There is one place I always like to start in Scripture when I want to get focused on Father's heart and Kingdom economics. I believe in Kingdom economics. I believe that the Lord intends for us to be prosperous in everything and to use this prosperity to bring a form of equality. In this he will be glorified to the nations. There will never be perfect equality because we live in a broken world but we should come very close to it in the Church, which is Kingdom culture on earth.
The place I like to start is in Deuteronomy 15 because here we can see the intention our Father had for Israel. Here in verse four he says that there will be no poor in Israel because he would prosper the people in their obedience to him. He promised them great stuff if they walked in obedience. Simple. But then a few verses later he gives instructions in case there are poor among them.
Father knew that not everyone would manage to walk in obedience so there would be those who failed to enter into prosperity. It was more than just a reward for obedience that he was promising. The Law itself was the building block for prosperity. A society based on honour would lend itself to the success of every citizen and that is where the Law would bring this nation, to a culture of honour.
Father knew some would fail but he did not tell the nation to cast those people out. He told them to surround them in loving support. He told them to share the wealth, to give to them whatever they asked for and not to resent it. This was the method by which equality would be achieved, that everyone would be honoured, and poverty would be destroyed. As I already stated, in this culture of honour God would be glorified to the nations. Perfect, right? It should have been.
The one great failure in all of creation is us. We keep getting in the way of our own success because we keep putting ourselves in the middle of everything. It is hard for us to take a supporting role. But when we see our role as helping other people become successful we begin reaching the pinnacle of our purpose. And in a culture of honour, as I am occupied with your success someone else is occupied with my success.
The Royal Law, as James calls it, is "Love and respect your neighbour as you love and respect yourself". Unfortunately, the self-centered attitude lends itself to mental illness so that we do not even love and respect ourselves.
How about the golden rule, another one that Jesus gave us, "Do to others what you would have them do to you"? Once again our self-centeredness changes it to "I'll do to you whatever you do to me".
This we can understand in a broken world. The only thing that will fix it is the transformation that Jesus offers. But this self-centered culture should never exist among brothers and sisters of Christ. It isn't the Lord's way so it shouldn't be ours. We realize that everything we have has been given for the benefit of the Body of Christ. Not for the most deserving but for anyone who is in need. Father does not qualify this directive to the Israelites but Jesus made it plan with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
A lot of judgement has crept into the Kingdom Culture which means it isn't Kingdom Culture at all but a cheap knock off. Father made it clear, mercy is greater than judgement. Jesus stated that the merciful are blessed and will receive mercy. He said that we will reap what we sow. He has made it clear to us, just as Father made it clear to Israel that those who receive blessing have the responsibility to share those blessings even with those they may deem to be unworthy.
The issue is not capitalism or socialism. The issue is, are we obedient citizens of the Kingdom of God, learning to live by his culture in a foreign land?
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