Kingdom Economics Work part 2

A Few words about Jerry...

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

Giving devolves from gratitude to expectation to entitlement.

Lupton, Robert D

(2011-10-11). Toxic Charity: How the Church Hurts Those They Help and How to Reverse It (p. 34). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

How do you keep it from getting to this point?

I said it a few weeks ago but we strive to make sure that how we give does not devalue the person we are giving too.

It is important that the one we give to has the opportunity to give back and show that they have value to you as well.

(Example: providing for your children is good. When it becomes appropriate you give them the opportunity to give back by helping around the house. This allows them to see that they are valuable when they can help)

Examples of how Bridge of Faith does this...

1.) From free clothes give aways to thrift stores

2.) From all out benevolence to now hiring students to work for us and earn a pay check

In Kingdom Economics, we believe work is a good thing. God worked and God is good so therefore we conclude that work is good.

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.

Watch over it

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

Now to building on this topic of Kingdom Economics and how work fits in.

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

2 Thessalonians 3:6–15 HCSB

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks irresponsibly and not according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food. 13 Brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t treat him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Some in Thessalonica were spending all their time spreading a false Gospel. Paul addresses this in his second letter to the church. They had stopped everything to do this.

Paul says if anyone will not work, then he should not eat.

Work is the means by which we provide food for ourselves and our families.

Paul goes on to address this further by saying some are not only not working but they are interfering with the work of others.

It is one thing to have an employee who will not work but it becomes really discouraging to have an employee who not only does not work but also interrupts the work of others.

This is a battle in our community as we seek to transform a generation that transforms our community is people interfering with the work of others. Parents let me encourage you not to interfere with the work of your children.

Kingdom principle for parents

Don’t interfere with the work of your children.

It is right for parents to desire for their children to work and to succeed in their work.

I want my children to be smarter than me, better equipped emotionally than myself, and have more success than I have had. I strive to not interfere with their work but to help them succeed in their work.

Parents resist the temptation to interfere with your child’s work. It is selfish if you reject success for your child because they may be better than you were growing up.

Some as adults this morning might have grown up in an environment where your parents did not what you to succeed because success might mean that you move out and they feel abandoned because you left them. (Recognize it then ask Jesus to empower you with forgiveness)

Christians may we work quietly and eat our own food.

Discipline those who don’t heed this warning

1 Thessalonians 4:10–12 (HCSB)

10b But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,

11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

12 so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

to seek to lead a quiet life,

to mind your own business

to work with your own hands

not be dependent on anyone

1 Timothy 5:8 HCSB

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Ephesians 4:28 HCSB

28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.

Wages for working

Deuteronomy 24:14–15 HCSB

14 “Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether one of your brothers or one of the foreigners residing within a town in your land. 15 You are to pay him his wages each day before the sun sets, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be held guilty.

Prophets declare judgment on those who oppress through poor wages

Malachi 3:5 HCSB

5 “I will come to you in judgment, and I will be ready to witness against sorcerers and adulterers; against those who swear falsely; against those who oppress the widow and the fatherless, and cheat the wage earner; and against those who deny justice to the foreigner. They do not fear Me,” says the Lord of Hosts.

Jeremiah 22:13 HCSB

13 Woe for the one who builds his palace through unrighteousness, his upper rooms through injustice, who makes his fellow man serve without pay and will not give him his wages,

James 5:4–5 (HCSB)

4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

5 You have lived luxuriously on the land and have indulged yourselves. You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

Conclusion:

· Work is good

· In Kingdom Economics we are not to glean the edges of the field but produce work for the poor among us

· Church assistance should revolve around creating work for those in need

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