Kingdom Economics Work

Economics:

The science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of commodities

Commodities:

a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee

Several weeks ago we looked at worship in Kingdom Economics. We worship God with our finances and that It is God who provides, it is God who gives, It is God who sustains we must trust him and strive to place a Biblical economic system in place and the first step is to worship God not Baal to provide.

We put all our hope and trust in him and not a false God that we think might bring us security.

This week we want to talk about the essence of work in Kingdom Economics.

Where does work fit in Kingdom Economics?

In the Kingdom of Heaven, does work fit in? Will we all be sitting around playing harps and doing nothing in the Kingdom of Heaven?

When I moved to Taney county, I had an older guy tell me that I had to do 2 things. I had to get myself a boat and my wife a job. Haha. This statement has never left me because I see this theory of life lived out in our community and throughout the area.

I believe God created us for more than making sure our wives have jobs and we have boats.

Let me show you through scripture.

Genesis 2:1–3 HCSB

1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

V2. God rested from the work he had completed. The key word we are looking at this morning is work. God was the first to do work on this Earth. Our Holy God worked in creating this world and when he had worked he then rested.

V3. He rested from his work of creation

Legitimate work reflects the activity of God

a. God is good and God worked so work is good

2. God examined and assessed his work

God declared his work good

Genesis 1:31 HCSB

31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

Work is to be productive

Work should be done in a way that produces the highest of outcome

Take pride in our work

The reward for work is the honor and satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

Psalm 19 says that God reveals Himself to the world by His work.

Psalm 19:1–2 HCSB

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.

Thus, work reveals something about the one doing the work. It exposes underlying character, motivations, skills, abilities, and personality traits.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31

1 Corinthians 10:31 HCSB

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

We read that whatever we do should be to His glory. The term glorify means “to give an accurate representation.”

Therefore, work done by Christians should give the world an accurate picture of God in righteousness, faithfulness, and excellence.

Genesis 2:15 HCSB

15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

Work it

Work it or cultivate it means to improve it or foster growth. A piece of our work should be to always improve it or foster growth. We should be constantly striving to improve or foster our work no matter what we do.

Watch over it

To watch over or maintain means to preserve from failure or keep from decline.

Jobs should be acknowledged as ministries, and workplaces should be considered as mission fields.

Gleaning Laws

This law instructed the Israelite small business owners to take less profits and to create jobs for the poor.

Leviticus 19:9–10 HCSB

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident; I am Yahweh your God.

Let’s talk about two things here.

1. Land owner

He could take all of his profits and glean the very edge of the field to the point that nothing is left.

This law requires the land owner to leave a portion of his profit in order to create a job for the poor.

This is key that a portion of the profit is used to create “jobs” for the poor and not just a free hand out

This gives dignity to the one receiving from the land owner and does not disempower them.

2. The Poor

Must come and collect the edges for themselves.

The law does not say to glean the edges and give a portion to the poor.

The poor must go out and glean the edge of the field.

The land owner takes less benefit from the company in order to provide for the poor.

What is our response as the church?

If we are to use this principle when it comes to assisting those in needs, then the church must think of ways to create jobs for those in need and not just free hand outs.

The church’s sacrificial efforts for the poor should consistently revolve around creating opportunities for work and instilling dignity and purpose in those we serve.

I am a huge proponent in finding ways to empower individuals. I am against systems and programs that disempower or devalue people. I desire that how we serve sends a clear message to those that we serve are valuable to their creator and the creator had purpose in serving them.

Often times we serve in ways that are not best for those being served and it is centered around what makes us feel good rather than what is best for those we are serving.

It is more challenging to serve in ways that empower the individual being served.

Affordable Christmas store

The downward spin of one way giving…

Giving devolves from gratitude to expectation to entitlement.

In the Kingdom Work is good

God is good and God worked so therefore work is good

Work reflects the activity of God

God examined and assessed his work

God commanded us to work the ground and to watch over it.

Jobs should be acknowledged as ministries, and workplaces should be considered as mission fields.

The gleaning laws for both the land owner and the poor should be followed in how we serve others

Jesus prayed they Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

It is clear that before the fall of man work is something God called us to. In Kingdom Economics work has the opportunity to share the story of God in our work.

If you pour concrete, then pour it to reflect the Glory of God. If you mow lawns then you mow and maintain a lawn that tells tells the story of your creator. If you are a mom who works at home caring for the kids, then you care in such a way that tells Gods story. If you care for the land and farm, then care in such a way that people know you believe in creator God. If you are a logistics coordinator then you work on spread sheets and help people move product in such a way that tells God’s story. If you are a hostess or waiter, then you care for everyone in your path in a way that shows the Glory of God.

Work is very much Kingdom principle

Work is the normal and appropriate way for people to provide for themselves