God's Economic System

By Dr. John Williams
(Founder/President of International Institute of Church Management of NY/INDIA)

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In this world, we hear a lot about the economic systems of various nations, but we do not hear much about the economic system that operates in the Kingdom of God.  God knows about economics more than anybody else.  He is the source of all supplies and riches.  He is the Creator of every material thing that is on the planet earth.  As a matter of fact, he created every planet in the space.  The Bible is the only book that deals with the subject of God's economic system.  When we are born into the Kingdom of God, we become a part of the economic system of God, where God's spiritual laws of divine prosperity operate.  In this section, an attempt will be made to enumerate a list of important economic variables and to describe them in the context of God's economic system. The economic variables that have been chosen for this purpose are ownership, control, amount of resources, inflation, employment, lending and borrowing, demand and supply, return on investment, economic risks, fairness and justice, opportunities for investment, etc.   In God's economic system, there are unlimited resources of everything and it is God who owns and controls them.  The supply is unlimited but the demand is very low.  There are also unlimited opportunities for employment in the kingdom of God.  The Bible says that the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).  The supply of goods is always on time in God's Kingdom.  It is never too early and it is never too late. The word 'inflation' does not mean anything in God's Kingdom, because cost is immaterial.

God has promised to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  He will supply money according to our needs or in many instances, He supplies what we need regardless of the cost.  In God's Kingdom, all of our needs are supplied.  We will not lack any good thing (Psalms 34:10).  When we are living in God's Kingdom, we may look like we have nothing but yet we possess all things, which means, we will get whatever we want whenever we need.  In God's Kingdom, no one will lack anything and everyone will have all sufficiency in all things to abound in every good work (II Corinthians 9:8).  The very purpose of giving everyone everything in an abundant measure is to enable them to be liberal givers and to be involved in every good work.  In God's Kingdom, we have the richest economy.  Therefore, no one will borrow but everyone will lend.  In God's economic system, the seekers of the Kingdom of God will have their trust in God only, and not in material riches.  When they invest in the Kingdom of God, they will receive a hundred-fold return (Mark 10:29, 30).  The success rate in God's economic system is also one hundred percent. Psalms 1:3 says that whatever we do shall prosper. Therefore, there is absolutely no risk whatsoever in God's economic system. God's economic system is very stable, predictable and controllable.  There is also fairness and justice in God's economic system.  Therefore, one need not worry or fear about one's future needs.  When a person becomes a part of God's economic system, his goal will be to give others freely and liberally and to support not only the gospel work, but every good work.

In order to explain the difference between the economic systems of the world and the economic system that prevails in God's kingdom, a comparative analysis is made in this chapter in a tabular form between the economic systems of the United States, India and the Kingdom of God.

A. What Is God's Economic System?
God is the creator of the whole universe and the sole owner of every planet and everything that is in them.  Everything that is in the world has been created and controlled by God.  God's economic resources are a lot more than what we can see in this world as tangible physical substances or materials.  He has more riches in the spiritual realm than what is there on the planet earth.  God who reigns and rules the whole universe controls every aspect of life including the economics of the whole universe.  The Bible says that God gives power to man to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Every material resource that we have on this planet was created by God. God provides for the needs of man both naturally and supernaturally, and He has His own ways of controlling the economics of the nations of the world.  He has power to put someone in authority and to remove another one from his position (Psalms 75:7). The Bible says in Proverbs 21:1, that the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord.  The Bible also says in the book of Daniel that kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, but the Kingdom of God will literally fill the whole earth.  The Bible declares that God is reigning and ruling the whole universe.  The Bible touches on different aspects of God's economic system which overlays and transcends the economic systems of this world.  There are several references made in the Bible, either directly or indirectly (and not necessarily in the same words or terminologies that may be used by the economists of this world) about the employment, inflation, borrowing and lending, rich and poor, demand and supply, economic risks, fairness and justice, opportunities and risks, return on investment, citizenship and the rights of citizens, ownership, inheritance, possessions, taxes, stability and the predictability of their economic situation, etc. In the next section a comparative study has been made between the economic systems of this world and God's economic system. The economic system of one of the most highly developed nations of the world, namely the United States of America, and the economic system of one of the least developed and one of the backward nations of the world, namely India, have been compared and contrasted with the economic system of God.

B. World's Economic System Vs. God's Economic System
In order to compare God's economic system with the world's economic systems, several specific, significant and measurable economic variables have been selected.  As mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, a comparison of these variables will clearly indicate the superiority of God's economic system.

                1. In God's economic system God owns everything including what is on the planet earth.  In different economies of this world the ownership is divided between the government and the people in different proportions.  In the capitalistic economies the individuals owns a higher percentage of the wealth of the nations, whereas in socialistic and communistic economies a lower percentage of the wealth of the nations is owned by the people, relatively speaking.

             2. In God's economic system there are unlimited resources, while in the nations of this world resources are scarce and limited.

            3. In God's Kingdom the supply is high and the demand is low, whereas in this world the demand is high and the supply is low.

            4. In this world the inflation rate varies from a reasonably low rate to a significantly high rate, but in God's Kingdom there is no inflation at all, because God supplies all of the needs no matter what the cost is. 

            5. In God's Kingdom all the needs of the people are supplied on time.  There the supplies are never made too early or too late.  In the nations of this world no matter how well developed and how sophisticated and advanced  they may be in the area of transportation, communication and  infrastructure, there is a significant delay in supply of goods.

            6. In God's Kingdom no one will lack any good thing. Psalms 34:10 says, that the young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.  But in this world even in the richest nation people lack many good things. 

            7. In God's Kingdom it is guaranteed that if we abide by the laws of God we will have all sufficiency in all things to abound to every good work.  But in this world even the richest man will be reluctant to invest or contribute to every good cause. 

             8. The economy of God's Kingdom is unquestionably the richest economy and when we compare it with the economies of the different nations of this world, none of them by any means can come anywhere close to this standard.

            9. In God's Kingdom the Bible says that His children shall only be heads and not tails; be only above and not beneath; and only lend and not borrow (Deuteronomy 28;12-13).

            10. In God's Kingdom a hundred-fold return (10,000 %) is guaranteed to all investors, but in this world even one hundred per cent return is rare or unheard of.  In God's Kingdom God is looked upon as the source for all needs, whereas in this world people put their trust in various things such as gold, money, property, interest rate, stock market, supply and demand, legislation and several other economic variables. 

            11. In God's Kingdom people may look like they have nothing but yet they possess all things. Jesus Christ himself is a good example of this.  II Corinthians 6:10 says, regarding people in God's Kingdom, they look like they are sorrowful, but yet they are always rejoicing; they look like they are poor, yet they are making many rich; they look like they have nothing, yet they possess all things.  People that operate on Heaven's economy and the people whose names are written in Heaven's payroll may look like they have nothing but they get whatever they need, whenever they need. 

            12. Every citizen that belongs to a particular nation or economic system is expected to serve that nation or contribute to the economy of that nation in some way.  Therefore, it is mandatory and not optional for every citizen of the Kingdom of God to serve God in some meaningful and significant way.  He is also expected to pay taxes to God's Kingdom by way of tithes and offerings, according to biblical principles.

            13. While only certain things are possible to do in most nations, all things are possible in God's kingdom, when they live by faith (Mark 9:23).

            14. In God's Kingdom the opportunities are unlimited, while in many countries of this world the economic opportunities are relatively very low.

 T a b l e
A Comparative Study of the Economic
Systems of USA, India & The Kingdom of God

15.       In God's economic system there is absolute fairness and justice, while in no nation of this world, there is such fairness and justice. 

16.       When it comes to economic risk in God's Kingdom there is absolutely no risk of any kind, while in the economic systems of this world the risk rate varies from a reasonably low to a very high rate.  

17.       While unemployment is a very significant and critical problem,  in most of the economic systems of the world, in God's economic system there is so much of work to be done and the employment opportunities are unlimited (Matthew 10:37).

            A comparison is made, in the table given below, between the economic systems of India, U.S.A. and God's kingdom, in terms of the economic variables discussed above.                              

C. How Can We Become A Part of God's Economic System
One can enjoy divine prosperity and enjoy all the rights and privileges of a citizen in God's kingdom, by meeting the following requirements:

(i)   By becoming a citizen of God's Kingdom
(ii)  By serving in the Kingdom of God
(iii) By obeying the laws of the Kingdom of God
(iv) By paying tithes in the Kingdom of God
(v)  By making investments in the Kingdom of God
(i)   By becoming a citizen of God's kingdom

(i)   By becoming a citizen of God's Kingdom
As we know, only the citizen of a country can enjoy all the rights and privileges of that country in any nation.  Of course the citizen of a nation is also required to fulfill certain responsibilities and obligations.  John 3:3 says, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:5, says that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. So God has made a way for everyone to become citizens of the Kingdom of God. Luke 10:20 says, that our names are written in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says, that our citizenship is in heaven. People in this world are so much concerned about their national origin, nationality, permanent residency, citizenship and dual citizenship. Their status now in this world may have a lot of significance, but the fact is that our life on this earth is only for a short time. The Bible says that our life on this earth is like a shadow, vapour, smoke, grass, etc.  At the most a person may live up to 120 years. But in God's calendar of eternity even 120 years will be like a small speck.  The good news is that man's life does not end on this planet. This life on earth is only the first phase of our life.  The Bible talks about a seven-year period of tribulation after the secret coming of the Lord, when the saints of God will be raptured and be in the presence of God, and rule for a thousand year (Millennium), by Jesus Christ along with the saints of God, of the planet earth, from New Jerusalem.  Even this thousand-year life on the earth in the glorified body is only the second phase of the human life.  The third phase of our life will be in heaven with the Lord forever and ever.

In order to enjoy divine prosperity in the fullest sense, it is absolutely essential that we become the citizens of the Kingdom of God.

(ii) By serving the Kingdom of God
Every nation of this world expects its citizens to work for the country or to make some contribution to the economy of the country.  Similarly serving God is not something optional but it is mandatory for all the citizens of heaven.  As a matter of fact the primary responsibility or the obligation of every citizen of the Kingdom of God in other words every member of the economic system of God, is to work for God or serve Him in some meaningful way.  In addition to this he may hold a job in the country in which he lives. Whether this secular job is a full or part-time job, it should be considered as a secondary job. His primary job is to serve God regardless of the number of hours he puts in.  In other words, the identity of a citizen should be as a follower or a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Again it is not necessary that one should be an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher or an evangelist.  Neither is it important that one should serve God as a bishop, an elder, a deacon, or an administrator.  One may serve God as a helper of a servant of God, in a Church or a Christian organization or one may be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ or a soul winner. It is God's plan and will that everyone should grow spiritually, become a disciple of Jesus Christ and do the work of Jesus Christ, in terms of preaching the Gospel, teaching the Word, healing the sick, casting out demons and doing good to everyone.  In the book of Acts it is mentioned (Acts 11:26) that the disciples of Jesus Christ were called Christians, but today Christians have to be discipled.  Citizens of heaven are required to fulfill the obligation of serving God. When they do, they will become a part of God's economic system, and they will be entitled to enjoy all the provision God has made to supply their needs.  When a person quits his secular job and starts serving him trusting exclusively in God for his needs, his name will be entered into the payroll of heaven.  It is needless to say, that God is the biggest and the richest employer in the world, and therefore, the compensation package that he offers will be quite lucrative and attractive.

(iii) By obeying the laws of the Kingdom of God
Even though a person has become a citizen of God's Kingdom and has started serving God in a meaningful and an effective way, he has no excuse for violating God's laws. When a person disobeys or violates God's laws he will have to face the consequences.  Failure to pay one's tithes and offerings to God according to Biblical principles, will be a violation of God's law.  Malachi 3:8-9, says that the failure to pay tithes and offerings will amount to robbing God and that for this reason they will be cursed with a curse.  The Bible says, in Galatians 6:7, that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap, and as II Corinthians 9:6 says, that if one sows sparingly he will also reap sparingly and that if he sows bountifully he will also reap bountifully. These are God's laws and nobody can change them.  To what degree a person is going to process in God's economic system or in His Kingdom depends on to what extent he follows and obeys God's laws.  III John 2 says, that it is God's will and desire that we all should prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers.  Therefore, there is a direct relationship between our spirituality and prosperity.  God's laws and ways cannot be changed, and ignorance of law is no excuse.  Hosea 4:6 says, that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. People who live in God's Kingdom should make an effort to study how the economic system of God works and follow the rules and laws as closely as possible to enjoy all the benefits of the system.

(iv) By paying tithes in the Kingdom of God
In every nation of this world the citizens are required to pay some taxes to the government, to support the social and welfare programs of the country.  God has also established a principle of paying tithes (i.e. paying one tenth of all of one's income) to extend the Kingdom of God on this earth.  For God's work to be done on this earth and for God's servants to be supported He has ordained and instituted this principle. It is therefore, very important that every citizen of God's Kingdom pay regularly the tithes as well as their offerings, so that the work of the Lord will not be hindered or limited in anyway.  There are some Biblical principles on giving offerings also.  The Bible specifically mentions about different kinds of offerings that people are expected to give on certain occasions and for specific reasons.  Some of these offerings include thanks giving offering, first fruits, seed faith offering, offerings for building of the Church, alms to the poor, etc. In addition to that, people are challenged to give the Lord for the needs in God's kingdom to be met, as an investment, for which God has promised a hundred-fold return.  It is mentioned in several places in the scripture that only by giving we receive; by losing we gain; by sowing we reap; by casting we get; and by emptying we are filled.  The Bible also says in II Corinthians 9:6, that when we sow bountifully we will also reap bountifully.  Therefore, giving tithes and offerings according to Biblical principles is not only mandatory, but also only by following these principles or obeying these laws one can really prosper.

(v) By making investments in the Kingdom of God
When all the other conditions are met and all the other commandments are obeyed, the degree of one's prosperity depends directly on the investment one makes in God's Kingdom.  This is the investment one makes over and above his obligation to pay tithes and other offerings, which are required of God.  This is a principle of sowing and reaping, and the more one sows, the more he will reap. This is an area where people have to make some decisions. This investment is like a seed faith offering.  When a person needs something he should  sow some seeds so that he can have a harvest. People may sow in tears, but they shall reap with joy.  After they sow they will have to wait for the harvest time.  In Mark10:29 and 30, it is mentioned that when we lose anything for the sake of the gospel we will receive a hundred-fold now and later.

The widow of Zarephath invested the last meal that she had during the time of a great famine, in God's Kingdom, by offering it to the prophet of God.  This investment that she made brought her back enough food until the famine was over.  The secret of divine prosperity is giving, or investing in God's Kingdom.  The more we give the more we receive and the faster we empty ourselves the faster we are filled. 

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