January 23rd, 2024 Issue
The Economics Of The Kingdom Of God
This link will take you to a full index of all the Heartfelt Exhortations that were written in previous newsletters. Making it easy for you to go back, and find what you are looking for.
The Economics Of The Kingdom Of God
To flourish in any economic system, one must seek to understand its parameters and how it operates. Those that seek to be wealthy in this worlds goods, realize that it is necessary to give ones full focus to one’s goals. Even to the point of making significant sacrifices initially, so that more money can be put towards investments that will truly pay. Many best selling books have been written, where the authors will encourage much sacrifice in the beginning, to hasten the chance of getting to their goals sooner. This reminds me of something Jesus said.
Luke 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
This is from the parable of the unjust steward. Jesus is quite correct, those that want to be wealthy in this world, recognize the sacrifice that is necessary. They are much more willing to sacrifice, than the Children of God’s Kingdom. To be wealthy in Spiritual things, one must also be willing to make great sacrifice. As you will see in todays lesson, Jesus gave His disciples (disciplined followers) very clear direction. He told them how they could make their investments in His Kingdom, and store up treasure that would be there for all eternity.
Luke 12:29-34 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Right out of the gate, Jesus exhorts us not to seek, and be anxious about the things that we truly NEED. “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” He tells us not only to NOT seek the things that the world seeks after, but He makes it clear that we have a loving Heavenly Father that knows about each of us, and promises to meet our needs. In fact the realization of God being your Father, and you His child is paramount.
Luk 18:15-17 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
This is SO IMPORTANT for you to understand. Each of us needs to learn to rest in our Heavenly Father’s Love and provision. A child that understands that their earthly father loves and care for them, doesn’t give any thought to whether or not they will have the food and clothing that they need. If they are at rest in the relationship, those thoughts are not something that even occurs to them. It is only a child that has been neglected, that has not been cared for, that is anxious about these things. If you are anxious and worried in your relationship with your Heavenly Father, you do not know Him yet, as you should. Those that know His Love and attention, through an intimate relationship, will be at rest and focused on doing His will, moment by moment. Not worrying about their needs being supplied.
In fact, the more intimate and secure you are in your relationship with Him, the more readily you will allow His provision to flow through you, to other people. Very readily giving away your extra abundance (riches), knowing that you will always have what you need, when you need it. Because you are secure in Him. (Read this little paragraph until it takes hold in your heart)
One of the things I have learned though, with studying Christ’s teachings, is that almost every promise is contingent on us responding and obeying in some way. Verse 31 is a classic example, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” It sounds to me like we better have some understanding of God’s Kingdom, if it is contingent on us having our needs supplied by our loving Heavenly Father. So what did Jesus teach us about His Kingdom?
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
If you are a born again, disciple of Christ, what is in you? The Spirit of God has taken up residency within you. Just like we focused on for so many lessons, you will soon see that the Kingdom is very much relationship based, in the Spirit of God. I heard a brother say years ago, “the Kingdom of God exists, wherever the will of God is accomplished”. Jesus said himself:
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Jesus Himself is making the direct correlation between the Spirit’s work through Him, and the presence of the Kingdom of God being made manifest in this world.
I think it will help if we consider another passage that is very similar to the one in Luke 12.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What would it mean to seek His righteousness? Well what is righteousness, in the context of it coming from God?
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
“They shall be filled” Sound like a reference to the Holy Spirit again. Righteousness is that which is consistent with God’s character or virtue. The only possible way that you and I could ever live consistent with God’s character, is if the Spirit of God lives in and through us. Once again the Kingdom exists wherever the will of God is accomplished or manifest. But it only comes to those that truly are hungry or thirsty. Do you possess a great hunger to be filled with God’s Spirit? The greater the hunger, the more of His power and Life can abide and flow through you. Are you just a little hungry, or honestly not really hungry at all? It takes a great hunger and humility to truly see ones self, the way God does. God said He would resist the proud, but give His grace to the humble.
One thing I do want to mention before we leave this topic of Christ’s Kingdom, is that it is NOW. Not just something in the future. Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world. In fact Paul made it clear:
Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
How is someone an ambassador for something that doesn’t exist yet, if His Kingdom is only future tense?
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Once you have been delivered from the power of darkness, you don’t just hang in limbo. No you have been translated into the Kingdom of His dear Son! When you receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit, you are partaking of His Kingdom, and that Kingdom now dwells within you, and will guide you to enter into the good works in Christ, God has prepared for you.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
So what does He tell us to do next, in vs 33 of our original text? “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” Another promise that is contingent on our obedience. Something that has always struck me is how Jesus would tell people to go sell what they had, give it to someone in need, then come follow Him. He doesn’t need your money. Period. In fact it is not a mistake that He gave Judas, the one that would betray Him, the money bag (John 13:29). Just another indication of how much Jesus was not controlled or serving money. Today Christian leaders do all they can to try to get people to give them, and their ministries money. That is not the example that Christ set for us.
Remember our study in the last newsletter about the Golden Rule and equality? This is not Jesus telling you to sell absolutely everything you have, and then giving it all away. Only then to make you in need of many things that someone would need to provide for you. That is nonsensical. The context is treasure. He is talking about insecure hoarding. Notice how he mentions the moths corrupting. Let’s look at something similar that James said.
James 5:1-3 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
James is not mincing any words. He is on fire in these verses. But notice the context is treasure again. He also says “Your riches are corrupted” What are riches? That which you possess that is beyond what you need, while someone Christ desires to love through you is lacking. More accurately Christ Himself is lacking. You say “what do you mean?”
Mat 25:41-46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
This is a very powerful realization, that Christ considers how we treat the poor and afflicted, as us treating Him. The poor and destitute mean a lot to Him. He gave His life for them and suffered for them. Certainly He is not asking from us the level of sacrifice that He made, but is it wrong that He ask us to make sacrifices for His sake?
So what did James say? “your garments are motheaten.” “Your gold and silver is cankered” It isn’t wrong to have clothing, obviously, and gold and silver are the money of the time period. What has happened to the clothing and money, is what has James so fired up. Clothing that is moth eaten, is clothing that has been just sitting around not getting used. In other words the person had more clothing than they really needed. The gold and silver being cankered, shows it is sitting around not being used. That is why he says “the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire” The money is just sitting around, slowly oxidizing. What is fire? A form of rapid oxidation. This person is being warned, if you allow the money and other resources the Lord has provided you, to just sit around and not be used, so it begins to oxidize or get moth eaten. Then it will be a witness against you, and you will face oxidation yourself in the lake of fire. It’s time that the church in America was told these things. But this is the taboo topic, that the itchy ear catering preachers of today will not touch.
But many want to say, “these things are not my treasure, because my heart is not in them” . What did He say again? “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Basically He is saying, wherever you have made your investment and have your heap of stuff, is where your heart is. If it isn’t, then prove it by going and selling them or giving them away. If they don’t mean anything to you, and your affections are not on them, or your security is not tied to continuing to possess them, then it should be no big deal. Remember if the tables were turned, and you were the one that was lacking what you needed, what would you hope someone would be willing to do with their treasure or riches for your sake? Jesus makes it really simple on how to invest in His Kingdom, and send it ahead, just open your hands, and let Him pour resources through them to those that truly need. What an exciting privilege to be His hands in that way. It will never happen, if you do not believe and trust Him though.
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
You cannot out give God. If He sees that your intention will be to allow the things He gives you, to flow to other’s needs. He will supply you greatly.
2Co 9:6-8 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
I often refer to the teachings of Christ about money, as Kingdom Economics. As we go through the passages where Jesus and His apostles taught about money, you will soon realize that they totally fly in the face of worldly wisdom and council. In fact you would have to become a fool, to even become wise. What did God have to say about the wisdom of this world?
1Co 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Something that is vain, is something that has absolutely no value in God’s eyes. Prepare yourself, because as we go through the economics of Christ’s Kingdom, if you are dependent and serving the wisdom of this world, then you will find taking the necessary steps to obey Christ’s teachings, could be quite painful. You will quickly see why His message was readily received by those that were poor, the dregs of society. But yet VERY VERY few people that were rich in this world’s possessions would end up following Him. He means to strip you of your security being tied up in earthly things. You cannot serve God and money. Period. You will be a servant. The question is, what you will serve? The Lord will not allow you to serve another, while you are attempting to serve Him.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.