People are driven by the anti-Kingdom emotion of fear, covetousness, and greed, which are polar opposites of love. At this level, there's always the need to amass more things to present an artificial face of prosperity. Then, you must fight the dreadful consequences of not having enough money to pay for acquisitions, and the need to make more money in order to support everything you thought the initial money would fund. The frightening part of this deception is how much it portrays ordinary Christians in America. We're burdened by the fact that our current economy permits ordinary men to purchase things only wealthy men could just a few decades earlier, which is dangerous.
Many individuals have excelled in the principles of finance and reaped great rewards. They applied the law of seedtime and harvest. But they did not learn the secret of distribution. The consequence is that they have found money to be a tremendous burden. Why? I believe Lord Francis Bacon discovered and delivered an important key of explanation. He said: "Money is a great treasure that only increases as you give it away." Anyone who has read the teachings of Jesus knows this is a Kingdom principle. If we don't learn the secrets of distribution, we'll find ourselves hoarding, strapped with financial worries, and burdened most of the time. More than likely, we'll climb aboard the ship of consumerism and materialism and acquisitions, getting us involved in things the Father never intended us to get involved with.
We must understand economic strategies from a Kingdom perspective
What is happening in the world's culture is that most people want more money without actually understanding money. Anytime we receive something without the gift of understanding, we will more than likely abuse it. If you are among the misguided earthlings who believe more money equates to more happiness and joy, your bubble is about to burst.
Although our purchasing power has been greater than at any time in the last 100 years, the polls will tell you people are less happy and more depressed than ever before. Anything in the commodity and consumer category cannot make us happier. It's the meaningful things of purpose, the issues connected to legacy, and greater obedience that produces greater happiness in the Kingdom!
Placing your happiness in a consume-all-I-want basket makes your joy extremely vulnerable, as many people have now discovered in the current economic conditions. True, lasting joy is in the Kingdom! The teachings of the Kingdom develop the God-like traits, strengths, and talents in every Kingdom citizen, pressing everyone to keep the bigger picture in mind. Such things as love, creativity, kindness, service to others, and gratitude are universal characteristics of Christ's nature. Therefore, what really makes each of us happy and joyful is to be other-people centered. The greatest service and love can only be expressed outside of ourselves. Kingdom distribution permits us to express natural, internal traits and strengths constant with who we have become in Christ. A much more reliable foundation for joy is established when we behave out of the Christ nature instead of filling our lives with commodities.
Gene Strite is CEO of L&S Stone and a pioneer founder of World Harvest Outreach. Visit his website at www.whoc.org/
