#WISDOMSample

Kingdom Economics

People face trade-offs; the cost of something is what you have to give up to get it.

This principle forms the foundation of economics. Economics has been defined as the study of scarcity, the study of how people use resources, and my personal favorite, the study of decision-making.

Jesus invites us into a very specific way to make decisions and use our resources as His followers. I like to call this God’s Kingdom economics. In these last chapters of Proverbs, you have probably noticed how a common theme running through these Proverbs is how God values people, no matter their social, financial, or racial circumstance.

God’s Kingdom Economics is a way of viewing people and God’s creation that is opposite of the dog-eat-dog and survival-of-the-fittest mentality of the world.

Proverbs 29:7 is a great example of God’s Kingdom economics at work where it says, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” If you look at this trade-off purely from a standpoint that asks - ‘If I work toward justice for the poor, what can they give me in return?” - then you will never be able to get a good financial return on your investment.

However, God’s Kingdom Economics is not the same as the economics of the world. This is because what God values is not the same as what the world values.

When the members of God’s Kingdom begin wisely valuing the things God values, it improves the condition of everyone involved in the system. Walking in wisdom by valuing what God values will require sacrifice. This sacrifice will be difficult in the eyes of the world, but sacrifice is giving up something you love for the sake of something you love more.

When God’s people make sacrifices for what God values, there is a return on investment that is richer than anyone could ever imagine.

What is God calling you to invest in?