OPERATING UNDER HEAVENLY ECONOMIC

How Business Operates in God’s Economy

Kingdom business is a movement spreading globally—because it is God’s movement, not born of man. We know that His Kingdom will invade every area and eventually take over every realm, and is described in Luke 13:18 as a growing tree that gradually fills the whole earth until all the birds can nest in its branches. Those of us who are called to Kingdom business are a unique breed of people. Our thrill doesn’t come from aspects of church alone. Rather, we are driven to succeed and make money, to expand and branch out in our communities with services and products. Kingdom business people are not particularly motivated by a personal desire for money, but find ourselves motivated to establish a new economy and set a precedent for a new way of life. The success we seek is more to see His Kingdom established in the business realm.

What will happen as we unite together worldwide in this vision; from all denominations and cultures? Very quickly it will be the platform of change worldwide. We certainly have seen the inability and futility of politics to effectively change anything. God is making ready His economy, preparing us to be the vessels He pours life into as He brings forth a new earth that He will dwell in (Rev. 21:1-3). We are instructed to pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt.6:10). Believers will be needed to change every realm—which includes health, education and more—since this encompasses every arena.

In this world, the devil has long performed as a “mimic” of God, imitating and twisting God’s principles to his advantage wherever he can as he attempts to appear as an angel of light (2Cor.11:14-15). The old serpent has gained control of this earth (Matt.4:8-9) and has taken over the business realm to corrupt it. Yet, many business principles and rules of trade or commerce were not inherently wrong. Satan has played upon greed to twist the pure basis of economic exchange until we find ourselves living in the time described in 2Tim.3:1. However, in the book of Genesis we see many examples of healthy business in the early days of God’s people (Gen. 13:12, 26:12-14, 39:2-3).

In God’s economy we will enjoy commerce as a means of creativity and blessing for the functioning of our communities.  Everyone will work in jobs they actually love doing! This may seem revolutionary, but there is another reason for working other than the drudgery of having to earn a living in order to scrape by. We have been so long in the confines of this dying age that it is difficult for our minds to grasp an economy where business and labor takes place out of the joy of providing it. This is life when His Kingdom is established, and businesses will flourish without greed involved.

Such a business in the Kingdom may not necessarily be structured that much differently on the surface – yet it is fundamentally very different in how it operates. The difference is in the spirit of integrity with which the business is operated. The heart and spirit of the people operating the company are given to the King and are not bonded to the things of this present world. Here are some dynamic points that describe those differences:

1. Care and concern for one another versus discrimination and “office politics” to get ahead
   This may be the largest difference in the feel of a Kingdom company. There will be a sense of care for all men equally, without regard to race, creed, or social status. As Paul points out in Gal. 3:28; there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, but all are one in Christ. Business owners in the Kingdom will be very objective about this. They will weigh matters based on a person’s abilities for a task, loving when God has placed someone in their “niche.” They will appreciate all faithful workers in their business (1Tim. 5:18) and not use or manipulate one another for their own gain. They should strive to hire workers that embrace correct relating and not tolerate a bad or divisive attitude in the business. It may seem surprising to know, but God pays careful attention as to how we conduct our businesses (James 5:1-4 & Amos 8:4-7). He judges it as part of our own personal relationship with Him. In Malachi 3:1, He vows to avenge the laborers who have been oppressed by poor business practice and we may well be living in that time right now. Therefore, all dealings should be conducted open for His inspection and business owners can sleep at night knowing this.
2. Competition in the Kingdom is embraced versus jealousy and envy to destroy another’s enterprise
   It is not that we are to tolerate ideas being taken and misused, or an unjust competitor trying to take over. There will still be laws to govern offenders in the Kingdom. Rather, those problems should rarely exist because we operate with a respect for one another. One major goal is to live in oneness and harmony, instead of just to make a dollar at all costs. We will conduct our trade with respect to our neighbor in business, and encourage someone who comes up with a great idea, not undermine them. This way of life may seem challenging at times, when a seemingly similar trade is nearby. But more and more we will fine tune and identify the very specific niche that our business holds in the marketplace. There is plenty of room for everyone’s creativity and enterprise in God’s economy. In fact, the greatest inventions have yet to be seen and we will see them spring forth from inspired people.
3. The success of the company is due to following God’s principles versus following a pattern of compromised integrity
   We are to be a breed apart, business men and women that “…seek first His Kingdom…and all these things will be added to you” (Matt.6:33). It is a relationship with our heavenly Father that is paramount in our lives, and our business success is born out of the blessings that He has set forth for those who practice His ways. God has the power to make wealth (Deut.8:17-18), but we do not take it for ourselves by other means. In Genesis 14:23, Abraham would not take any goods offered, lest that king say he was the one that made Abraham wealthy. Neither will we compromise our integrity for money. The principles we follow will carry into every area of our business.  We believe that God can take care of us like He does the flowers of the field and we do not have to break God’s spiritual principles in order to gain wealth. We will be happy, healthy and wealthy following His ways. The book of Proverbs contains countless practical business guidelines and instruction for the workplace that we can follow. The author, Solomon, is of course renowned for being the wealthiest man on earth and perhaps today would be counted a trillionaire. The chapters he wrote serve as a “how-to” manual that illustrates the principles that got him there.
4. We are Givers by nature versus being Takers by nature
   It is more blessed to give than to receive; give and it will be given to you. This famous principle we know and try to abide by. Therefore, a Kingdom business will also give funds out of its profits towards accomplishing His goals in this earth. We will be led by His Spirit to give funds as we watch Him bless our bankbook miraculously. We are not worried about giving things away as we begin to experience living in God’s law of return. It governs the realm of spirit far more than people realize and is one of the “higher laws” that transcends all walks of life. Imagine what would happen if all billionaires stopped spending all of their money just on themselves. Greater world change could be propelled through Kingdom commerce than any government can ever produce. There may even be a distribution of wealth described in Acts 4:34-35, where all needs are taken care of under Christ’s Lordship. A Kingdom business person is driven to test out the giving back stated in Malachi 3: 10 and to prove God’s Word is true in this regard. Because He himself is the ultimate giver of gifts, we take on His nature as we grow up in the Lord.
5. A business itself becomes an interdependent ministry, versus a business existing with no accountability
   Just because you have a for-profit business doesn’t mean it does not also exist as a ministry of service to the world around you. The origin of business was to supply a need in trade, and of course in ancient history it was often a barter system. A business in a Kingdom city exists to serve those surrounding it. There will be a blessing on a business whose owner(s) lives to serve by selling goods and services to the world around in no less fashion than a minister who supplies spiritual growth to a church. Most of America was built on small businesses with the “neighborhood store” concept and God richly blessed the origins of the American economy because of it. Whether a business is micro, medium, or global size, there is room for all in a Kingdom business ministry. Some may financially support ministers of the gospel, as the businesses did with Paul in the New Testament (Acts 18:2-5). Paul also makes note of “this ministry of service” in 2Cor. 9:10-13, writing “because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God…for the liberality of your contribution.” Other businesses may have their skills and resources called upon. When King Solomon wanted to build the temple, he summoned the Kingdom business owners of that time to come together with their talents (1Kings: 7:14). When Christ called the twelve disciples, almost all were local business operators. It is likely the Lord never asked their businesses to stop, but they continued on while the disciples walked with Him. The fishing business learned how to delegate management quickly! However, when a resurrected Jesus returned, he gave them hands-on advice on which side of the boat to fish for a miraculous catch that day, as illustrated in John 21: 4-6. This exemplifies what God has in mind to bless the Kingdom businesses that are serving His purpose.

There are probably many other points of difference that come to mind as you are thinking along this track. Practicing business by the principl