The Wealth You Seek that Adds No Trouble Is In Gods Economy

The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
~PROVERBS 10:22 NASB

GODS ECONOMY - WHERE THINGS ARE NOW

ith the word crisis being used more and more in describing the state of the global economy, people are increasingly concerned about the security of their assets and their future ability to make wealth in the current system. However, mans economy, its methodology for growth and the system that governs the creation and distribution of wealth has proven to have its troubles and is unsustainable.

This time of crisis signals the kairos moment for Gods economy to manifest in the world and a golden opportunity for those with foresight to seek out what that is and to pursue it. A key attribute of Gods economy is found in Proverbs 10:22, the blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it (Proverbs 10:22 NIV). Thus the million dollar question, Is there a way that man can have riches that brings with it no troubles?. Correlating to the first question then is the second question, Is there a way that man can be in the world but not of it? The answer comes with a revelation of Gods economy and what it looks like. Let us not assume that we know because everything we think we know has already been tainted with our own perspectives and limited to a paradigm we can understand. We have been fashioned in our thoughts to a pattern designed by the world, which blinds us to Gods patterns of things and His design. For man to even begin to see Gods economy requires transformationa transformation of mindset. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV) We need to consciously remove our glasses and allow God to put on different glasses that will allow us to see things as He does. These glasses are the mindsets we have, which filter everything we see. Thus we should heed what Isaiah 55:8 says, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. In Gods economy, His solution is in a man, not just an idea. Everything that the man needs so that he would come into enterprise with his Creator was provided in Christ Jesus, the Son of Man. This was Gods intent hence mans God-given ability and his responsibilty to be a steward of all that was given to him. Through man, God will manifest His economy as a witness of His kingdom in the world. We are at a time when our future literally hangs on to an understanding of what Gods economy is. At such a time like this, would you be willing to go through a period of transition where youd have to make adjustments and to transform your thinking and

attitudes about everything? Gods economy has different foundations, structures and processes to Mans economy. Under this economy, you will no longer be stressed by the need to serve two masters. It will also address the causes of injustice, poverty, and unravel the mystery of sustainable development. You will be able to engage the world from a different plane, being in the world but not of it. Getting into Gods economy requires you to take the first step. Dont wait for everything to be perfect or for problems to disappear to move into this new economy. As soon as you take the first step and start moving forward, your journey begins. To be in Gods economy means going on the high road, doing things Gods way, which brings Gods results.

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD

THREE KEYS TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION INTO GODS ECONOMY

1. THE W ORD OF GOD

His Commandments, Judgments, and Promises Gods teaching and instructions, his judgments and promises shall be our wisdom and understanding to journey on the High Road. The four things to consider: 1. Design By wisdom he created the heavens and the earth. The laws of Creation, tangible and intangible, are part of the design. 2. Know-how By understanding he established the heavens. The know-how is his instructions to make things work. The covenant is His commandments (the lamp) from which the light comesthe manifested Word. 3. Process We are to make judgments based on Gods Word to determine what leads to good and what leads to evil. Then make choices (decisions). As we seek his wisdom and understanding to do them, he will write them on our hearts and put them into our minds. Faith is required to overcome challenges of the process. 4. Promises Patient obedience of Gods Word brings Gods blessings. Gods blessings bring riches and restoration according to Gods multiplier. Food for Thought Story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath of Sidon. (1Kings 17:1-24)

2. THE BODY STRATEGY

The Word of God is to be understood and intended to apply in the context of One Body of many individual members. (1Cor 12). This is Gods genius in design to build a house fit for Him, the King of the universe, to live in. This is what it will mean: 1. A dying to self Gods teaching and instruction will enable the individual to transition into a full member of a body. If he can, self will die here. 2. A body context Gods economy, his judgments and promises can only manifest in a body context. This requires a group of servants in the Abrahamic mould who seeks to manifest the Kingdom, learning to do things in righteousness and justice to the blessing of the lost sons, that they may be brought home to the Father. 3. A common harvest It is likened to everyone sharing a common pool of revenue but each member is to account for the cost of his own investing which is his due responsibility to the body. He is a stakeholder in that body enterprise. 4. A non transaction-based economy Mans economy is transaction-based, which is quid-pro-quo, and therefore selfserving. A transaction-based economy keeps us operating as individuals, which runs contrary to body dynamic in Gods economy (Ezekiel 28:15-16). Gods economy is not transaction-based. It is based on relationship that can be predefined even in number terms. In Gods enterprise, there are many members. They enjoy equal status as stakeholders of enterprise, but some have more resource than others. God is not fair but He is just. Much is given much is expected. All conflicting needs are resolved at the onset. However, they are bound together as a household and share a common harvest (revenue). Gods Word His design and instructions will provide guidance to this endeavor. 5. An investing into each other We are called to invest in our fellowman. Gods economy uses a different calibration to measure investments. It measures not the quantity of dollars we put in but how much heart is invested, how much we choose to be vulnerable, to trust and obey at the risk of being hurt, caught out or humiliated--to live boldly for others. If we are found wanting, it is only that we didnt invest enough heart, didnt love enough. Nothing else really counts. In the Body-enterprise, we learn to invest into each other to maximize the potential of others in the body. One does not invest with the attitude to get. He will freely give to another member if his giving can meet a lack because his action will greatly multiply the overall good and add The only calibration that counts is how much heart people invest, how much they ignore their fears of being hurt or caught out or humiliated. And the only thing people regret is that they didnt live boldly enough, that they didnt invest enough heart, didnt love enough. Nothing else really counts at all. to the common harvest.

i) A common revenue maximization rather than individual profit maximization The body strategy encourages revenue maximization rather than individual profit maximization, which often means cost cutting. In fact each member will be eager to ensure everyone invests into each other in sufficient amounts to ensure optimum result for the common good. We see an example of this in the Barcelona football team. Investments can take the form of know-how, mentoring, time, natural resources, financial resource, or simply lending a hand or something. But the greatest investment is Gods love. It will empower the man to receive and give. ii) Transformation is experienced in a body context The individual will be perfected as he transitions to operate as a member of one body. Only together can one experience transformation. iii) The power of community Such a body will be able to impact the world. The world will recognize that they are the Disciples of Christ. Then they can make disciples of others and teach them how to go on the journey of the High Road. Food for Thought Read the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19). The rich man did not realize that he and Lazarus are part of the same body and in heavens measurement shared a common pool of revenue. Hence the rich mans resources were meant to be invested but he did not do so even whilst Lazarus laid outside his household. So God made good his intended outcome (promises) in the end and made right the outcome because the rich man had taken for himself the God-given resources for his (own) rewards. Put simply, the rich man did not understand how Gods economy works.

3. UNDERSTANDING TIMES IN THE LIGHT OF GODS W ORD

Like the Sons of Issachar who understood the times and pledged their resources in support of Gods plans in David, those who have foresight will use their resources likewise. King Saul was still seated on the throne at that time but the sons of Issachar already saw where God was going and went with Him. The tribe of Issachar took the lead and the rest of the tribes followed. Today, all the more important, we need to have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit of God is saying so that we may be like the Sons of Issachar for our generation, and move with His plans even while our earthly eyes but see the King Sauls of the world still on their thrones. Understanding times in light of Gods Word is very important if we are to work with the Lord. This will enable us to effectively engage the world and overcome it in all its deceptions and challenges of the flesh and pride. What then must we do? 1. Change the old rules

Christians in business need to start seeing people as persons, not as customers. Every business has to make profit but the necessary requirements for doing so are changing and business leaders need to start designing value around people. The way to the profit will have new and different requirements. This is different from the old paradigm of design value around the customer or find out what your customer want and give it to them because the customer and the person are not the same. 2. A new vision of value When we make the person the purpose of our activities, we align our plans with the Creator God. He who has made everything beautiful in its time. The value in a person is far greater than anything in Creation and it is a privilege to work with God to uncover treasures in earthen vessels. This is the business of the kingdom. When that person becomes profitable, everything else that profits will not be harmful to others but will develop in a way that is a blessing to all concerned. In a community context, this brings about a multiplier that leads to holistic wealth creation. That is sustainable. Under this new mindset and new logic, the organic system of creating wealth puts people first and everything else second. 3. A new business model It means embracing a new bottom line business culture that centers on profiting the person in a body dynamic. We need to know first what we do that defines us. Then figure out how we make our living together doing what we do. To do so we need no less than a new type of school because where we are going will involve a steep learning curve. We are going to have to train new entrepreneurs and birth new enterprises to get exactly the kind of new business models we want. This is not a school with forty desks and forty chairs but a dynamic on the field laboratory where the real needs of the world becomes our area of enterprise to work out our passion, beliefs and understanding. It will demand transformational innovation that ensures the interests of others in the community are fully factored into solutions. 4. Start transferring unjust gain into new investing We begin by taking a journey to come out of Babylon. In doing so, we are not to go out in haste (Micah 4:13). It marks the end of money and the beginning of wealth. It is a death and resurrection experience. In Gods economy, we learn to embrace investments that put Gods love for humans (specifically defined by OED as philanthropy) into investing. This is what we mean by Venture Philanthropy. It is not about applying venture capital techniques into philanthropy but putting philanthropy into investing! Doing this will transform investing as we know it. No projections. No expectations but a belief that Gods promises will come, in His time! 5. Build prototypes for learning and testing Identify and launch resource-based community enterprises that centers on people development and communal entrepreneurship. Viability of people in a body dynamic filled with Gods love will ensure sustainable growth and fruitfulness in scope first and scale later. Food for Thought

Read parable of the shrewd unrighteous steward (Luke 16:1-14). Be an investor in the kingdom of heaven. We are in the season of witnessing its manifestation of earth. Now combine this scripture with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31) and the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath of Sidon.

SUMMARY
The Word of God was intended to work in the body context. The individual is perfected as he transitions towards being a full member of a body where the rulership of God (Christ) is made real. God will only reveal prophetic insights to His servants. The stumbling block to this transition is the transactional nature of Mans economy. It is the seed that led to Lucifer being self-centered, which led to sin and a corruption of a third of the angels by his widespread trades (Ezekiel 28:15-16). When Man transacted with Satan in the Garden of Eden, he took on the nature of Lucifer. This get-rich-quick disease is now endemic in human nature. This is why we find it difficult to die to self and why we are held captive to the power of mammon. God has provided a way for us to come out of this by providing us a path but it requires a dying to self and learning to walk by faith in obedience to His teachings and instructions, the Torah. Death and resurrection is a principle of the kingdom. Obeying Gods Word in a body dynamic is the process that will bring transformation. We need a new wineskin for the work of the kingdom. Only with new mindsets can we begin to understand what Gods economy looks like, where Jesus is the King and where real kingdom businesses will emerge. We need to see this and pray our Fathers love will empower us.