Economics in the Kingdom of God

Recently some of the leaders have been discussing and mulling over this issue of being a productive, yet reflective disciple. It is in that vein that we discuss this many-faceted word:

Y I E L D.


In the olden times where agriculture occupies a lot of what people did and where people depended a lot on the extent of harvest at the end of a long season of hard work, watering, fertilizing and hoping, there is that special moment in which everyone is looking forward to: Harvest Day. That day brings with it an entire spectrum of emotions. Some welcome its coming with eager excitement, like a child looking to the dawn of the promise of a present-filled Christmas. Some worry about false dawns, anxious over the yield they would be getting in return for all their perseverance and their back-breaking labour in the fields. What if it was worse than last year? What if pests devour it just as they ripen? Wouldn't that be unfair?


We all worry at the prospect of not being productive in our Christian life. We carry with us the burden of wanting to be fruitful in God's eyes. Some carry this burden secretly. Some wear their emotions on their sleeves, almost allowing the burden to crush the joy of their salvation. Is that works in disguise? Do we really need to prove anything to God? Seriously, can we ever do anything to prove our worth to God anyway? This is not to say that we should discard the notion of productiveness in our life. His word exhorts us to possess certain godly qualities, so that "if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."


Some farmers cross their fingers, anticipating, waiting with baited breath as the results of their labour for the season unfolds in front of them. The modern equivalent comes in the form of these questions: Did the Word of God bear fruit in my life? Did I make it through the painful trial that God allowed me to go through? Or did I come up short again?


The bible speaks of the person whose heart is fertile and having good soil. It speaks of the abundance of produce that this heartland would produce -- thirty times, sixty times and a hundred times what was sown! In the eyes of the world, such a yield of crop is unimaginable. It would be tantamount to a miracle. But that IS the miracle that God does in our very lives, lives that are yielded wholly to Him. The economics of the kingdom is simple. There are no half-hearted investments. They don't work and never will. But where there are investments, there is incredible yield. Remember about the seed of faith that is ridiculously small (mustard seed) that moved a mountain many times its size? Remember about the 5 loaves and 2 fishes? Remember one life and person called John the baptist that lived his life fully for express purpose of 'preparing the way of the Lord'? Remember the Lord Himself who yielded His life in order to bring salvation to many? For from one man who died for us, all may receive salvation.


It's not easy to picture how it could look like, but in my humble experience, it's strangely painful joy. Oh the joy of knowing the change God will bring as you give up areas of your life to Him, so that he can be that farmer who would plant only the good things in your life. Many times, even as I struggle to give up rights and even lies I've lived with for many years, I realise I miss them. I miss the familiarity of knowing what I'm struggling with... the pain, the torture, the sameness can be strangely reassuring. But in my heart of hearts, I know I need to yield it all to Him. Because I trust Him, completely...


Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies to itself, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Its potential is found, and its power for impact and influence grows exponentially, becoming a blessing far beyond what it was originally capable of. Such is the economics in the kingdom. Yield to Him, the Lord of the Harvest, and you will experience harvest in your life like never before. Blessing, power, annointing and His presence in your life. What a yield we receive as we yield to Him. As we seek the Lord, I encourage all of us to remember one thing : Y I E L D.