Whatever part of the world you live in, whatever system you may be involved in or whatever your interests in life may be, the economy is a central part of everything you do.
There are no political campaigns that will not address the state of a country's economy. There are no religious campaigns that do not have to deal with economic situations. In fact you can't even go buy a burger for lunch without looking into the current state of your own wallet's economic situation.
Economy is a big deal.
As it turns out, those who wish to follow Jesus have to come to terms with the new currency and value system Jesus introduced. It is not an easy transition. Recently I have been writing down some comments and insights into the Sermon on the Mount, and I'm discovering new things regarding Christ's new currency and system of economy.
A new currency exchange
I have found that everything Jesus says makes no sense without a complete change of mind (repentance) and that there is no entrance into or operation within His Kingdom without a currency exchange.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew chapter 5 verse 6)
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, are those who have never been satisfied with their own. The sectarian religious parties of Christ's day had no desire for righteousness, as they believed they already had it. There is no difference today.
The righteousness of Christ fills the emptiness of those who feel the pain of their own lack. Multitudes followed Jesus, many simply because those whom they had followed before had nothing to feed them. The kingdom of God belongs to the dissatisfied.
Blessed are the poor
When you come to the gates of the kingdom with your hands full, you will have to empty your hands before you enter. This was how the rich young ruler found himself when he approached the door. All the righteousness and benefits of the law he already had. His bank balances were strong and so too was his balance of merit with the law.
Yet as Jesus stood before him, he discovered the currency in which he had been dealing was no longer valid. He needed to have a new account opened. Jesus instructed him to sell up and give to the poor, make a last great investment for heaven's sake while he still had time, and then come follow Him.
He couldn't do it. His richness in a visible, yet fading currency blinded him to the unending richness and splendour of the new. Disciples of Christ have only one currency through which they can operate, that is the full righteousness of Christ.
It is not earned. It is given.
The things of true worth
The kingdom of wealth and profit (mammon) has out-dated both its mode of operation and worth. In the kingdom of God it has no value.
The modus operandi of earning and wages is replaced by "Freely you have been given, therefore freely give." Jesus credits His followers with full and everlasting righteousness in exchange for nothing of our own. The Kingdom of God operates entirely on freedom. No one owes, everyone is full, therefore give out to the nations.
The full wealth of the kingdom belonged to the only begotten Son, His righteousness is the only righteousness that was ever validated by God, and it is from this rich storehouse that the king gives fully and freely to all His subjects. Jesus came to fill the poor with the riches of His righteousness, the righteousness of God.
Don't be like the Pharisees
Remember when He pronounced woe on the Pharisees? Why?
They were already full! Full at the expense of the poor and hungry that they crushed. Full because they exploited the hunger and thirst of the temple worshipers! Making profits from religion, twisting the law for personal gain.
How many hungry and thirsty Christians are currently being exploited by fat, self-righteous false teachers who use deceptive words and purposely fail to declare the good news of the kingdom because they are making so much profit out of unrighteous systems which Christ came to destroy?
Our eternal reward
Genuine hungry and thirsty hearts are trying to gain reward with God by lining the pockets of men who only wish to exploit them. May these hungry and thirsty souls encounter the full righteousness of Jesus Christ! They will never feel inadequate or lacking with God again!
The Kingdom of God is good news to those who have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. How hard it is for those who are rich to enter!
Jesus blesses those attitudes and conditions that are desirable for receiving God's great purpose. What good news it is for the hungry!
Come with nothing and receive everything! A better business than our Father's, one will not find. The hungry shall be filled! The thirsty will be given a fountain to drink from! Jesus gave us the righteousness we could never obtain. That which is God's own.
Joshua Robbie is currently serving the Lord under Pastors Ronnie and Shirley Naidoo of KZN Celebration Centre in Tongaat South Africa. He and His wife Rene' moved from Australia to South Africa in April 2016. Their desire is to help in whatever way they can so that the church can become all that God has purposed her to be. Josh also enjoys sports such as surfing, basketball and boxing.
Josh Robbie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/josh-robbie.html