GOD’S ECONOMY

I’m facilitating a new women’s Bible group. We are doing the Tony Evans study titled Kingdom Woman. In the opening video of this series, Evans goes into great detail about the value of each woman to God, no matter what they have been through in life, using the analogy of a $100 bill – no matter if you wrinkle it, stomp it into the ground, spit on it or tear it in half, it is still a $100 bill. 

Many women are hungry to hear, know and understand their place in God’s heart and plan. Evans outlines that the woman was first God’s and then God took her to man to be a his wife, and that she is always subject to Him first and to her husband only so long as he follows God.  

It is true that in mankind’s history, and in many cultures still, men have oppressed women and used their God-given authority to “lord it over” at the least and physically, mentally or emotionally abuse them at the worst. 

So, is it time to turn the tables? Time for empowered women to give men their “just rewards?” 

No. That isn’t the way Christianity works. That isn’t the way God’s economy works.

In the world’s economy, you typically have to push others down to rise up. Often those who get ahead the fastest in business are those who take an adversarial stance – who don’t share information, who don’t offer help to anyone else, who hoard the best opportunities and spread the word about the faults of others. 

In God’s economy, we never have to put another down in order to rise up. In fact, the more we help others rise up, the better we prosper ourselves. 

Philippians 2:3-4 [NIV] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

This is, in fact, the example that Jesus set for us. Jesus gave up greatness to walk in humility and His reward was even greater exaltation.

Philippians 2:5-9 [NIV] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a [stake]! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Those considered “great” in God’s economy are those who serve others. Matthew 20:25-28 [NIV] Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." [Emphasis mine]

It makes no sense in the word’s economy (which is really Satan’s economy) to achieve greatness by being the slave of another. Truthfully, putting others first, considering the needs of another over yourself, may mean you make less profit as a business owner. It may mean you get passed over for that new mid-management position. It will mean you never “pay back” the oppression you have received at the hand of a boss or coworker and we never “pay it forward” when it comes to mistreating those we have authority over just because it was done to us. In God’s economy, we pass up the chance to sew doubt in the bosses mind about the other person who is up for a job we want. Instead, we mention their good qualities. We treat those we supervise with the respect that we felt we were never given. We accept responsibility for what goes wrong and share credit for what goes right. 

In God’s economy, even if you find yourself first in line, it doesn’t mean you will be the first rewarded. Matthew 19:30 [NIV] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

God’s economy makes no sense from a human, carnal, worldly point of view. Part of the problem with the world’s economy is that not everyone can win. But in God’s economy, everyone gets a prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24 [NIV] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

EVERYONE gets a crown! 2 Timothy 4:7-8 [NIV] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

That is, I guess, one of the biggest reason’s that God’s economy actually works the way it does: there is room in the winner’s circle for everyone. So, we don’t need to jockey for limited space or limited rewards. To paraphrase Oprah: “you get a crown, and you get a crown and you get a crown!” 

You are of great value to the Father, sweet sisters. Never forget that. And the more you help, care for, and esteem others, the greater your value in God’s economy – both now and in the Kingdom. 

I welcome your thoughts, comments and questions.  You can write to me at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.