Today I believe most American’s would say the number one issue is the economy. Even though terrorism continues at the same pace since 2001, the economy still pervades most of our thinking. What if there was a grander economy than our own? What if there were higher laws of commerce that applied to our everyday to and fro? What if God had an economy that He utilizes?
There is and He does.
It is very clear how He works and how he wants us to exchange with him and with others. Here is how it works: It starts with this – “Freely you have been given, freely give.” First, it is important to know that he is the giver, the provider and the source. Second, he asks us to hold what he has given us loosely in our hands. Third, he wants us to give to others the blessings he has given us.
In essence we are distributors of the blessing process. The God economy is meant to flow through our hands into others hands and vice versa. Jesus explained it to his disciples when he gave them instructions on how God’s economy works.(Matthew 10) He told them to go into a village two by two and say to people that God is near, heal, cure and help. Give to people freely as you have received freely. Now, here is specifically how it works. He told them not to take any clothing, food, money or extra shoes. He simply told them to look for someone to bless. When they gave this blessing to someone and they returned the favor, stay with them and receive whatever they had to give in return. God’s economy is built on us freely giving and freely receiving. God gives to us through the very people we bless. His economy flows through the fingers and wallets of those we bless.
Did you notice what Jesus told his disciples? Don’t bring anything. No food, no money, no extra stuff. Why? Can you imagine Peter bringing a donkey with supplies into a village? Peter gets hungry and decides to pull of on a side street for a bite of fish sandwich that was probably average at best. By being self-sufficient Peter would miss the feast he would have received through his blessing of healing, curing, helping. Instead he would have only gotten what he brought. Anytime we settle for what we bring, we miss out on the best that God gives. You also can eat your own meal alone or you can go out in fellowship and enjoy a feast with God’s people.
God’s economy is built on the premise of trust. All he asks us to do is trust him with our means. He asks us not to settle for what we can make with our own hands, but trust that he will provide our needs through the people we bless. The key was to find someone to receive our blessing. He also states to shake the dust off our feet with those that don’t accept us. Move on from those who do not accept his blessing, he will take care of them.
This is not suggesting we don’t have a job or not to make money. God’s economy works at work. When you give freely of your best you receive God’s payment through the company in which you work. Be a blessing to your work place and to the people around you. God is asking us to trust the way he has set things up. When we trust His system it works. When we take means into our own hands we get what we deserve -- our own means. God’s economy is always reliable and stronger than mine. In God we Trust $.
