IN GOD’S ECONOMY

Proverbs 16:11 (KJV)

A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

I was surprised, when I became a Christian, to hear the word “economy” used as it often is.

Mostly I hear preacher’s speak about

·   The Old Testament economy or

·   The New Testament economy

It sounded strange to me because I tend to associate the word economy with money.

Economic measures are financial measures

A thriving economy means jobs are plentiful and there is money to spend

The word economy really means “organization or system of management.”

And according to Webster’s Dictionary the archaic definition is, “The management of household or private affairs and especially expenses.”[1]

I read this verse this week and it occurred to me that doing honest business is “the management of God’s household and private affairs.”

I think of it like this – all business is God’s business. He owns the weights of the bag.

It is right for Christians to be honest in all our business because all of our business belongs to God.

Firstly,

*I. HE OWNS THE GOODS WE WANT TO BUY

Joshua 6:19 (KJV)

But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

When Israel prepared to conquer the city of Jericho God warned them that they were not to take anything from the city for themselves because it was all consecrated, which means belonging, to God.

·   The silver

·   The gold

·   The vessels even

·   The clothing[2]

it all belonged to God.

So when Achan took that silver and that gold and that “goodly Babylonish garment” he stole them from God.

Isn’t it true that all sin should be considered first of all a sin against God?

Psalms 51:1-4 (KJV)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

One of the best reasons not to steal something is because it is firstly stealing from God.

Secondly

*II. HE OWNS THE CURRENCY WITH WHICH WE BUY IT

Haggai 2:8 (KJV)

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

When it comes to our money God owns:

A. The treasure upon which we base it

I mean the natural resources that exist in this earth.

The Continental Congress printed paper money to pay the soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

The paper was basically only as good as their word, which meant it was practically worthless if they were not able to win the war and get other backers.

Once the war was over and the debt created by their paper money was paid, Congress passed a new law that all money had to be backed by gold.

A dollar was only printed if there was a dollar’s worth of gold stashed away somewhere.

Somewhere after the civil war our country entered a financial crisis and the first hint of an economic decline was when politicians began debating whether we couldn’t just as safely back our currency with silver.

We didn’t print a dollar unless there was a dollar’s worth of silver stashed away somewhere.

The in the 1960’s politicians did what our founding father’s would have thought was unthinkable. We began printing money backed only by our word.

That means our money today is only as good as the word of those our country borrows from. It’s basically worthless.

All real value comes from God because God claims possession of all gold and silver.

His name gives the silver and gold its value – not the other way around.

B. The skills with which we generate it and

C. The health by which we earn it

Earning money takes two things:

·   A marketable skill and

·   Health to work

If you have the ability to learn a skill

1. Do it (learn the skill) and

2. Thank God for it

Not everyone does.

If you have health to work

1. Thank God for it

2. Get out there and get busy

Finally,

*III. HE OWNS THE MEANS BY WHICH OUR PURCHASE IS MADE

Proverbs 16:11 (KJV)

A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.

Almost everything in Biblical times was traded off a balance scale.

It still is today but it’s more difficult to see the scale these days.

One of the easiest ways to cheat someone on a sale was to weights that were not marked correctly - you pay for ten pounds of flour but you only get 9.75 lbs. and you don’t know it because the weights are light.

The accuracy of the weights is based on truth and trust.

Those belong to God.

We live today in a world that has little respect for Christianity. That is based in part by those who have claimed to be Christians but have not been good for their word.

·   They made a promise they did not keep

·   They claimed a thing was true that the Bible does not teach

·   They lived in a manner that was not consistent with faith

In other words, they were dishonest.

And because of it they robbed God of trustworthiness and truthfulness.

Your testimony is the currency upon which faith in Jesus Christ is traded.

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[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/economy, accessed 10-21-17

[2] Achan stole from God a Babylonish garment. Joshua 7:21