From 12/19/21. CBB
A friend of mine died recently. Many knew him and those who knew him well knew him as a generous and kind person. Many people had stories of him coming to the aid of someone by providing for or making contact on someone’s behalf to provide for a need. You probably know people like that. In your church, in your neighborhood, in your community. Such people are part of the Kingdom Economy of God. That is an altogether different way of living than the Contract Economy of the Culture. It is the economy by which Christan believers help take care of one another, first and foremost, as well as tend to the needs of others around them. It doesn’t take the place of their jobs and their families. But in times of crisis, especially, it supplements jobs and families and bridges gaps. For those without families or with broken or hurting families, it seeks to draw them into the Family of God where they can be comforted, nurtured and find hope and healing.
We get glimpses of it in scripture:
Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together (this is the church) and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (This is how churches often start. Some people continue to do that. Others tithe and give offerings from their income.)
Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. ( it is within the ranks of Christs believers, his saints, where the riches of the glory of his inheritance, the gospel, and the resources of his Father are hidden. All good blessings we possess are made available for us to fulfill our calling to make his Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.)
Matthew 5: 5
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ( when we are submitted to the Lord in humble meekness, we are teachable and we learn to live in the Kingdom Economy making our gifts and resources available to others as needed, as unto the Lord.
Bill was a Kingdom Economy person, as are others I know, in fact, many I know. I have learned a lot about Kingdom Economy by watching some of them. And I teach some others about it. It’s taught through discipling use of our prayers, our presence, our gifts our service, and our witness for God’s glory, our good, and other’s gain.