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| Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash |
God's provision expands to meet our obedience. One of the great mysteries in our faith, and our exploration of generosity, is how God chooses to provide for us even as He asks us to give sacrificially. Someone unfamiliar with Jesus' teachings might say, "Why not simply let everyone simply take care of their own needs rather than do all this radical giving back and forth?" After all, it can start looking like a big swap meet.
But is that what is going on? Without a faith lens you might think so, but if you are listening to Jesus and watching the Kingdom economy work, the picture starts to look different. In Mark chapter 10, the story of the rich young ruler's discussion with Jesus provides a powerful example. Notice how the young man called Jesus "good" and then Jesus went on to question his description. Why did Jesus push back? The man wanted to know what he was supposed to do, but Jesus wanted him to "be" who he was made to be. Jesus tested the man's "good" description by challenging him to do something that would require Jesus to live up to that name.
So at this point in the story, ask yourself this question, "Did Jesus need the man's money?" The simple answer is "no," but the more complex answer is "yes, because the man saw his money as 'good' for him and that was getting in the way of Jesus being the Good News in his life."
When Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, asks something of us, that is the opportunity for us grow into the people He designed us to be: a people defined by generosity. The Spirit's prompting to share an idea with someone is His challenge to us, "Will you share your possessions and watch me provide?"
Now we aren't taking about a prosperity gospel where our gifts require God to give us what we want. What we are talking about is the Kingdom economy. When you respond to the Holy Spirit and give, God takes that gift and uses it to bless the person receiving it. At the same time, He is prompting others to be generous with you. The more obedient we are as a community, the more provision God makes possible.
What makes it different than what you hear from so many television preachers is that the provision isn't on your terms. God's generosity-driven economy less to spiritual growth for all those involved as they give, receive and respond in obedience to God's purposes. That spiritual growth also comes as God provides in unexpected ways that cause us to reimagine our needs and plans.
God might want you to serve the poor in a distant land. That actually requires a lot of resources to make it possible for you to serve there. Or He might want you to have the time to sit with someone who is suffering. That also takes the generosity of others to cover for you at work or home. He might want you to share your very emotional testimony. That requires energy to be exerted and someone to pick up the tasks you needed to invest that energy in.
Now sometimes, God's calling asks you to invest resources that are discretionary . . . meaning that you have to decide not to do something you wanted to do in order to do what God has asked of you. So instead of working on your next book this afternoon, you might spend that mental energy doing Sudoku puzzles with your aunt.
Notice what fuels God's economy . . . faith, obedience and generosity. First you trust that God is good and wants the best for you. Second, you respond to God's call with action. Finally your generosity strengthens the faith of others through provision to their needs.
The Kingdom economy has a clear set of principles like any economy. And applying those principles in our lives means that we will know what is expected of us and what we can expect in return. The difference is that the energy in the economy isn't generated by us. Instead God provides the energy that makes the Kingdom economy move.
Most people have not felt the benefit of this Kingdom economy. The reason is actually very simple. Unless you enter into an economy and live by it's rules, you will mostly watch it work from the sideline. I can think of countless examples from capitalism and socialism. Most Christians haven't actually bought into God's economy. It seems too crazy to actually work and so we try to use multiple systems. But that doesn't work. You have to be all in to get the benefits.
Are you ready to go all in with God in His economy?
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