Kingdom Finances: A God Economy - by Brian Day
I have been stirred recently, both in my own life and through the Financial Forum held a few weeks ago, to look at economic and financial matters in a different light. I have wrestled with my own business as we have struggled to establish a profitable undertaking.  God has been stirring me again in terms of a calling to reach out to the poor, not just to give money, but to facilitate a much larger contribution through business: getting involved and building an improved capacity in the many wonderful organisations reaching out in the poorer communities.
The essence of the challenge God is laying before us is to renew our thinking of how our economic order is fashioned. The book of Deuteronomy has many insights into God’s pattern for society. Here He instructs His people on how to establish their society in all important areas from governmental, social, and educational, to economic and financial.  As slaves for hundreds of years the Israelites had very little responsibility for their own lives, they had no freedom, and few decisions to make.  As they emerge from slavery they had to establish themselves as a community and as a nation.  Suddenly all the cohesive forces we take for granted in how society functions had to be established from scratch. It is important for us not to take the functioning of our society for granted.  We need to critically asses how it functions, asking ourselves how it matches up to God’s ways.  It is part of our mandate as the church to bring His kingdom to earth – as Jesus teaches us to pray, “let it be on earth as it is in heaven.” Practically, that means to search the Word for His ways, and use it as a blueprint for how we establish the patterns of our society.
This should be our approach in all areas of society, but in the area of economics and finances I have been challenged by what was shared at the Financial Forum where the current limitations of both capitalism and socialism were discussed. A critical eye was cast over the core issues involved, firstly to understand that both systems are at the mercy of the sinfulness of mankind, where we so easily abuse (whether politically or economically) those not in power,. The question was posed as to what God’s ways are in our economic systems. Clearly there are aspects of both systems which match up with God’s plan, but somehow there must be more.  The overall economic question in the world today would be where a nation sits on the continuum between capitalism and socialism. Some of the questions may be: What are their free market convictions? How much is the business sector regulated? What state controls are imposed? How is the tax system structured to address the needs of the poor? What welfare system is in place? Do the unemployed benefit from state funds? What health care is provided? All these and many other indicators would be discussed as we define an economic outlook of a nation, defining where on the continuum between capitalism and socialism a country chooses to operate.
However, Deuteronomy instructs us both in the profitability of business and care for the poor. Manifold abundance and fruitfulness is God’s heart – He wants us to be successful and rich (Deut 28:11). He also instructs us to care for the poor – that there should be no poor among us (Deut 15:4). Nowhere does He say there is any conflict between these two instructions. We have been supped by the worlds economic systems into believing there is a trade off between the profit motive and justice for the poor. His heart is for both objectives to be achieved simultaneously, whereby we need to look for His ways that go beyond the economic order of our day.
There are aspects of both capitalism and socialism that please the heart of God.  Equally, rampant capitalism that abuses those without capital and who have only their labour to offer saddens God. Also, a social order that inhibits the profit motive equally robs society of a thriving economy that would create wealth and jobs for all.  Clearly we have to search the heart of God, through His Word and in our deliberations, to show us the “third option”, something where His kingdom is brought to earth.  An economic system that incorporates the godly aspects of both capitalism and socialism, rejects certain aspects of both, and most importantly sets as its foundation His ways for us.  There are still more questions than answers, but my heart has been stirred that there are answers to be found, if we will commit ourselves to this journey of discovery. 
I believe that as we embark on a journey of discovery as a church, through the Business Boat and many other areas, we will discover together what God has in store.  Somehow there is a way to plant trees of fruitfulness as we establish business opportunities that create wealth for us and for and our mandate to disciple the nations. These new businesses can involve salaried people investing in other opportunities while at the same time drawing in the poor with their ideas and time, creating investment opportunities and jobs, and so developing a “God Economy” in our circle of influence.
