[The Midweek Encounter is a ministry of Encounter Church in Kentwood, MI. These posts are reflections on Sunday's message, which can be heard here each week: http://myencounterchurch.org/#/messages-media]
Here is a current definition of Consumer Economics: a branch of economics; It is a broad field, principally concerned with microeconomic analysis behavior in units of consumers, families, or individuals.
What? Microeconomic analysis? Whatever. I never did get that degree.
This week at Encounter, we got schooled in some Kingdom Economics. This too is a broad field, concerned with all aspects of human behavior. A financial behavior Pastor Dirk taught us was the three jar method of SPEND, SAVE, & SHARE. He pointed out that the SAVE jar is really a SPEND jar on future me! Doesn’t that make saving easier? However our focus this week was remembering to look at the SHARE jar with this principal from God’s economy (so very different than a consumer economy), that being generous today will change the world tomorrow.
The SHARE jar has in it potential to be useful for helping alleviate need. Paul writes to Jesus followers in Corinth with the Jerusalem followers in mind. Paul says: Remember, how you plant will influence what you reap. Plant little, reap little. Plant strife, reap discord. Plant generously, reap abundance. The church - our fellow followers in Jerusalem have great need. You have great abundance. You offered a gift; be ready; be generous; I’m on my way to get and deliver your SHARE jar.
The SHARE jar has potential for heart change. Giving something away requires decision about where, when, and how much. Giving something away also comes with attitude. Sharing what we consider ours can look like prying off fingers, or handing over dutifully. Sometimes it's done with letting-go panic; religious guilt; reluctance. Paul doesn’t address what amount or percent of our means to consider, he addresses the posture of our heart, the most important part of giving.
“Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9: 7-8
Kingdom Economics: God provides for us. He instructs us to be good stewards of all that we have. He opens up opportunities for us to participate in Kingdom work by sharing some of what we have. But wait, there’s more: God provides more, an abundance in fact, so we may have plenty left over to share. We give a portion. God gives abundance. We will always be able to give generously because of how God’s economy works. If we remember that, why would we give any other way than cheerfully, eagerly, faithfully, willingly, gratefully?
A cheerful giver might offer something other than money. Time, talent, or even a four-legged treasure. Scotch once belonged to my daughter Lauren. She spent a lot of her life on his back riding, jumping, competing in 4-H. When Lauren was in college JR and I moved from Colorado where Scotch lived, to Florida, so Lauren tried to find a home for her handsome horse in MI. The search ended with a heart breaking realization she might have to sell him. Many years earlier some friends of ours talked about starting a therapy ranch for families who had all different types of needs. Lauren reached out to them to find out their ranch status. They had moved onto the perfect place and were starting to bring on the animals. The day prior to Lauren's call, Kaarin, the owner, had just returned two donated unhealthy horses. She was discouraged. After a long conversation with Kaarin, Lauren told us that she was going to give Scotch and all of his tack to Kaarin. Scotch, now known as Butterscotch, became Guided Hope’s first horse, the patriarch, and carrier of all the smallest children. The Lord provided Scotch for Lauren for a season of life and she was abundantly blessed. She decided to share him with Guided Hope, and he continues to bless others in need.
We need the reminder of God’s Kingdom Economics. We need reminders of what giving translates into; how it changes our heart; how it changes a broader world. We need to be reminded as our fellow followers in Corinth were reminded that cheerful giving is trust in God’s abundance and results in thanksgiving.
[Laura DeGroot likes to laugh out loud, drink good coffee and eat delicious food...with Jesus her family and friends. She has lived from the West to the East coast but Grand Rapids is home as of one whole year. As The Caffeinated Woman, she speaks to groups of people about how ordinary life is profoundly better knowing an Extraordinary God, and works at Art Of The Table. And she loves books.]
[Laura DeGroot likes to laugh out loud, drink good coffee and eat delicious food...with Jesus her family and friends. She has lived from the West to the East coast but Grand Rapids is home as of one whole year. As The Caffeinated Woman, she speaks to groups of people about how ordinary life is profoundly better knowing an Extraordinary God, and works at Art Of The Table. And she loves books.]
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