What is God's Economy?

[Cal]

Originally Posted by aron

Jesus talks of "the least of these" as the focus of the divine economy, but Paul Hon in Anaheim pulled up a strapping young American college student who looked like LA Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser, and said, "this is what we want". There were many people there with me, who can attest to my memory. Paul Hon was speaking for his bosses: they wanted Caucasian Americans with earning potential. That was their focus.

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14

"The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ " Luke 14:21

Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence. 1 Cor 1:26-29

[aron]

Originally Posted by Igzy

But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14

"The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them" ~Matt 11:5 This is God's economy, and it requires faith. If you had a restaurant, would you invite in people who had no means to repay you? Look at the banquet Jesus hosted and look at who came. When John the Baptist asked Jesus to give an account of his ministry, this (Matt 11:5) is what Jesus said to characterise himself... this was outreach, God's "high arm" outstretched, to those who could not repay. This was love.

Now by my own definition, my post doesn't constitute outreach, or ministration, or dispensing. But it serves two purposes: it helps me to get free from ones who'd hold us in mental slavery, and it suggests a course of profitable activity. Good enough.