ArticleBlog | Cost-of-living crisis: does God care?
Cost-of-living crisis: does God care?
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 24.06.23
‘ If I can’t afford to pay all of my bills this winter, which should I stop paying first?’ I was asked that question by a friend in church as the cost-of-living crisis started to really bite in the autumn. The answer, in case you’re wondering, is your water bill, as the supply to your home won’t be cut off if you fail to keep up with payments. But it’s not a question I ever expected to be asked by someone in my church family.
Sadly, this is the reality of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Many of us who work in Christian charities and church-based social action are finding ourselves shocked to be nostalgic for the days, not that long ago, when we used to talk about people having to choose between heating and eating. Now, people in poverty or on low incomes in our communities – including in our churches – don’t have that choice, because they cannot afford either.
We have all been affected to some extent by the crisis. If you pay the bills in your home, you will have noticed significant increases. If you have a car, you might have winced as you filled the tank at a petrol station. If you shop for food, perhaps you’ve been shocked at the escalating cost of staple items such as milk, cheese, tomatoes, bread, and so on.
While we are all affected, for some of us it is more of an inconvenience than a crisis. But for many across our towns and cities, it’s a catastrophe.
So, does God care?
How does God feel about this? Does he care?
One of the first names in the Bible used to describe G
