Trinity Concepts (2.08) Man's Economies

Sowing

Reciprocity

Selfishness

Every community has different levels of sacrificial giving.  Some people give lavishly, some miserly.  There are those, as well, who only take from the community, without making any contribution whatsoever.

Every community has a means of exchange in play.  Money is a futile man-made attempt at assigning value to the process of exchange that is happening in a community, a material show of the giving and receiving that is taking place in relationships.

“A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:21)  Why is favor better than silver and gold?  Because, among other more noble things, favor produces silver and gold.  Relationships, and value given in and through those relationships, are the functioning of economy in community.

There are basically three levels of ‘economy’ in a community: 1) The economy of the flesh, 2) The economy of reciprocity and 3) The economy of sowing. 

The 1st and lowest economy is the economy of the flesh, or “sowing to the flesh”. (Gal. 6:8)  It is simply selfishness.

“There is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.” (Prov. 11:24)

“He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.” (Prov. 11:26)  Withholding the grain is selfish, but releasing it into commerce is better.

The 2nd Economy, that of reciprocity and social commerce, is akin to Phileo love: “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”  It has the Law as its foundation.  “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” (Prov. 11:1)   God loves proper reciprocity.  His Law is holy, righteous and good. (Rom. 7:12)  

The problem, however, is that due to natural man’s selfish nature, it is impossible for him to create that ‘just balance’ in relationships or money without failure in some way.  This is where the power of forgiveness comes in.  Without forgiveness, all relationships and economy among people will fail miserably.  Forgiveness is part of the highest 3rd Economy, because it is given willingly, for no deserving reason.

“…mercy triumphs over justice.” (Js. 2:13b)

The Law says, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, equal recompense, but the higher law, the law of liberty, says, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Matt. 9:13).

The ‘engine’ of human relationships and economy in community can only function without burning up, by adding the oil, the lubricant that comes from the 3rd Economy, which is that of unconditional love, forgiveness and willing sacrifice.

Jesus taught that when a seed falls into the ground, it dies, being completely released from human control, placed into God’s hands.  This is reflective of the 3rd Economy, the economy of sowing.

“The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows- how, he himself does not know…” (Mk. 4:26)

This seed, however, does not operate by reciprocity “an eye for an eye”, but rather by multiplication.  God is the One Who raises the seed up, causing its growth and multiplication.  This is the origin of life: releasing control of the harvest (expecting someone else to repay you) and giving, releasing the seed into God’s hands, forgiving the wrong, forgiving the imbalance.  This produces the multiplied harvest of the highest 3rd Economy, the economy of the Spirit.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Gal. 6:7-10)

The origin of all sacrificial giving and forgiveness is love: “God is love.” (I Jn. 4:16)  Man cannot forgive in and of himself, apart from God, and he must respond to God’s forgiveness for himself before he can then turn and forgive others.  “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Lk. 7:47)  The reciprocal of that would also be true, then.  ‘He who is forgiven much, loves much.’  The more of God’s love and mercy we receive, the more we are able to give.  As we are connected to the ‘vine’ of God’s forgiveness, love, and mercy for our own lives, the ‘fruit’ that is produced through our lives begins to manifest, and that fruit expands into the lives of those around us, creating in and through our lives a manifestation of God’s grace toward others. 

The multiplication of grace that flows out of our lives toward others, not only gives them a ‘just balance’, but even more that that.  This manifestation of the 3rd Economy (or highest economy) thus establishes and expands the 2nd Economy.  “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?  May it never be!  On the contrary, we establish the Law.”  (Rom. 3:31)  The 3rd and highest economy of love and forgiveness establishes the 2nd Economy and goes way beyond it.  “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace…against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:23)  Mercy will always triumph over judgment!

This process of forgiveness is like the model of kinetic energy, as several metallic balls are suspended by a wire on a frame.  When a person lifts the end ball, letting it strike the ball nearest to it, the energy then transfers through the other metal balls, causing the last ball to jump.  The energy was transmitted from the first, initial act, to the last, and the last ball responded in like manner.  The natural response to God’s love and forgiveness for our own lives is to, in response, allow that same energy to move us to do the same for others. 

So what happens if we receive God’s love for ourselves but do not allow it to pass through our lives to the forgiveness of others?  Jesus told a parable of a servant who was forgiven a great debt, but then would not in like manner forgive a smaller debt that was owed him.  This man was handed to the tormentors.  (Matt. 18:21-35)  When we inhibit the love of God from flowing freely through us to the benefit of others it only brings frustration and despair upon our own lives.  All it takes is a simple choice, however, to unblock this necessary flow.

The conclusion of this exposition of three economies is that we should overcome the course of the natural world by choosing to forgive when confronted by inequity, sowing it into the hands God.  When we choose to do this, we set our lives up to reap a multiplied harvest.  Living a life on purpose to give and to forgive is the highest means of exchange.  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

“But if you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor (grace) with God.” (I Pet. 2:20)

There will undoubtedly be times of misunderstanding, suffering and hardship for one who is laying down his life in the service of others in God’s Kingdom Community.  The only way to stay the course is to routinely exercise the love and forgiveness of God toward others.  It is the foundation of the Christian faith, and it is the only sure road to a prosperous and successful life: spirit, soul and body.

Trinity Concepts (2.02) Man's Soul (basic)

Will

Mind

Emotions

The human soul reflects the nature of God Himself: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, correlating to the will, the mind and the emotions, respectively. 

God, the Father, is sovereign in His decisions, and yet He has placed in the being of every individual a measure of His sovereignty.  The human will’s choices ultimately create the world in which he will exist.  As it is surrounded by various stimuli, from that which the Mind has learned or what the Emotions are feeling, the Will can select from these stimuli which impulses it will act upon or reject.  The Will chooses to seek after knowledge and wisdom, or to reject these, following after less noble purposes.  Whatever decisions are acted upon ultimately produce the results, whether good or evil, of those choices.  “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” (Deut. 30:19)

The Mind is a storehouse of what is remembered, that which can be drawn upon to inspire or to discourage.  Filling this storehouse with positive information gives the individual fuel for success, whereas filling it with meaningless and useless information leads the individual to unproductivity and bewilderment.  “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.” (Matt. 12:34-37) “Therefore very scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matt. 13:52)  

Our Will can not only choose to acquire positive information, but it can also accentuate the positive information which already exists in its ‘storehouse’, amplifying it, meditating upon it.  “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” (Phil. 4:8) 

The Mind correlates to the Word, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1), as He is the message of Truth to humanity (Heb. 1:1-2), the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3), the entrance of His Word bringing light. (Ps. 119:130; Ps. 36:9)

The Emotions of the soul correlate to the Holy Spirit of God.  The emotions are closest to the natural realm, sensing and feeling what is surrounding the individual.  The Holy Spirit of God likewise is here in this realm with us, as Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.” (Jn. 14:16-17)  “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (Jn. 16:5-7)

Many people mistake their Emotions with the Spirit of God, since they are categorically in the same line; however, these should not be confused.  Our human emotions are fickle, easily influenced by the world around us, whether by positive or negative circumstances.  A mature believer is aware of his emotions, yet not moved by them.  Rather, he expresses his convictions through the emotions, thereby causing the emotions to come in line with the thoughts of his Mind and the decisions of his Will.  His emotions become an expression of his inner convictions, an outward display of his inner man.  Emotions can be a powerful influence to the circumstances surrounding the individual, and becomes a conduit to the outer world of the power released from the Mind and Will.

Emotions should be used to influence the world rather than becoming an instigator from the world of sedition against the convictions of the Mind and Will.  “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Prov. 16:32)

Trinity Concepts (1.12) The Tabernacle of Moses

Holy of Holies

Inner Court

Outer Court

Spirit

Soul

Body

“Now if He (Jesus) were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for “See” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Heb. 8:4-5)

Moses’ Tabernacle, according to this passage, was a “copy and shadow” of things in heaven.  It was a picture of something more profound than the simple elements from which it was made.

“The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?”  Jesus answered and said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (Jn. 2:18-21)  In this passage, Jesus analogized the temple to His body.

The Apostle Paul echoes this idea, regarding those who are united to Jesus through faith.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor. 3:16)  “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (I Cor. 6:15,17)

There is a definite pattern of correlation between the Tabernacle and the Human Being.  The Tabernacle is three parts: 1) The Outer Court, 2) The Inner Court, and 3) The Holy of Holies.

The Apostle Paul shows man as tripartite, as well, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23)  Paul shows man as: 1) Body, 2) Soul, and 3) Spirit.

In comparing the Tabernacle to the Human Being, it becomes evident that the Spirit of Man correlates to the Holy of Holies, the Soul of Man correlates to the Inner Court, and the Body of Man correlates to the Outer Court.

It is even more interesting to note that the Inner Court of the Tabernacle held three distinct objects: 1) The Bread of the Presence Table, 2) The Seven-lamped Menorah, and 3) The Altar of Incense.

As the Inner Court correlates to the Soul of Man, each of these three things also correlates to a specific aspect of the Human Soul.  The Old Testament’s definition of man’s heart (Heb. ‘leb’) is consistent with the three attributes of man’s Mind, Will and Emotions.

The Mind correlates to the Lamp-stand, being illumined with understanding.  The Emotions correlate to the Bread, giving sustenance to the emotion-endoderm relationship (see Trinity Concepts: Food Groups).  The Will correlates to the Altar of Incense, as an obedient will through prayer is as a fragrant aroma to the Father. (see Trinity Concepts: Christian Activity)

The Holy of Holies correlates to Man’s Spirit, as this is where God’s Presence dwells in the inner man of the believer.  “The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (I Cor. 6:17)   The Outer Court correlates to Man’s Body, as it is openly visible in the natural realm.

When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross and cried out, "It is finished!", the veil that divided the Holy of Holies from the Inner Court of the temple was torn, indicating that God’s Presence would no longer inhabit the Tabernacle made by man’s hands.  Rather, He would now, as of the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), live in the very bodies of those who are united to Christ through faith.  “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His.”” (2 Tim. 2:19)  “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (I Pet. 2:5)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (I Cor. 6:19-20)

The Tabernacle is a simple picture of Who Christ is, and who we are in Him, inhabited by God Himself, illumined by His light, refreshed by His sustenance, fragrant with His motivation to be a blessing and benefit to the whole earth.

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)