Lessons in Economics

I recently started studying economics at the University, and some things in that class have made me stop and wonder. First of all, I must stress that the professor is a brilliant man who clearly loves what he does and does it well. He has such a passion and energy for teaching others, and the students really enjoy listening to him. The class has about 200 students, so many minds gather twice a week to hear what he has to say. It's an enjoyable class.

However, I do not agree with everything he has to say. His beliefs are solid, his convictions are true, but I am not so persuaded. For example, he claims that there is never, ever a need for anything -- only a want, a desire to have it. In fact, we are not allowed to use the word "need" in class; if we do, pretty much everyone in the building yells something about the impending punishment the student will receive. Then it gets quiet, and the professor tells everyone sitting next to the student to clear the way (all students begin to duck) and he throws his marker at the student who said that terrible word. Don't say it again. Lesson learned, and class resumes.

In a way, I see his point. Throughout my life, I lived by the phrase, "Know your wants from your needs." However, I thought, "Don't I need the grace of God just as much as I want it? Don't I need the love of God in my life just as much as I want it?"Furthermore, the professor claims that there is a substitute for everything. Everything. No exceptions. According to this theory, you can shun your "need" for love if you have to live in seclusion, you can choose death instead of food, and you can substitute shelter for homelessness (just to name a few examples). "But," I say, "what substitute would you use for the grace of God? What could ever replace His love and mercy?" I suppose some might answer that hell is a substitute for the heaven we would seek under the grace of God. But I say that there is no other substitute that can wash away my scarlet sins but the blood of Jesus.

Just some thoughts.