God’s Economy

By: Barry G. Allen- President & CEO

         

With so much in the news every minute of the day about the global economy and the anxieties felt around the world as a result of the negative economic headwinds, I’ve been thinking about God’s economy. In fact, my current daily devotional plan includes prayerfully pondering God’s truth found in selective Old and New Testament passages which speak to the matter of God’s economy.

I believe the principles of God’s economy involve blessing, burden and balance. By burden I mean the sense of duty and responsibility not the sense of a heavy load to bear.

The book of Numbers recorded God’s distribution plan for the Promised Land when he told Moses to divide it according to the size and needs of the various tribes. This was in contrast to other kingdoms of that day near Canaan in which the distribution pattern was the concentration of land among the royal and aristocratic elites which resulted in the majority living in poverty. In the book of Acts there is the example of how the equitable distribution of resources became a defining characteristic of the early church.

Since we have been blessed by God, we are to be a blessing to others, which in turn brings additional blessings back to us. The apostle Paul described it this way in 2 Corinthians 9:11: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” In God’s economy He equips – that is – He burdens some with more so they can bless others who have less.

Furthermore, in God’s economy giving does not in any way encourage or incentive luxury or laziness. On the contrary, there should be wisdom and a sense of balance in giving and receiving resources. Regardless of one’s financial station in life he or she has the proportionate burden – that is – the duty and responsibility to give and to share. Today we may have abundance; tomorrow we may be in want. Today we may have the privilege of giving; tomorrow we have the equal privilege of receiving.

Lord, help us apply daily in our lives the principles of God’s economy.