The Economy of Heaven
When I heard the title of this blog post, “The Economy of Heaven,” I asked what that meant. It sounded far too broad for a single article. But I clearly heard it was to be about how value is created, how it is communicated, and how it is transacted in heaven.
For context, here are a few characteristics of heaven that I have gleaned from listening to over a hundred hours of Kat Kerr interviews on Elijah Streams. I believe these relate to what I would call “economic value.”
There is no need for money—everything is free
Resources are unlimited
There is no waste—anything no longer needed just disappears
Everyone is free to exercise their gifts and passions to provide goods and services for others to enjoy
You are aware of products, services, and events that you might enjoy and can take advantage of them as you wish
These heavenly characteristics are in marked contrast to what we experience in today’s society. Money is the foundation of our economy. It is used to determine the value of limited resources based on supply and demand. It is considered immoral and even illegal to waste resources or misuse them. Most people consider their work as only a means to earn money. They use their free time to pursue their talents and interests that bring them joy. To make more money, people and companies spend a lot to market their goods and services, often in ways that are misleading.
So is there any point in trying to relate heaven’s economy to earth? I believe that not only should we be able to see glimpses, or foretastes, of these things on earth, but that the principles behind them should drive our behavior. Jesus certainly implies this when He says the kingdom of heaven is in each of us. So let’s unpack why we have such an upside-down economy compared to the ideal, and then what we can do about that.
First, let’s examine how value is created. On earth today we are taught that value is equivalent to the price of something, which is determined by supply and demand. This presumes that supply is limited, which is not the case in God’s heavenly economy. So how is value determined where supply is not a constraint? I believe value is what Romans 8:28 refers to as “good.”
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Here are some other related scriptures
But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired. 1 Corinthians 12:18
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Combining these thoughts, I would say that good, or value, is created by individuals who are a part of Christ’s body as they work with love toward God and toward others, using the gifts and talents that God has prepared for them.
While that is easy to imagine in heaven, what could it look like on earth where we have to be concerned about earning a living? Well, why should a child of God have to settle for a “job” that is not what God desires for them? We simply need to ask, seek, and knock for the right job. The right kind of work that God has for us in this season, in the right location, and at the right time. Then rest and wait for Him to bring it while we do what He says for us to do.
We are not referring to spiritual gifts alone, but also to practical works such as being a designer, engineer, builder, artist, cook, photographer, server, maid, farmer, and so forth.
The key is to hear His voice and obey. We must not do anything on our own, just as Jesus did not do anything He didn’t see the Father do. He gave us the Holy Spirit so we can live the same way. You just have to believe that Jesus is your Lord, and that He is the perfect Son of God, that He died for your sins, that He rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and is now with the Father. And also ask for and receive His Holy Spirit who gives you wisdom and boldness day by day to do the Father’s will. Then you will hear God’s voice.
The second aspect of Heaven’s economy is how value is communicated. How do we find out about, and choose from, all of the wonderful goods and services that are available to enjoy? Here are some verses that come to mind.
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11:9
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 3:20
If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. James 4:2b-3
In heaven, we just have to speak our wants in harmony with God’s will and it happens. In heaven this is easy because we are surrounded by His overwhelming love, and we respond with thanksgiving and a passionate desire to please Him. So we would naturally ask for things in His will. I think I would frequently ask Him to surprise me!
We have the same promises on earth, but many things interfere. We are inherently selfish and quickly give in to evil temptations. Our faith is shallow and we are constantly distracted by worldly cares. And even if we ask according to God’s will with pure motives, we rarely have the patience to persevere if the answer is not what we were expecting, or is unexplainably delayed.
The answer to this dilemma is to do what Jesus did on a regular basis. He spent time alone with the Father. He prayed and He listened. And He prayed according to what He heard.
My wife and I have done this for decades. We get up early every day and have our “devotions.” We devote an hour or more to soaking in godly words, listening for today’s “rhema” word for us personally. And then we try to walk it throughout the day, continuing to ask for wisdom and grace in each situation. This applies to major life decisions such as a job, where to live, and whether to have a child, but also to mundane things such as what to eat, what to wear, and what to do for fun and relaxation.
The final aspect of heaven’s economy is the transaction that causes whatever we ask for to be fulfilled. A transaction to receive something of value requires an exchange for something else of value. Here are some passages that describe this.
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6
The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12
In heaven, of course, the seed time harvest principle applies perfectly in never ending cycles. New arrivals to heaven experience a life review where they see how God used every event and every good and bad seed they sowed in their earthly life to work together for their good.
On earth, in this life though, it’s not so easy. Yes, we can recognize that value is created when we do good. And we can try to ask for good things in faith and with pure motives. But if we haven’t planted good seeds, we typically won’t reap the harvest we may be expecting.
So how do we plant good seeds? It’s a natural result of the first two steps—knowing your purpose and then praying and hearing God’s voice on a daily basis so we can walk it out. We plant good seeds as we use the gifts and grace He has provided. Examples are humble and cheerful service, generosity, excellence in our work, repenting and asking forgiveness for our offenses, forgiving our offenders, and speaking kind and encouraging words to those around us.
Knowing the seed time harvest principle helps us realize that our daily words and actions are planting seeds that have temporal—and eternal—value. We know a harvest is coming, and we can expect to be pleasantly surprised by what form it takes, and even more surprised at the timing!
So we started this article with a grandiose sounding topic—the economy of heaven, but we ended with a very personal charge to sow good seeds. Maybe this should not be surprising since heaven is within each of us. We manifest it by choosing to follow God’s will daily. This is what revival is all about—making disciples for the Kingdom of God so they can learn to grow and experience the goodness of God’s heavenly economy.
However, we are hearing the modern prophets say that such individual revival is good, but it needs to lead to sustainable reformation of society. We now see how this can happen—as long as each child of God is made a disciple of Jesus’ words. This means that each one grows up in Christ to take their God-ordained place in society, finds their purpose in each phase and role of life, and develops their God-given gifts and talents to pursue that purpose with humility and excellence, ministering with integrity to others and to God.
As more and more true disciples do this, our earthly economy will be blessed in all the mountains of society. We will move from glory to glory, ever nearer to the heavenly model. For we are citizens of heaven, and we have every right and obligation to act as such.