MARKETPLACE  MINISTRY 

 
Kingdom Economics
 

"So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant" (Josh 24:13).

In the world of business we are taught to do whatever it takes to produce a desired outcome. Competitive forces can drive companies to go beyond the limits of ethics and integrity to achieve a desired outcome. Men and women can become work-a-holics as the need for competitive advantage is passed down the various management levels in order to meet sales and marketing goals. This sweat and toil mentality contradicts God's Kingdom Economy.

The Kingdom Economy is found in the above verse in Joshua. When the people of Israel were coming out of Egypt, a place of sweat and toil and slavery, God was trying to teach them a new economy of receiving. Instead of sweat and toil, He wanted them to learn obedience. Now their income would be based on their obedience, not their skill or their sweat and toil.

This new Kingdom Economy meant that there would be times when what you receive from your efforts might be less than the commensurate time invested. Yet, there would also be times when you would receive more compared to your time invested.

I used to determine whether I would meet with a person based on my perceived return on that investment. I justified that behavior as being a good steward. God says we are to determine if He wants us to meet with that person or be involved with an endeavor based on His leading alone, not based on the perceived outcome. It is His responsibility to bring fruit from the activity.

There are a good number of you who have not availed yourselves of joining at least one of the Bible study groups or small group fellowships listed in the church bulletin.  As the saying goes, "Try it, you'll like it!"

Or, if the current groups are located too inconveniently from you, start your own group or host one and let us know so we can get someone to lead out for your proposed group that you want to host.

Pastor Tony Luciano will give a video seminar on "Building a Biblical Community" whose main thrust is to re-focus the aim of small groups to become "transforming groups" in society. All small group leaders and leaders-to-be are invited to attend this meeting on Sunday, October 30, at 2:00 p.m.