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U.S. NEWS

Trade Tensions

America’s relationship with its top three trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and China—is a little strained.

President Trump has been saying these business buddies are making America’s immigration and drug issues worse. He says the super potent, deadly drug fentanyl is mostly made in China, then it comes into the U.S. through illegal border activities. And he accuses Canada and Mexico of being too lax on border enforcement.

To try to get them to change course, Trump issued tariffs. A tariff is a tax that one country puts on products that are imported from another country. It makes imported items more expensive (which tariff critics don’t like), but that can encourage people to buy products made in their own country instead (which supporters love).

This week, the White House imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. And it raised tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 20%. The countries retaliated immediately, imposing their own tariffs on American goods.

The stock market took the news hard because investors expect prices to rise. For example, Target’s CEO warned shoppers to brace for higher prices like… now.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Whether your wallet’s having a tough day or you just got some really good news, believers’ hope rests in Christ—not here-and-now outcomes. As citizens of heaven, trust the Lord to secure your future.

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 
Philippians 3:20 (CSB) (read full passage)

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
Trade wars happen when countries slap taxes on each other’s products, and tensions can get really high when they do it to punish the other country. Believers must remember that we operate differently than the governments of the world. 

Jesus tells us that in our relationships, we’re not to retaliate at all: “Don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also… Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:39–42 CSB).

That’s really tough because it goes against our sense of fairness and justice. But giving people what they deserve (or, in the case of followers of Jesus, giving us good things we don’t deserve) is God’s job. We exercise and grow our faith muscles when we leave retaliation to God and repay bad deeds with good ones.

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Kids aren’t prone to worry about money… but they see us stressin’.

Don’t waste any time worrying about the ups and downs of the economy. Instead, make prayer and generosity your habits. These spiritual disciplines not only model godliness for our children but they lay up for us treasures in heaven that can’t be taken away by trade wars or stock market swings or inflation. 

Even if every earthly penny is swept away, we can make slow and steady eternal investments that please our generous Father (Matthew 6:19-21; 25:14-30; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

• Discuss: In what kind of conflicts are you most tempted to retaliate? How could you respond instead?

• Memorize Romans 12:21, “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good” (CSB).

• Pray for world leaders to make wise choices to steward resources well; pray for those experiencing financial hardship to trust God to provide for them; and pray for those who are wealthy, that they wouldn’t become hard-hearted and forget God in their prosperity.

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What We’re Reading
Households of Faith*

Anyone else wish Christian family life came with an instruction manual? 

In her new book, Households of Faith, theologian Emily McGowin explores what families are for and what that means for families in the thick of it. She untangles our (sometimes idolatrous) blueprints for the picture-perfect family and recasts a vision for what family can be in light of God’s kingdom. 

“Approachable and profound,” the book recovers biblical portraits of households of faith, acknowledges sin’s impact, and invites believers to reimagine family life.

Households of Faith will empower and encourage you to live by the Spirit as a household of faith. Order yours today!

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