The Kingdom of God Economic Stimulus Package
This week I am spending time with Randy Travis, our strategy coordinator for the HCPM project. He and his wife Linda, and a wonderful couple from Mexico, Martin and Guadalupe, are here in Kentucky to produce some recordings for use in the project. The Travises are in the U.S. because of the problems in Honduras, but are planning to return in mid-August. We are using this time to do some things and acquire some equipment and materials that we were needing anyway, but that would have been delayed for a few months. However, because of events in Honduras, they came out and we are making good use of the time. (Please continue to pray for the situation in Honduras, as it continues to have an uncertain outcome. The inductive studies are continuing and new ones ares still beginning as the Honduran workers are continuing to find persons of peace and begin new studies.)
I was on the way to pick Randy and Martin up for our work today, and was listening to the radio. I heard an ad for an upcoming 4 part class on surviving and thriving in these difficult economic times. It was a Christian program and I am sure that it will be very practical and good. But it got me thinking....I know of a great economic stimulus package that is workable in any economy. Here it is:
"But seek first his (God's) kingdom and his (God's) righteousness, and all these things (the things that you would be worried about, your material needs of clothing and food and basic necessities) will be given to you as well" NIV and PAV (Parish Amplified Version).
That is Matthew 6:33 and it is the most reliable economic plan in existence. It works in any country, any culture, any form of government, and in any economic situation.
Notice that is a promise of our needs met, not a get rich quick scheme. There are other promises and principles in Scripture that give additional insight in terms of finances, provision, and prosperity. But this Scripture is specifically to remove worry about our survival. I look at this as a foundational, bottom line kind of principle. It is the place to start. It is the safety net in times like these, and the springboard to obedience to all of God's commands relative to money. It is the first thing that a disciple of Jesus should be taught about money.
Look at the specifics. It is a promise connected to a condition. That means it is NOT just a promise to claim. It IS a promise to claim after the condition has been met.
The Promise: All these things....material needs....will be supplied to you.
The Condition: Seek first God's Kingdom and God's righteousness.
So how does one meet this condition? What does it mean to seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness? Here is my take on it (and I am open to learning more....I don't claim to exhaust this subject here).
SEEK: Actively pursue, focus on, put into your daily activity those things that move you toward the goal (A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were visiting our friends, and WME board member, Garland and Dana Crowell in Colorado. He asked me if I wanted breakfast, and I told him no, we usually don't eat breakfast....and don't worry, when we get hungry we will seek out food! People that know me are aware that I inevitably find it!)
FIRST: Not ONLY....but FIRST...as your Priority. It doesn't mean quit your job, climb a mountain and wait for Angels to deliver Manna. However, the disciples priority is God's Kingdom.
KINGDOM: God's rule....on earth as it is in heaven.......In your life, through obedience to God's Word and Spirit....and in this world, through Kingdom mission (By the way, Ralph Winter's last revision of his article on Eras of Mission History in the new Perspectives Reader, 4th edition, is very interesting in this regard...I recommend it for perusal).
RIGHTEOUSNESS: God's righteousness given in Christ to us, through faith (which saves us)....leading to righteous acts of service in this earth (which saves others, as they respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom that comes to them through our service).
That is a lot to think about, so I think I need to boil that down for myself. So let's look at that in the PPAV (Parish Paraphrased Application Version).
"Put your relationship with God and obedience to God's Word first....and God will take care of you. Don't worry....you can trust Him."
That is the Kingdom of God Economic Stimulus Package....and it did not raise the deficit or require an act of congress. Hallelujah!
I was on the way to pick Randy and Martin up for our work today, and was listening to the radio. I heard an ad for an upcoming 4 part class on surviving and thriving in these difficult economic times. It was a Christian program and I am sure that it will be very practical and good. But it got me thinking....I know of a great economic stimulus package that is workable in any economy. Here it is:
"But seek first his (God's) kingdom and his (God's) righteousness, and all these things (the things that you would be worried about, your material needs of clothing and food and basic necessities) will be given to you as well" NIV and PAV (Parish Amplified Version).
That is Matthew 6:33 and it is the most reliable economic plan in existence. It works in any country, any culture, any form of government, and in any economic situation.
Notice that is a promise of our needs met, not a get rich quick scheme. There are other promises and principles in Scripture that give additional insight in terms of finances, provision, and prosperity. But this Scripture is specifically to remove worry about our survival. I look at this as a foundational, bottom line kind of principle. It is the place to start. It is the safety net in times like these, and the springboard to obedience to all of God's commands relative to money. It is the first thing that a disciple of Jesus should be taught about money.
Look at the specifics. It is a promise connected to a condition. That means it is NOT just a promise to claim. It IS a promise to claim after the condition has been met.
The Promise: All these things....material needs....will be supplied to you.
The Condition: Seek first God's Kingdom and God's righteousness.
So how does one meet this condition? What does it mean to seek first God's Kingdom and righteousness? Here is my take on it (and I am open to learning more....I don't claim to exhaust this subject here).
SEEK: Actively pursue, focus on, put into your daily activity those things that move you toward the goal (A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were visiting our friends, and WME board member, Garland and Dana Crowell in Colorado. He asked me if I wanted breakfast, and I told him no, we usually don't eat breakfast....and don't worry, when we get hungry we will seek out food! People that know me are aware that I inevitably find it!)
FIRST: Not ONLY....but FIRST...as your Priority. It doesn't mean quit your job, climb a mountain and wait for Angels to deliver Manna. However, the disciples priority is God's Kingdom.
KINGDOM: God's rule....on earth as it is in heaven.......In your life, through obedience to God's Word and Spirit....and in this world, through Kingdom mission (By the way, Ralph Winter's last revision of his article on Eras of Mission History in the new Perspectives Reader, 4th edition, is very interesting in this regard...I recommend it for perusal).
RIGHTEOUSNESS: God's righteousness given in Christ to us, through faith (which saves us)....leading to righteous acts of service in this earth (which saves others, as they respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom that comes to them through our service).
That is a lot to think about, so I think I need to boil that down for myself. So let's look at that in the PPAV (Parish Paraphrased Application Version).
"Put your relationship with God and obedience to God's Word first....and God will take care of you. Don't worry....you can trust Him."
That is the Kingdom of God Economic Stimulus Package....and it did not raise the deficit or require an act of congress. Hallelujah!
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