God's Economy Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
God’s Economy
Introduction
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Running on Empty
I don’t know about you, but I have been very concerned about the economy lately.
The economy is getting very bad.
Grocery prices are going up.
Restaurant prices are going up.
Services that you hire for repairs etc. are going up.
Everything costs more!
And I don’t know about you, but I am not making any more money today then I was 5 years ago…but it is more expensive to live.
This economy crisis has really hit us hard.
The members of the church are hurt financially
So this means that the church is hurt financially.
And it limits us in what we can do and how we can operate and the services we can provide for our community
Sometimes it seems that all we do is just try to keep our heads above water.
I wish that I could stand up here and tell you that you don’t need money to live…but I can’t.
The truth is that we need money to live…
And we need money to do ministry…
And we need money to rest…
And it seems that we even need money to make money…
Everything cost money!
And a lack of money is a huge problem.
Of course it causes the economy to fail.
It causes crime to go up.
It causes major depression.
And it is the number one reason for divorce.
And it is does not seem to be getting any better… but in all actuality—it seems to be getting worse.
We are told that the Bible has answers to all our problems, so where do we find the answer to this one.
Is God concerned about our economy?
Is God concerned about our financial struggles?
Does God care about you and your money?
And how do we address this problem biblically?
PRAY
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Then the Pharisees went and took counsel to entangle Him in His words. They sent their disciples to Him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God truthfully, and are swayed by no one. For You do not regard the person of men. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, “Why test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.” They brought Him a denarius. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
Then He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
When they heard these words, they were amazed, and left Him and went on their way.
Render unto Caesar
The story starts with the Jewish Church leaders looking for some way to get rid of Jesus. They know that they do not have any power to do anything to him themselves
So they tried to find ways to get him to say something against the Romans so they (the Romans) would take over and do something to keep Jesus quiet and they would not personally have to deal with it and risk upsetting the masses or looking bad.
There were two main religious groups within the Jewish community arguing against each other at this time.
i. One was the Herodians. These were not a church group but a group of Jewish people who supported Herod Antipas and wanted closer and better ties with Rome. They supported Roman taxation and believed it was only right that everyone pay taxes. This tax was not based on income but was like a poll tax, something that everyone had to pay.
ii. The other group was the Pharisees. This group was a religious group and they objected strenuously against paying anything to Rome, claiming it was a heresy to do so. They based this claim on the fact that the tax had to be paid in Roman coins which had an image of Caesar on them. They refused to pay anything except the Temple Tax, which was paid in Jewish shekels.
But the Pharisees and the Herodians came together to try and trap Jesus.
And they thought that they had a question, that no matter how Jesus answered, he would condemn himself.
The question was “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
AND the conspirators thought that there were only two possible answers.
Yes, it is right to pay taxes, or No it is not right.
If Jesus said it was right to pay taxes, he would be accused of being a traitor to the Jews and of being in favour of the Roman Occupation.
This would alienate him from all his supporters.
If Jesus were to say it was wrong to pay taxes, then he would prove he was against Rome.
The Jewish leaders would be able to say Jesus had shown himself to be a revolutionary and he could be handed over for trial and execution.
Before Jesus gave an answer, he asked to see a Roman coin, a denarius.
He then asked whose image and inscription was on it.
At that time, any item with a man’s stamp or inscription on it belonged to that man.
Therefore the coin belonged to Caesar.
“So if it belongs to Caesar, then give it to him.” Jesus says
But there was another part to the answer also…”Give to God what is God’s.”
It seems the most perfect and simple answer, but it shut the mouth of those trying to trick and accuse him
It was simple—but yet it was profound
In this time that Jesus lived, Jerusalem was under Roman occupation and the Jewish people were very heavily taxed.
I am sure that they felt much as we feel now—like there is just not enough to money to fulfill all our obligations.
Making enough money to live then was very difficult, and they did not have the opportunity of enjoying any luxuries at all
They were just happy to have enough to eat and have shelter and provide basic necessities for their families.
So I can imagine that when Jesus says “give to Caesar’s what is his” that many of those people that are listening to him are thinking something like this,
“what else can I possibly give Caesar.”
“I have given him all I got.”
“I have nothing left to give”
do you ever feel like you have nothing left to give?
You pay your rent
You pay your utilities
You pay your car payment
You pay your phone bill
You put gas in the car
You buy food
And then you’re broke again…
What else can I give?
But Jesus didn’t stop there… he also said, “if it is God’s, give it to God.”
So what exactly is Jesus talking about and what exactly is he saying?
And how does that relate to you and me and our own financial problems?
Well I think this ties in perfectly to another teaching that Jesus taught back in Matthew 6
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“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is unclear, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Therefore, I say to you, take no thought about your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Who among you by taking thought can add a cubit to his stature?
“Why take thought about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: They neither work, nor do they spin. Yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. Therefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is here and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (For the Gentiles seek after all these things.) For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you. Therefore, take no thought about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought about the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the trouble thereof.
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If you will just seek the kingdom of God and put it first, he will supply all your needs…
God is not worried about our economic system, because God has an Economic system all of His own. It operates in the way He wants it to operate, and it will continue to operate in anyway He wants it to operate.
He knows what you need before you need it and he will supply them
No matter how expensive gas gets
No matter how expensive groceries get
No matter how many people get laid off of their jobs
No matter whatever financial catastrophe may happen
God will take care of his people who PUT HIM FIRST
Those who give him what is his!
We see two questions asked in this Scripture
The first question we find ourselves asking is. So what is Caesar’s?
Well, according to this scripture, it would be whatever has his image or inscription on it. This is the way that his empire operates and this is where he places his faith and trust.
This is how it functions.
So if it is his, give it to him and don’t fret about it.
It is just money.
It is not even yours.
Just use it as a tool and don’t get so attached to it
It belongs to the world not to you.
This world’s economic plan is based on that currency.
The second question we find ourselves asking is What is God’s?
I would think the same criteria we decided belonged to Caeser’s is true for God’s. Whatever has His image and inscription on it.
His image and inscription is on those who follow him and put their faith and trust in him.
When you are saved, the Bible says that we transfer KINGDOMS…that we are translated or moved into the KINGDOM of God
God’s kingdom is based on a different currency—a currency that NEVER loses value.
God has an economic plan that is based upon Him—not a paper God.
So seek the kingdom of God first, and he will give you EVERYTHING you need.
THAT is the never failing economy of God.
Whose picture is on this dollar.
Whose name is on this dollar.
The United States of America.
The USA’s economy is based upon this dollar.
This dollar is not yours; this dollar belongs to the USA.
Their name is on it
If you burn it—it is a crime
So give to the USA what is theirs and don’t fret it.
When you are filling up your gas tank, you are just spending someone else’s money anyway.
Money is just a tool for you to use to do the will of God.
How many times will this dollar pass hands and how many people will have it in their hands for just a moment and then it’s gone to someone else?
Look. It is just paper.
It is so fragile.
It is gone in an instant.
Why put your faith in something so fragile.
The problem is we are putting our faith in something that is here today and gone tomorrow.
When we put our faith in Christ we realign our thought patterns, and change our reality from focusing on the Fallible to the infallible.
What is this passage saying to us today?
It is saying “Don’t worry about the economy”
…we don’t live by this economy…we live in God’s economy.
In the days of Jesus, the economy was far worse than this age that we live in.They were under evil oppression, slavery, high taxation… And so his words stand just as true today as they did then.
Give to this world what is his…
and give to God what is his…
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.
Here is the question we need to be having based off that Scripture How do we seek first the kingdom of God?
Which Kingdom is more real to you? We need to be living in the reality of the Kingdom of God.
The principles of the kingdom of God are written down in this book—the Bible—and we must follow these principles unwavering.
IF the kingdom of this world has an economic plan...
Doesn’t it make sense, that the God who created the world has an economic plan?Doesn’t it make sense that the Bible would give us that economic plan
So, when the world’s economy is failing…God’s economy is booming
I want to spend the next few weeks talking about and learning about this economic plan…
Because the one that we have been putting our faith and trust in so far—has not been working.
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Are We Abounding?
God’s economy can be summed up in one scripture that we find in 2 Corinthians. It is an absolutely amazing passage of scripture that will change your life forever once you get it into your spirit.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having enough of everything, may abound to every good work.
Amplified And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient (possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation).
Well, Let’s Analyze this Scripture even more to get a deeper understanding as we look at some of the meaning of the words used in this passage.
Able is from the Greek “dunatos“ which means powerful or capable.
God is powerful or capable
Make is from the Greek “perisseuo” which means to super abound in quantity or quality, to be in excess, to be extra or surplus, to be more abundant,enough and to spare, to exceed, to excel, to increase, to have over and above.
Grace is from the Greek “charis” which means Graciousness gratitude, benefit, favour, gift, joy, pleasure.
Abound is from the same Greek word as Make which means to…Super abound, in quantity or quality to exceed, to excel, to increase, to have over and above etc.
Always is from the Greek “pantote,” which means at all times.
Sufficiency is from the Greek “autarkeia” which means self-satisfaction or contentment.
So basically when we break these words up into their original meaning, this verse means this
God has the power to give; above, over, to excel, to super abound. And it is his gracious pleasure to do so That at all times, we are content and satisfied and living above, over and excelling that we may above, over, and excel, in every good work that we may be in a position to help others, to give, to minister
Would anybody have a problem with that?
Does that sound better than your current situation?
To be abounded to so you can abound to others
To always have more than enough for yourself and for all the needs you are faced with?
How does God bless people?—through people!
He’ll get it to you, if he can get it through you.
God gives us what we have—to use for his service
He blesses us—to be a blessing
And if you are not a giver with what you got—don’t expect more then what you have been given.
God is looking for people to bless that he knows will be a blessing to others.
And wouldn’t it be nice to be on the helping and the giving side of that scenario—to be the blesser because we abound—exceed, excel, super-abound, to have over and above?
Ask yourself these questions.
Are we abounding?
Are you abounding?
Is this church abounding?
Do we have more than enough?
Do we exceed and excel?
Do we even have enough?
Can we freely share with others?
Can we abound in every good works?
Can we abound to this community?
IF the answer to any of these questions this morning is “no” then we are still operating in this world’s economy and not God’s Economy.
We are still looking at it through the World’s Lens and not God’s Lens.
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The main question we are getting today and as we study God’s Economy is this.
Do you believe the Word of God?
This is where it starts. We have to determine how much of the Bible we believe.
Do we believe just a little here, a little there.
What we like, what we don’t like
What we can print off and put on our walls,
Or do we we believe the whole thing?
If we truly believe it do we accept the principles and truths that are found in it?
We need to establish the word as our one and only foundation.
Not my word.
Not your word.
Not the word of Wall Street or NASDAT,
But only the word of God.
This Bible is THE WORD
This Bible is THE AUTHORITY
We have to believe it all—or believe nothing.
To believe it only in parts is not to believe it at all
The Bible reveals the mind and plan of God. It contains the plan of life for all men and all seasons. and it is eternal, unchanging, and complete from eternity to eternity.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
The Bible presents the rules of eternal life…..not just temporary life, but eternal life (that is the key)
The people of the world think that the Bible doesn’t make any sense and that Christians who follow the Bible are crazy. They make fun of us for paying our tithe, going to church and living out our Christian values. And they call us weak minded…
The Bible declares things to be precious that the world hates, and the Bible abhors things that the world feels is precious.
The world’s claims seem to make sense, and the Bible’s claims really seem far-out BUT—it is obvious that the deductions of the world are not working
The world and present day society is falling apart
The world’s systems are failing
Man’s plans are passing away, despite it all
Despite their claims.
Despite their knowledge
Nothing in this world is a sure thing
And on the other hand, the claims of the Bible are working every day for those who put them into practice.
In a failing economy
In the middle of war
In the middle of a recession
God’s Word is working right now in the lives of men and women who dare demonstrate their faith in the Word of God.
Salvation is happening—defying all logic
Heaven is happening—defying all logic
Healing is happening—defying all medical knowledge
Financial Blessings are happening—defying reality and present economic conditions
God’s Word is working
And that word is our authority
The same word that saves you will also sustain you
And the first thing we must admit is that this economy isn’t working and we need Biblical wisdom.
We have to begin looking somewhere else for our answers. And so where do we look?
We look to God.
We look to the word
Church, We have been translated into a new Kingdom—the kingdom of God
And God has an economic plan outlined in his word—that will never pass away.
And so as residents of God’s kingdom, we need to stop living in the old economy—and learn to live in God’s economy.
God’s plan of economy
So, this is what we have established; The Bible is a completely reliable Book, which presents the history of man, from a divine perspective, and proposes a management of man’s affairs, under a plan of divine economy.
God has a plan of economy which is eternal.
God’s plan is for all men and all seasons.
God’s plan involves all the commodities of life.
God’s plan of economy is the will of God
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having enough of everything, may abound to every good work.
God’s economy never passes away
God’s economy never has a recession
And in God’s economy, it is God’s will…
that you abound
that you live above and over
that you excel
that you have enough and to spare
but for a purpose and a reason….and that is to do his work
God’s plan has been in effect from the beginning and will still be in effect when the stars begin to fall, a hundred million years from this very moment, God’s plan will still be standing. Because God’s plan was created to last forever
God’s plan involves the management of all the affairs of man
God’s plan is not just about money.
God’s plan includes everything that man deals with on this Earth
But God’s plan also includes a view of eternity, and any plan that leaves out eternity is incomplete. Because God created all things with an eternal purpose in mind.
Man’s economic systems collapse because he is selfish and shortsighted, Because he has failed to include in his economic principles those matters vital to eternity.
So God has a plan for your life—every detail of your life.
God’s plan for you includes every relationship and every commodity now and later.
God’s plan includes your time, your money, your concern, your love, your emotional and mental capacities, and your spiritual gifts.
God’s plan includes your present and your future—your life and your afterlife
And God’s plan of economy is miraculous.
It is miraculous because God’s plan cannot be explained by the rules of the earth.
But it is explained in the Bible and revealed by the spirit!
Conclusion:
So God’s Economy is summed up in this….
God abounding to us so that we can abound to others.
God pouring into us so we can pour into others
And it is up to us to keep that flow moving and only you can stop that flow up And you have to start with where you are and what you got You have to begin to be faithful over what you have been given
God’s economy is not just a benefit, but it is a responsibility
We will be judged for our activeness or inactiveness in God’s system
Look at one last scripture
“Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in. I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and come to You?’
“The King will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, as you have done it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you have done it for Me.’
“Then He will say to those at the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You?’
“He will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it not for one of the least of these, you did it not for Me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
I don’t have the money or I don’t have enough is not / will not be a good enough excuse…Because enough has been provided
In God’s economy—we always have enough for every need
The first part of that passage is God’s economy in action
People loving and caring for each other
People seeing the needs of others and meeting those needs
People abounding out—and God abounding in
The second part of this passage is the world’s economy in action
People don’t see the needs of others because they are blinded by their own needs
They don’t have enough to help others
So therefore—Gods economy is an integral part of spreading the gospel and doing the work of Christ
Seek ye first the kingdom of God—and God will supply everything you need for the task.
If you will just move in faith to meet those needs that God places in front of you…he will supply those needs and yours also
It is time we stop living like servants and slaves…and stop talking about what we can’t do
And start living like sons and daughters of God...and start doing
I think this is a perfect time
-a time when the economy is so unstable and unsure
-a time when things seem to be getting worse and worse
-a time when finances are a struggle for everyone
I think this is a perfect time to leave this failing economy behind and look at God’s economy and begin to operate in it. As children of God, we have been given that right.
So join me for the next few weeks as we discover God’s Plan as outlined by the scriptures and how to operate in it. Don’t miss the next few Sundays, because it will change your life.
I want to invite all of you up here this morning to pray for you for God’s blessings in your life.
