Living In God’s Economy

When everything is shaking, as it is all around us, it is a good time to get into discussion about the things that matter. As financial markets worldwide have gone askew we get to take a good hard look at how God has called us to live in His Kingdom economy even during these volatile financial times.

From the earliest days God was saying something to us about our giving, and how different it would be. First through books, like the one by Al Houghton, “Purifying The Altar,” then by deliberate acts of moving away from the funding of facilities and programs, not charging at conferences and/or events, releasing, resourcing and empowering leaders based upon their callings, not their social status or their educational system, and giving generously to the poor, the needy and the oppressed of the nations.

As we have been assigned to address the subject of “doing church differently,” that includes “giving differently.” It means confronting those so-called “financial laws,” that exist in the church today that are actually a part of the old religious system tying people to false realities and expectations in the areas of giving.

Confronting Old Financial Laws

* Compulsory (Malachi 3 - Storehouse) Tithing Laws- tithe to this or that ministry and receive grace for enough, withhold those tithes and be cursed.
* Mandatory Prophetic Offering Laws – pledge and give this prophetic amount or this monthly percentage that usually correlates to some prophetic number over a period of a year above and beyond the tithe and break the financial curse, and if need be even charge it to your credit card.
* Selective and/or Directive Sowing Laws – direct your seed to this ministry, instead of that ministry, if you really want to get a good return on your investment.

Financial Reformation in the 21st Century

About 500 years ago in 517, the church encountered a radical confrontation that would become known as The Great Reformation. We heard much about the call to the return to the authority of Scripture and the return to “simple salvation by grace through faith.” But that is not all that was addressed.

What we don’t hear as much was about the call for reformation in giving. In the movie "Luther", Martin Luther is contending over the practice of "paying indulgences" to the Roman Catholic church in order to "free a soul from sin and purgatory.” Martin asks the religious authorities this question; "If God will forgive sin for money, why won't He do it for love?"

If salvation by grace alone was restored to the church, what about God's grace for physical provision? Aren't these provided by grace as well? The way many Christians still give today, it seems as though we continue to "pay indulgences" to religious institutions in order to receive God’s grace for finances.

Grasping Kingdom Finances

We need to be asking the same question Luther asked. "If God will supply our needs for money, why won't He do it for love?" Of course, the answer is, we know He does. Jesus set this straight with His words about the Father’s care for us.

“Therefore take no thought,” saying, “What shall we eat?” or, “What shall we drink?” or, “Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

Not a bit of religious performance or duty here. Real faith and trust, just like receiving salvation, just like receiving healing. We are invited to believe in the Father’s love and receive provision from Him. In these stressed times, we have good financial news. Jesus purchased it all at the cross.

Jesus satisfied all (including financial) religious obligations. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:4

Jesus took all (including financial) curses. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13

It begins and ends in His love. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:10

1) Realms of Supply - The Natural Order of Investing - Sowing and Reaping

All that God has created in the natural world operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. It is the process of life, and increase. God is at work in the world supplying seed to the sower, the sun and rain for growth. Because of the fall sowing and reaping includes the process of sin and of death. We can sow to the flesh or the Spirit in our human activity. The Spirit brings life, and the flesh brings death.

Man sows into the natural order in everything he does, whether seed in the ground or helping others. Paul was talking about this when he said, "he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully." (1Corinthians 9:6) in referring to the Corinthians financial gift. Furthermore, Paul says that God supplies grace so that we have the seed to start with.

God’s Kingdom invades the natural order when He gives to us, or we give to others. Sowing and reaping is how God made things to work. Romans says that Christ Himself upholds the whole universe. It is the created order that operates on the principle of sowing and reaping.

So even when the odds are against a certain outcome of your sowing process, weather goes bad, crops spoil, everything is bad and nothing works, our God still supplies. Even when the stock you invested in under what you thought was good counsel fails, God does not fail you.

2) Realms of Supply – The Natural Order of Marketing - Buying And Selling

The order that man creates or operates on is the basis of buying and selling. Because of the fall, man judges and sets value on everything. We trade value for value. We sell our labor for money. We buy the product of labor with money.

We all see that the present financial crisis was created by greed in buying and selling. Men borrowed to speculate in building, buying and selling for a profit. On it went with houses, stocks, commodities, oil, and food. Prices were driven upwards until it went beyond our ability to pay the interest on the money borrowed. Buying and selling collapsed because there is no confidence in the artificial values. Sadly, Christians have also been a part of this, but God wants our heart for the Kingdom.

“Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” Matthew 22:19-21

Buying and selling isn’t a bad thing, as log as usury and manipulation is not behind a spirit of greed, and even when we end up “losing money” in an unfortunate transaction, God is still your supply.

3) Realms of Supply – The Kingdom Order of Generosity - Giving and Receiving

The Kingdom of God operates best through the principle of generosity and giving and receiving in obedience to God’s leading and direction. It begins with God’s love for the entire world, His giving nature and continues through His people receiving His nature and giving to others.

Giving and receiving begins with God loving and giving to us. He created the world for man and put us in it to enjoy it and fellowship with Him. He loved us even while we were still sinners, and gave Christ that we might receive life and freedom. He puts His love in our hearts (Galatians 5:6). He invites us to freely receive His grace. (I Corinthians 2:12). Then in turn He urges us to give,

"...Freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8

As we learn to “pray and obey,” and learn to “receive and to give in obedience,” we are set free from the fear of lack and receive changed hearts, so we can liberally give out of God’s direction, and our delight, because it is all God’s, it all belongs to the King who gives liberally, so we can give and release liberally.

That is Kingdom Finances. Giving and receiving in the Kingdom of God is not a law and never under compulsion, other wise it is not giving, it would be taking. He gives, we receive, and we then “pray and obey,” giving intentionally in His nature.

This is why Paul says:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. " II Corinthians 9:7

As Kingdom Citizens:

1. We love the King – Giving to Him
2. We love other Kingdom Citizens – Giving to Them
3. We Love non-Kingdom citizens – Giving to Them

Jesus was condemned because he hung out with the sinners, and prostitutes. He poured grace on the cultural outcasts, the undeserving and rejected. We participate in the Kingdom when we give to others with the heart of the Jesus. Jesus told us in being like the Father we even get to bless the wicked.

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them, which despitefully use you. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
Luke 6:28, 35

Evidentially, the Heart of the King is that, "He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

Apparently, blessing the ungodly extends to finances as well. A little later in this passage Jesus tells us that being like His Father we will abound in His mercy and grace and giving.

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” Luke 6:36-38

This passage is not just about giving to the saints, giving to the ministries. Giving to Kingdom citizen, but also it’s about giving to those outside the Kingdom of God. It's invading man’s order with Kingdom giving. “The men shall give into your bosom.”

As Kingdom Finances comes from the Heart of the Father:

-Be merciful
-Judge Not
-Condemn Not
-Forgive
-Give To Those Who Don't Deserve It
-Give To The Poor
-Give To Those Who Cannot Repay

Acts as stewards of all the good things of God.

God is fully willing and able to supply His people with more than enough. As sons and daughters of the Father, blessing with the same heart of compassion and love as the Father, we will give to His Purpose and His People, with His Passion.

When all the institutions and kingdoms of men crash, the auto industry, the stock market, Wall Street, these do not affect God’s Kingdom. In the days to come, we will have more to give, and more to give to. God’s value system will take over our dependence on man’s system.

In times like these it is imperative we operate according to His Kingdom economy concerning our receiving and giving. As believers living in God’s Kingdom, by God’s Kingdom realities get ready for a year of abundance preparing to receive abundantly and give extravagantly.

Nine means Fullness, nine spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, a woman carries a child full-term for nine months. In the worst financial market in our lifetime, God is ushering us into a year of Fullness.

His Kingdom is real and His Kingdom is here, so we can give and receive freely and generously.

Go ahead and get lean, as many are giving away extra baggage, getting out of debt, etc. Get lean, but not mean, instead get and stay very generous.