It has been interesting to watch the G20 Summit unfold in London this past week. At one level it could be argued that this summit was all about saving the political careers of those who were present because people back home want to see something done about the worsening recession - and we all know recessions are not usually good news for incumbent governments.

There were many empassioned speeches and the call for leaders to make sure they left the meeting having done something concrete to help the people of the world. In the end everyone was all smiles with the promise of injecting 3 trillion dollars into the worlds stalling economy. This - one would hope will stimulate the worlds economy but the question I want to ask is this: Have we really addressed the root cause of the problem? Have we got to the source of the problem or have we been so keen to see off the recession as fast as possible that we have overlooked the main issue?

There has been talk of tightening regulators in the US financial markets which seems like a very wise move considering the debacle that surrounded the collapse of their housing market. This is all well and good but I would suggest that the real problem lies in the heart of man. It has been the greed of the G20 nations that has led to the collapse of the worlds financial markets. Has anyone talked about ways to lessen human greed and selfishness? I note that both Mr Rudd & British Prime Minister Gordon Brown mentioned morality and values as a necessary part of the capitalist markets but that is as far as it has gone.

We have just lived through a period of unprescedented greed and wealth accumulation in the western nations of the world were everyone seemed to be out for easy money - whether at work or in the stock market. It was all feuled by greed and the lust for more. Does no one recognise that this was morally bankrupt?

I am all for the governements of the world working together for the sake of reducing the possible suffering of many but I will despair if the recession ends so quickly that no one feels much pain and we quickly return to the days of easy money and 'greed is good'. Pain is a great teacher and perhaps it is time to swallow some pain pills - which we have brought on ourselves - so that we might learn the lesson that greed is not good and the obvious truth, that hedonism and materialism don't satisfy, nor do they bring out the best in humanity. 

As Easter appraoches - we will be reminded afresh that life and hope come through sacrifice not through self indulgence. I wonder whether you and I will embrace this God given truth with a new awareness, or will we simply let it pass us by - leaving us unchanged and unfulfilled. 

God is good - Jesus proves that - greed is not - how much more evidence do you want?                                                                                             Michael