A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE

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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
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Biblical Definition of Economics

• Oikos means house or household
• Nomos means law or rules prescribed
• The law for management of the household.
• Household use in context of nation and
  neighbor.
• Neighbor in new testament includes all
  who are in need.

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• Involves the distribution of the
• physical resources of the household.
• Biblical Definition of Economics
• The Management of Gods household so that all
  may have life

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WORLD POVERTY

• 1.4 Billion are poor living on less than US
  1.25 per day.
• 630 million lives in extreme poverty facing daily
  problems of malnutrition, disease and
  contaminated water.
• 30 million children below age of 4 dies every
  year from preventable causes.
• Source World Bank Report Aug 2008

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WORLD WEALTH DISTRIBUTION

• Top 1 owns 40 of the worlds wealth
• Top 10 owns 85 of the worlds wealth
• Next 40 owns 14 of the worlds wealth
• Bottom 50 owns 1 of the worlds wealth.
• Source
• UN University World Inst For Dev Economics
  Research.
• International Assoc For Research in Income
  Wealth.

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• Biblical Definition of EconomicsThe Management
  of Gods Household so that all may have
  life
• Are There any Principles That God have commanded
  Us to Live by?

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WORLDLY V KINGDOM ECONOMICS
Private Ownership
God Owns Everything
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1. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING
GOD is the creator of the heavens and the earth
And the fullness thereof is HIS
Gen 11, Ps 241, Neh 9.6, Hag 28, 1 Chron
2911-14
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1. GOD OWNS EVERYTHING

• If God owns everything,
• what does that make me ?
• what are the implications?
• God as owner has rights,
• I as a steward have responsibilities.
• Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.
  My cheque book is a theological document.

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A Biblical Perspective

• Biblical Economics teaches
• God owns everything
• God has given us responsibility to manage His
  resources
• As stewards, we are accountable.

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Biblical Economics

• My Role as a steward of God
• To Use my God given abilities
• To Manage God owned assets
• To Accomplish God ordained
• purpose.

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Compare Contrast
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WORLDLY V KINGDOM ECONOMICS
Self
God
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2. PUT GOD FIRST

• But seek first the kingdom of God and His
  righteousness, and all these things shall be
  added to you Matt 633
• Honor the Lord with your wealth, with
  the first fruits of your increase, then your
  barns will be filled to overflowing, and your
  vats will overflow with new wine.
• 
  Prov 39

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What is Scripture saying?

• Focus on Kingdom advancement
• not personal survival.

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WORLDLY V KINGDOM ECONOMICS
Money Possessions
God
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• Do we trust God for our eternal life, but
  
• wont trust Him for our daily bread?

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3. The Lord is Our God not Money

• No one can serve two masters. Either he will
  hate the one and love the other, or he will be
  devoted to the one and despise the other. You
  cannot serve God and money. Matt 624
• Money competes with God
• for Lordship of your life.

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• God has no problem with us having money. It is
  in Gods perfect will for us to be prosperous.
  He has problem with us serving it.

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Biblical Revelations

• God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His
  servants. ( Psm
  3527 )
• The blessings of the Lord brings wealth and He
  adds no sorrow to it. ( Prov 1022 )
• That you may prosper in all things and be in
  health, just as your soul prospers.
• 
  ( 3 Jn 22 )
• Jer 2911, 1 Tim 617-18, Ps 3726, Joel
  226, Deut 282-11,
• 2 Chron 265

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But why would God want to bless us?

• That through us,
• as stewards
• of these blessings,
• the world may be blessed!

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The Key to this Prosperityis encapsulated
inTHE PRINCIPLE OF GIVING
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WORLDLY V KINGDOM ECONOMICS
Money Possessions
God
Credit
Christ
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Life is in Christ not Credit

• Jesus said I have come that they may have life
  and have it more abundantly.
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  Jn 1010
• And my God will meet all your need according to
  His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
  Phil 419

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4. Life is in Christ not Credit
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• A fortress of our salvation.
• A shelter from the storm.
• A stronghold in times of trouble.
• An ever present help in times of
  need.
• Ps 288, Isa 254, Ps 99, 461

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The Source of All Hope

• The hope that you have in Jesus shall always be
  an anchor to your soul, firm and secure.
• Heb 619

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• People go through three conversions their head,
  their heart and their cheque book. Unfortunately,
  not all at the same time.
  Martin Luther

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PERSONAL PREPARATION

• MENTAL and EMOTIONAL.
• Take responsibility of situation. Dont blame
  others. Dont be in denial.
• Manage what you have against wishing for more.
• Dont be overly obsessed with working for a
  specific level of salary.
• Do you already know what you can do to earn money
  if you cant be employed?

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• PUT YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER
• Begin a serious and systematic campaign against
  your debt starting with the most costly to the
  least.
• Consider right sizing your home and your
  expenditures.
• Build up reserves in savings a/c for at least one
  year expenditures.
• Start Budgeting know your expenses.
• Dont cling to what you cannot defend.
• Know your options. Seek counsel.

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The Irreducible Minimum

• Work Hard.
• Spend wisely and live within your means.
• Save consistently.
• Give generously.
• Practice honesty.
• Avoid Debt.
• Seek counsel.

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Your Best Preparation Will always be Spiritual

• Seek God first in prayer and wait upon Him.
• God has promised to meet your needs according to
  His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• The hope that you put in Jesus will always be an
  anchor to your soul, firm and secure.