The Economy of God: Wealth Must Keep Moving Part 2: Becoming a Channel of God's Blessing

LIVING IN THE SPIRIT :

In Part 1, we saw that God's economy is sustained not by accumulation, but by movement — wealth flowing from those in abundance to those in need, as an expression of God's own covenant nature. We now turn to how this principle plays out in the life of the believer and the church.

Giving and Receiving

Paul reminded the Philippian church:

"No church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Philippians 4:15).

The expression "giving and receiving" comes from the language of accounting — credits and debits. The Philippians had entered into a partnership with God through their generosity. Paul continued,

"Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." (Philippians 4:17).

Their giving was producing fruit credited to their account before God. It was after saying this that Paul declared,

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).

God's economy is an economy of giving and receiving.

Rich Toward God

Paul instructed Timothy:

"Charge them that are rich... that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come..." (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Money cannot be carried into eternity. But what is done with money for God's glory has eternal value. Generosity lays up treasure where moth and rust cannot destroy.

The New Creation and God's Economy

The new creation is called not merely to receive God's blessings but to reveal God's nature. God is a Giver. His children are to reflect His character.

Many believers pray for financial breakthroughs while overlooking the opportunities that surround them every day — a widow in need, a hungry family, an unemployed brother, a struggling student, an elderly believer unable to meet basic needs. These are not interruptions to God's economy; they are often opportunities within it.

The Apostle John writes:

"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren... But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:14-17).

John asks a searching question. If we possess the resources to help but deliberately close our hearts to a brother or sister in need, can we truly say that God's love is active in us? The love of God does not merely feel compassion — it acts.

The Church: God's Centre of Kingdom Economy

The early church understood this principle: "There was not a needy person among them" (Acts 4:32-35). Why? Because resources were continually moving from those with abundance to those in need.

The church was never intended to be merely a place where sermons are preached. It was designed to be a community where the love of Christ causes God's provision to flow from one believer to another. When believers willingly share their resources, widows are cared for, the poor are fed, ministries are sustained, the gospel advances, and thanksgiving rises to God.

The church should therefore be the greatest centre of kingdom economic activity on earth — not because it accumulates wealth, but because God's blessings continually flow through His people to accomplish His purposes.

H Rivers, Not Reservoirs

The Dead Sea receives water but gives none away. Because there is no outlet, it cannot sustain most forms of life. The Sea of Galilee both receives and gives, and it teems with life. The same principle applies spiritually.

God never intended His children to become reservoirs that merely collect His blessings. He intends them to become rivers.

He told Abraham,

"I will bless thee... and thou shalt be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2).

That remains God's pattern. He blesses us so that we may become a blessing. As resources move through willing hearts and open hands, God's covenant is established, needs are supplied, ministries flourish, the church becomes a testimony to the world, and believers store up treasure in heaven.

The economy of God is the continual movement of His blessings through His people. The believer who understands this does not merely ask, "Lord, bless me." He also asks, "Lord, make me a faithful channel through whom Your blessings can continually flow."

Conclusion: The Cycle Begins and Ends with God

The cycle begins with God, for the earth and its fullness belong to Him (Psalm 24:1). He is the Source who has already given us all things richly to enjoy. Nothing we release in obedience is ever truly ours to begin with — it is His provision, entrusted to our hands to be moved onward.

When we, by faith in the name of Jesus, bless those in seasons of need — without withholding compassion — God responds on two fronts. He blesses the works of our hands for increase, and He simultaneously keeps a faithful record, a store we can draw upon in our own time of need:

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive... The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing..." (Psalm 41:1-3).

This record becomes a foundation — not one built on earthly currency, but a spiritual inheritance laid up against the time to come:

"...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (1 Timothy 6:19).

The economy of God is complete: He gives, we release, He multiplies, and He remembers. What flows from His hand through ours does not vanish — it becomes a foundation that stands both now and in eternity.

Hassan Thomas Nenger Author, My Divine Identity as the Righteousness of God