a Kingdom economy.
written summer 2025:
The economy of the Kingdom has become increasingly apparent over the last few months. First shall be last. Last shall be first. Treasures in heaven. Ask and you shall receive. You have not because you ask not. It is more blessed to give than to receive. The list goes on. It’s the most illogical, upside-down thing you’ve ever heard of, but it makes complete sense through a Kingdom lens.
I’ve seen firsthand the way a Kingdom economy operates when it comes to money and physical resources. Those who can give, do. Those who need, receive. All of our physical resources are the Lord’s anyway — we are simply called to steward them well. It’s not “my money” or “your money.” It’s the Lord’s money, and you and I are tasked with allocating it in a manner that furthers the Kingdom. In a way, this economy relieves an immense burden — the burden to “keep up.” But in a way, it creates a Holy pressure. A pressure to ask with each decision — does this further the Kingdom?
When walking in a Kingdom economy as it relates to physical resources, it seems that we often receive to the degree that we give. The more freely we pour out blessings to others the more freely they are poured out upon us. That doesn’t mean that we give in order to receive (that’s not the Kingdom economy, that’s simply a business transaction). Rather, we give because it tangibly demonstrates what is good and true and beautiful. Because it is the character of Christ.
After witnessing the Kingdom economy of physical resources, I found myself wondering how this economy applies to what is unseen — namely, time. It’s easy to feel like physical resources are never-ending, while time is extremely finite. Daily we (or atleast I) feel the tension of the boundaries of time.
The key to seeing time through a Kingdom lens is redemption. Redeeming the time. We don’t surrender “part” of our time to God. He asks for all of it. Each hour. The sleeping hours — to rest our bodies so we may serve Him well. The waking hours — so we may be the hands and feet of Christ. So we may embody the gospel in all we say and do. Not just all we say. Not just all that we post online. Not just all that we do in public. All we say and do. All.
It is through this embodiment that we not only demonstrate the Gospel to others but we also teach our own hearts, minds, and souls what a Kingdom economy really is. It is just as important to witness to ourselves as it is to witness to those around us in the coffee shop.
My prayer is that I would continually be about my Father’s business, just as Jesus was in Luke 2:49. That my life would bear witness in all aspects - time, money, character, etc — to the true gospel in its fullness. That I wouldn’t settle for a partial gospel. Or a *somewhat* powerful God. Or a Holy Spirit that *sometimes* counsels and comforts. I pray that I would live each moment intentionally in order to embody the good, true, beautiful, full gospel. That each day and hour and minute would be redeemed and used to further the Kingdom. And I pray the same for you.
