I had the opportunity to consider and discuss this a couple of times this week:
Ephesians 1:17: “[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know….. (Then he mentions three things)
“What is the hope to which he has called you.” (to behold and become the likeness of Christ in the world to fulfill God’s will.)
“What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” ****
“What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (that is, the incomparable power of the Holy Spirit that resides in followers of Christ!)
**** As I’ve reflected on this in the context of some encounters with human needs around me, “… the riches of his inheritance in the saints” seems to be the gifts and resources God has placed at the disposal of his people, his church, to be used for those in need who share in faith in the Lord.
There are two economies… the kingdom economy and the culture’s economy….
The culture’s economy is focused on each one’s ability to secure for himself all that he can, based on his own ability and for his own use.
The kingdom economy acknowledges that all is God’s and is made graciously and generously available to us through our diligent labor to accomplish his purposes in blessing our families and the family of God! If we are faithful in working “as unto the Lord”, and in giving the first fruits to the Lord, he will meet our needs and give us a spirit of generosity to meet the needs of others, too. THIS is the riches of the glory of our inheritance in Christ that is stored and held in trust and in stewardship among his saints!
When a need arises with one, God has already made provision for the need to be met through resources that exist among his people. The key is to be in community, loving, serving, and celebrating one another, so that those resources can be
known and be made available. This isn’t “Socialism”, it’s family taking care of family. This is not government taking over families’ and communities’ responsibility TO one another in order to be responsible FOR all.
The operation of this kingdom economy accrues to God’s glory, our good, and others’ gain!
I shared it with my women at Titus 2. They benefit from the kingdom economy every single week as people donate clothing, produce, household items, personal care items, etc. I also shared it with a formerly homeless man my husband and I discipled the last 2.5 years who is now adequately housed, economically stable, remarried, caring for his 2 grade school age children, and an active family within our church. He and I miscommunicated on a transaction involving him assisting another start up ministry with some needed labor during a seasonal mill layoff from his primary job in return for me giving him a working car, washer/ dryer and some other household belongings that Titus 2 inherited when the elderly lady whose needs I attended to over the last 2 years died. He decided he needed to be paid the going contractors’ wage for the needed assistance that involved 6 hours of painting and framing up a concrete pad ( all supplies provided) since it’s Christmas and he has family obligations. When I explained how kingdom economy works so that the needs of all God’s people get the support they need, he grasped the concept immediately and he apologized and realized the amount of support he himself receives (free training in construction skills from a construction missionary in our group), financial assistance to secure a work truck and almost new 16′ trailer to do side work lawn care and pressure washing, numerous referrals for various handyman or moving jobs among our faith community, free baby sitting from me, as a surrogate grandmother to his children, assistance getting his wife the necessary sponsorship for immigration change of status (she is Jamaican), and more. I told him if he’d prefer to work under the culture’s economy, I’ll pay him market rate for his labor, but he’ll be subject to me having to secure competitive bids and he’ll have reduced access to the “freebies” of resources that he now enjoys. Those things he gets first dibs on will have to be sold instead for me to pay his market contractors’ rates. One can either be kingdom “family” with access to the resources we share among us and know that we all help serve one another, as we are able or he can live in the culture’s economy. We’ll respect his choice and still love and embrace him in community. After Hurricane Michael’s devastation many of us discovered the blessing and tremendous value of trusting in the kingdom economy….call it barter, co-op, or neighborliness….. My 93 yo friend called it “The Pass Over Club”…. when one comes into possession of resources beyond his own need, they pass over the excess to others! Family, neighbors, and friends learn to live this way in Christ.
I think this is the essence of “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”….. the rich inheritance in Christ that is in his people.
Recently, as community care minister, I facilitated a brake job for a mother who works as a classroom para while attending online classes to complete her Bachelor’s degree who’s husband lost his job due to injury that required back surgery. She works some hours in our children’s ministry in childcare. I approved a transmission repair and found temporary housing for a woman who moved here to share an apartment with a college friend from years ago. When they discovered their lives had taken different directions, she was stranded. I facilitate our church benevolence committee paying multiple utility bills each month, provide referrals for food, clothing, and other household needs. $1000 was secured from a member for Christmas gifts for 5 developmentally disabled children who live in a state certified group home run by a member family. We assisted with funeral needs for a homeless man who was a former boyfriend of a lady in my program who died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a heater in a shed where he was living. All of this is facilitated through the kingdom economy…. the rich inheritance in Christ in his people. 😊