ, Galatians
3.27-29. Jesus died for everyone, John 3.16. Therefore, the only person that can
not be saved is the one that will not obey Him, Hebrews 5.8-9. Let us not be
hindered from the too big to fail mentality and let us humbly serve God. James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But
gives grace to the humble." 7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near
to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify
your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter
be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight
of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” – Dennis Tucker
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