Apicontent

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Truly, our behavior springs from our hearts! That is why it is critical that we daily spend time immersed in God’s Word. God’s Word will protect our hearts from being consumed with the things of this world. This is the only way we can obtain a perspective which properly balances temporal and eternal concerns in life. This perspective will impact what we do and do not do in this world. We must soak our hearts in the Word of God! And that takes time. I like to call it “heart time.”

The ways in which we invest in God’s kingdom are truly a reflection of heart time. It determines where we spend our time, talent, and treasure. The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more we realize that the matter of kingdom investing needs to have a high priority in our lives. Heart time influences our desires. Are our minds preoccupied with the desires of the Flesh or with the desires of the Holy Spirit?ruly, our behavior springs from our hearts! That is why it is critical that we daily spend time immersed in God’s Word. God’s Word will protect our hearts from being consumed with the things of this world. This is the only way we can obtain a perspective which properly balances temporal and eternal concerns in life. This perspective will impact what we do and do not do in this world. We must soak our hearts in the Word of God! And that takes time. I like to call it “heart time.”

Juggling the temporal and the eternal can be a tricky endeavor. Discernment is needed. Judgment calls must be made. It is a challenge, but it can be stimulating to see how we can transform time, talent, and treasure into the eternal when we originally were focused primarily on temporal objectives. When we focus on God’s goals, it is amazing to see how the Spirit of God molds us to be conformed to God’s purposes rather than our own.

Heart Deposit

What is flowing out of your heart? Are you thinking about the ways your life can have an eternal impact on the lives of other people? How often do these issues occupy your thoughts? What criteria are you using to make decisions about how touse your time, talent, and treasure? In what ways are you guarding your heart?

KingdomNomics cultivates
a heart protected by God’s Holy Spirit.

Related Verses

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:6-7)

“My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will greatly rejoice.” (Proverbs 23:15, ISV)

“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’” (Luke 12:15)

The giants of consumerism and greed can eat us alive. These giants can also keep us from investing in projects and endeavors that will produce eternal rewards. The influence that we have while we interact with one another is important, for each person will live eternally in either heaven or hell. This truth takes on much greater implication when we consider that, in the Word of God, we are told all our worldly endeavors will pass away. But the reward of being used by God to influence others to put their trust in him will last into eternity.

Jesus counsels us to be wise stewards of our time, talent, and treasure, which he has blessed us with. He also instructs us to use the unrighteous “mammon” of this world, or our worldly resources, to win friends for eternity.he giants of consumerism and greed can eat us alive. These giants can also keep us from investing in projects and endeavors that will produce eternal rewards. The influence that we have while we interact with one another is important, for each person will live eternally in either heaven or hell. This truth takes on much greater implication when we consider that, in the Word of God, we are told all our worldly endeavors will pass away. But the reward of being used by God to influence others to put their trust in him will last into eternity.

God has given us all things to enjoy. He also wants us to be generous and willing to share, to do good to others and to be rich in good works in accordance with our means. God loves a cheerful giver!

One of the surest paths of seeing God work in your life is to become a cheerful giver. Paul says that God is able to make all grace abound to such a person. So instead of being a “getter,” allow God’s Spirit to begin transforming you into being a giver.

Heart Deposit

Take a moment to consider: Are you more fulfilled by the accumulation of stuff or by impacting someone for Christ? What impact are you seeking to make in this world that is immeasurable from a human point of view?

KingdomNomics uses
all of our resources to win people to Christ.

Related Verses

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, or homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NASB)

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9)

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Understanding the power of the cross is instrumental in understanding the concepts of KingdomNomics. It is by the cross that we are crucified to the world and have new life in Jesus Christ. Paul boasted about the cross in his own life with regard to his relationship to the world and the passions of the flesh. He was dead to them by the power of the cross. The same can be said of us when we apply the power of the cross to our own lives. God’s power overcame Jesus’ death on the cross! And it is the power of the cross that gives us new hope and new perspective for living.

Through the power of the cross, we are able to overcome the giants of consumerism and greed. They relentlessly pursue us to keep us from giving to the work of God. It is the power of the cross that enables us to overcome these giants by the practice of giving our time, talent, and treasure to those endeavors that will advance God’s kingdom. It is the power of the cross that allows us to develop the practice of giving so that when the opportunity arises, our hearts will be open and ready.Understanding the power of the cross is instrumental in understanding the concepts of KingdomNomics. It is by the cross that we are crucified to the world and have new life in Jesus Christ. Paul boasted about the cross in his own life with regard to his relationship to the world and the passions of the flesh. He was dead to them by the power of the cross. The same can be said of us when we apply the power of the cross to our own lives. God’s power overcame Jesus’ death on the cross! And it is the power of the cross that gives us new hope and new perspective for living.

The sinful nature is ever demanding us to think only of the temporal. By the power of the cross we can put to death these demands by focusing and feeding our minds on our eternal rewards. As we soak our minds on what the Spirit desires, his objectives and desires will grow in us. This growth will cause us to overcome what our flesh desires and enables us to fulfill the desires of the Spirit. By the power of the cross, we are able to become fully invested in God’s kingdom.

Heart Deposit

How have you seen the power of the cross working in your life? In what ways has the power of the cross influenced your giving? How can you begin to apply this principle to your life today?

KingdomNomics has confidence
in the strength of God.

Related Verses

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1Corinthians 1:17)

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

“All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:2)

“The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 28:8)

According to these passages, obedience to God results in blessing. It appears that blessing will chase us and even overtake us when we obey him. Since God’s principles are eternal, they never change. Passages like these are “button pushers” God uses as incentives for us. When I read these passages, they make me want to test them, to see if they will be operative in my own life. God wants us to try them in faith, believing that he will fulfill his promises in response to our obedience. Our giving is always an act of obedience. We respond to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

There is a world of opportunity for giving to the various interests of God. We live in a desperate and dying world, and we as believers are compelled to do something about it. There are as many ways to do this as there are people in the world. Part of the transformation process for believers is that we move from being self-centered to being God-centered. We must replace the consumption mentality that is so prevalent in our culture with a giving mentality.According to these passages, obedience to God results in blessing. It appears that blessing will chase us and even overtake us when we obey him. Since God’s principles are eternal, they never change. Passages like these are “button pushers” God uses as incentives for us. When I read these passages, they make me want to test them, to see if they will be operative in my own life. God wants us to try them in faith, believing that he will fulfill his promises in response to our obedience. Our giving is always an act of obedience. We respond to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

 Heart Deposit

Have you made the great discovery of the blessing of giving? What opportunities has God placed in front of you for giving? What blessing has come to you as you have responded to God’s direction?

KingdomNomics is
using all of our time, talent, and treasure
to glorify God.

Related Verses

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, Then come, follow me.’” (Matthew 19:21)

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

When giving is done with the right attitude, it can be a gateway for God to move in significant ways in our lives. It is important to remember that it is not the amount we give that matters so much as it is the attitude that characterizes our giving. God loves it when we give out of a cheerful and grateful heart.

God’s loving of a cheerful giver results in God taking action in our lives. Scripture states unequivocally that God will make all spiritual and earthly blessing abound to us so we can multiply our efforts for the kingdom. This is why I believe giving provides a major gateway for God to work in our lives, we can expect God to visit us. Jesus will fellowship with the cheerful giver, and the Holy Spirit will impart life to out mortal bodies. When we weave a pattern of giving into our lives, we can expect God to visit us. Jesus will fellowship with the cheerful giver, and the Holy Spirit will impart life to our mortal bodies.

When we give of our treasure, it shows there is a conversion of our wallet and bank account from the temporal to the eternal. It helps to break the force of greed in our lives, enabling God to have access to what is so important to so many of us. When we give of our time or our talent, we demonstrate our dependence on God to use our abilities to further advance his kingdom. We are turned outward, rather than inward: What can I do for others? rather than, What can I do for myself?

God is giving us the opportunity to partner with him in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of people in this world. He has promised to reward us, even though we are simply giving back a portion of what he already owns. We are the stewards of his provisions.

Heart Deposit

Take a moment and think about your attitudes about your giving. Are you cheerfully taking advantage of the opportunities to give that God is presenting to you? If you don’t give regularly to God’s work, ask the Holy Spirit to show you one small step that you can take in that direction.

KingdomNomics is
giving with a willing heart.

Related Verses

“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV84)

God’s love is immeasurable! And God is able to make “all grace,” meaning all spiritual and earthly blessings, abound to the cheerful giver (subject, of course, to his sovereign will). This passage promises that God will move in the life of the cheerful giver.

Giving is an investment in the kingdom of God for which there are both earthly and heavenly rewards. God allows us to trade in a decreasing, temporary currency for an immeasurable, eternal investment. That investment will last forever.

God responds to us as we cheerfully give and provides for all of our needs so we can abound in every good work. He will supply the seed. He will multiply the seed. He will increase the harvest of our righteousness and enrich us in every way so that we can be generous on all occasions.

Cheerful giving is “grace giving.” It is giving with an “I want to give” attitude. It is evidence of our faith and obedience to the gospel. And it results in prayers of gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving to God by those who are on the receiving end of our giving.

In addition to the promise of eternal reward, we also experience God’s blessing and favor on our lives in this world. Giving is the wise thing to do!

Heart Deposit

What are some of the blessings you, and others, have experienced because of your giving? How have you seen God bless your giving? What practical steps can you take to increase your giving?

KingdomNomics is based
on God’s grace.

 Related Verses

“He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”  (Proverbs 11:25)

“He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.” (Psalm 78:39)

All of us have a “loaf” of time. This presents us with a threefold problem. First, none of us knows how long our loaf of time will last. Second, we know that with each day, one slice of our loaf is used up, never to be available again. And third, in light of eternity, we have a decision to make as to how best use our loaf of time.

In our verse for today, the psalmist describes our life as a passing breeze that does not return. It describes something that is extremely brief. If we are wise, we will use this brief time to focus on the eternal. Not so for most people, for they are focusing their attention only on what they can see and do in this world, without giving any thought as to what will happen in eternity.

The wise believer must keep biblical principles in mind. We are going to die. We will be required to give an account of our lives before the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ. We will experience gain or suffer loss of reward depending on how much we have allowed the spirit to live, or flow, through our mortal lives. We will give an account of whether our acts were done through the Spirit of God or the energy of the flesh.

The brevity of life points us to the Word of God. We will find our hearts drawn to it as we acquaint ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and allow him to dwell richly in our hearts. Is that happening to you?

Heart Deposit

Are you living a life of consumption, thinking only of yourself, or are you participating in Christ’s Great Commission for the world? Are you setting your mind and heart on things above or on the things of this world? In what ways are you making the most of today’s kingdom opportunities?

KingdomNomics recognizes
that time for kingdom impact
in this life is short.

Related Verses

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.” (Psalm 39:5)

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

“From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today.” (Isaiah 48:6-7)

Most of the world does not understand the kingdom that has been disclosed to us by the Spirit of God. This kingdom can only be understood as God reveals himself to us. And so many Christians, even though they have some knowledge of God, are still ineffective and unfruitful in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Since the time is short, it is imperative that those who are consumed by the Word of God focus their will on being empowered by the Holy Spirit to advance the kingdom of God. God has shown this to us for a purpose. We are to be engaged, allowing God to work, advance, and move his interests forward through us. We are exhorted to excel in grace living and grace giving. We must continually monitor what is consuming our time, talent, and treasure. God is going to hold us accountable for the revelation that he has given to us.Most of the world does not understand the kingdom that has been disclosed to us by the Spirit of God. This kingdom can only be understood as God reveals himself to us. And so many Christians, even though they have some knowledge of God, are still ineffective and unfruitful in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Because our story has yet to be completed, it may be that God still has hidden things to reveal to us for the purpose of engaging us in further kingdom activity. We serve a God who is awesome in power and who is able to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine, according to his immeasurable power that is at work in us. As we accomplish the tasks he has given us, we qualify ourselves for use by the master, for additional works that he has prepared for us to do.

Heart Deposit

As you spend time in God’s Word, what is he revealing to you? What difference is this making in your life? In the lives of others?

KingdomNomics utilizes
what is temporal
and leverages it for eternity.

Related Verses

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.” (Psalm 145:13)

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” (Revelation 5:9–10)

Wow! Redeemed to God by the blood of Christ, he has made us priests to serve him; we will reign on earth for him! Truly, as Job said, we have only seen the edges of God’s ways. How awesome he is—beyond words of human description. What a privilege that he allows us to worship him and to act on his behalf!

It is God who justifies us, not our works, not our behavior, not our giving, nor anything else. Jesus by himself purged our sins. Jesus washed away our sins with his blood. By his blood we are brought near to God. By his blood we are justified. By his blood, he purchased our eternal redemption. His blood is the only acceptable payment to God for our sin. By his blood, our souls have been atoned. Truly, we are a special people!

Our response should be for our desire to do good works in the power of the Holy Spirit, particularly works that facilitate the expansion of his kingdom in this world. We are in a race against time. We are God’s chosen instrument for reaching our own generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are destined to reign on earth with him! Now is the time to get to work. Give of your time, talent, and treasure and give some more!

Heart Deposit

In what ways are you being used by God to bring the message of eternal life to a lost and dying world?

KingdomNomics responds
to Jesus Christ’s saving work.

Related Verses

“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” (John 3:3)

“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)

“His disciples remembered that it is written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” (John 2:17)

All of our time, talent, and treasure are temporary as far as this world is concerned; however, what we do with them while we are here will have eternal ramifications. Do we care? The word “zeal” used by John indicates enthusiasm and passion. How much passion do you have for the things of God?

Jesus Christ was consumed with doing his Father’s will while he was in this world. He knew his time on earth was short. He ensured that all the work that had been given to him was finished by the time he returned to heaven.All of our time, talent, and treasure are temporary as far as this world is concerned; however, what we do with them while we are here will have eternal ramifications. Do we care? The word “zeal” used by John indicates enthusiasm and passion. How much passion do you have for the things of God?

So, again, what are you doing with your time, talent, and treasure? Are you wasting them on the temporal, disregarding the eternal reality we all face, or are you fixing your eyes on the eternal aspect of life? Are you concentrating on the things God wants you to do? We have the option of laboring for those things that are perishing, or we can labor for those things that reap eternal benefits, both us and for others.

So many things I was zealous for in the past, that I thought were so important, have evaporated. They are no longer a part of my life. My thoughts now lie with: What will last forever? Am I building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, or am I striving to construct something on the foundation of self?

It is never too late to change course! There is always a new opportunity to become zealous for the things that are important to God.

Heart Deposit

If someone were to look at your life, what word or phrase would fill in this blank “Zeal for______ consumed him/her.” Is the word or phrase in the blank temporal or eternal? How can you increase your zeal for the things of God?

KingdomNomics guides our choices as we fully understand the eternal implications.

Related Verses

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25)

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)