The Rise and Fall of World Commerce

Part 6​—Economic Anxieties—​When Will They End?

AS LONG as greedy commerce maintains its tight grip on the masses, economic anxieties will continue. That is the bad news. The good news is that its grip will soon be broken, putting an end to economic anxieties once and for all. Presently over four million Jehovah’s Witnesses are making this good news known to others throughout the world.​—See box on page 14.

Break Free for Something Better!

It is evident that Satan is using greedy commerce as an instrument in pursuit of his own ends. By creating economic anxieties, he is getting an ever tighter grip on mankind. Worry about satisfying material cravings crowds out the meeting of essential spiritual needs. The throw-​away mentality fostered by commerce negatively affects the environment. Its have-​it-​all-​and-​have-​it-​now attitude destroys contentment and happiness. In fact, legitimate economic interests, when not tempered by divine principles, ultimately degenerate into self-​interest and, in turn, into greed.

Greed and excessive self-​interest, however, are forms of idolatry, which is displeasing to God. (Colossians 3:5) People who allow their personalities to be negatively shaped by commerce are, like promoters of false religion and advocates of human rule, treading on dangerous ground. They run the risk of becoming objects of divine disapproval. Jesus warned: “Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life [including economic anxieties], and suddenly that day [of Jehovah’s judgment] be instantly upon you.”​—Luke 21:34.

[Box on page 14]

No Economic Anxieties Under God’s Kingdom

No soaring prices due to food shortages: “The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us.” “There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.”​—Psalm 67:6; 72:16.

No unpaid doctor bills: “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” “The eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness.”​—Isaiah 33:24; 35:5, 6.

No exorbitant rents or mortgage payments: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.”​—Isaiah 65:21, 22.

No division into rich and poor classes: “He will certainly render judgment among many peoples, and set matters straight respecting mighty nations far away. . . . And they will actually sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and there will be no one making them tremble.”​—Micah 4:3, 4.

No more unfulfilled needs of any kind: “As for those seeking Jehovah, they will not lack anything good.” “You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.”​—Psalm 34:10; 145:16.