The Price is Right!

Rudy Du Plooy

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Today i want to open up the subject of Christian Poverty.

Jesus said:

Luke 9:57–58 BSB

57 As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

When we mentioned this in our opening sermon i explained that Christian Poverty is not a Lack of material goods, its freedom from materialism.

Today we are going to expound on that concept and look what what can be called:

Kingdom Economics

Any economic system is based on trade and trade is based on value.

A fundamental economic question then is:

What determines somethings value?

1: Comparative Value

2: Deprecation Value.

3: Special Value.

Comparative Valuations are based off an objects utility or usefulness.

Why is diamond so much more valuable than quartz? Because Diamonds have significant more utility than quartz.

So the world assigns a value based on how useful and how wanted something is.

Special Value

There exists however a Special form of value that is not based on demand or use.

For example:

Land costs R10pm and i buy land to build a house.

My plan is to increase my money by making my house in demand. So my plan is to build a nice house with a desirable view.

The view is what is in demand so that is my priority.

This same house, without a view, is worth much less.

But lets say that there is a vacant land in front of mine. Now the problem is that if someone else buys it and builds big, it will damage my property value as they will ruin my view.

So what can i do?

I can buy up that land, even at double the actual value, ill pay R20 per M.

Why am i valuing and paying more than the actual value?

Because my plan is to capitalize specifically on the view and this guarantees my plan.

Thus the value does not come from the sum of its parts but rather the value comes from the purpose and plans of the buyer.

The buyer purpose and plans apply a different value than the objects economic worth.

Now why do i mention this?

Because Kingdom economics are based on this special kind of valuation.

Repeatedly God tells us that some things are more valuable than others, yes the things God says are more valuable are often, economically speaking, of less value.

So God MUST be applying a special Value.

For example:

Matthew 6:19–21 BSB

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Here Jesus is telling us that Spiritual Treasures are more valuable than material ones.

Mark 8:36 BSB

36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Jesus is telling us that a human soul is more valuable than the whole world and all its natural wealth.

Luke 12:15 BSB

15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus tells us that life itself is more valuable than material possesions.

Proverbs 16:16 BSB

16 How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

God tells us plainly that wisdom is more valuable than silver and gold.

Matthew 10:31 BSB

31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Jesus tells us that human life is more valuable than animal life.

So the point i’m making is simple:

The Kingdom of God certainly does have an economy of value but it is NOTHING like the world economic system.

And we can summarize it like so:

To the world Value is based on Substance.

To God value is based on Essence.

Let me explain:

Every chair in this church has the same substance.

So steel poles, foam and fabric are the substance of these chairs.

However, this chair feels different to this chair.

This chair, though it has identical substance, has a different essence to this chair.

Substance speaks of something in general, essence speaks of something in particular.

This is key to understanding kingdom economics!

Lets look at God’s valuations again:

Matthew 6:19–21 BSB

GENERALLY speaking an actual, material treasure has greater substance than a metaphysical treasure, thus the world places a higher value on it.

God however, knowing the PARTICULARS of this spiritual treasure, which is eternal life btw, obviously places its value higher than its substance, because its true value is on its essence.

Mark 8:36 BSB

36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

What is the substance of a soul?

Many people do not even believe in a soul.

A soul, basically has no substance, so its worldly value is basically non existent.

God however sees your soul in PARTICULAR, a soul that He created in His image.

To God your soul represents the ESSENCE of God’s love, wisdom and creativity.

Thus God places more than on the essence of the soul than its substance.

What this all means for the disciple is that they need to learn to see ESSENCE value over SUBSTANCE.

Example 2

Let me give another example using the poor band.

I can, from next week, hire professional musicians to play.

question: Will it sound better from a musical and technical perspective? Yes.

So why don't I?

Because unlike the professionals who are performing for money, we perform in love, devotion and in glory to God.

Thus, kingdom economics tell us that our band is more valuable than a hired band.

Another example:

Many moons ago we used to have evening services.

We provided a meal for R10.

A few people were not happy about this and complained that it was to little and that the R10 did not even cover the cots. We were losing money! Its just plain bad economics!

However, the reason for the “special value” was simple: The meals were the substance, but the fellowship around the meal was the essence.

I, using kingdom economics, put a higher value on the essence of christian fellowship than on the substance the cost of the ingredients.

The Point:

Knowing the difference between the value of something substance and its essence will be vital for a disciple to practice Christian Poverty.

Let us close by looking at a case study:

This study involves 2 wealthy men, both of whom are seeking to be disciples and thus both men approach Jesus.

Two back-to-back stories.

The first is known as the rich young ruler.

The second man’s name is Zaccheus.

The rich young ruler asked Jesus a question:

Luke 18:18 BSB

18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answer:

Luke 18:22 BSB

22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

What then was the rulers response?

Luke 18:23 BSB

23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

This was VERY sad! Why? because the substance of his wealth was more than the substance of what following Jesus would offer.

What about Zaccheus?

Jesus asked him for some hospitality. How did he respond?

Luke 19:6–8 BSB

6 So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. 7 And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

Why is Zaccheus pleased to give so much to the poor when the ruler was not?

Because Zaccheus understood that the substance of his wealth was no where near as valuable than the essence of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

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