Nine Principles of Kingdom
Economics
Viv Grigg, June 2006
Jesus came to preach good news
of the Kingdom of God to the poor,
to set the captives free, to declare
the acceptable year of the Lord (–
the year of Jubilee) (Luke 4:18, 19).
When people heard
him, what did they
understand?
Kingdom Economic
Principles in Genesis 1
 God’s
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Principle 1: Creativity – He creates (Gen 1:1)
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Nature is to be reflected in us
Take risks
Makes something from nothing
Evolving one thing from the next – we are to grow
business incrementally
Principle 2: He works cooperatively (“Let us”1:1)
Principle 3: Productivity – “he made”, “it was good”
Principle 4: He works
Principle 5: He rests
Principle 1 & 3:
Creativity & Productivity
 God is the creative worker
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His work was good, expressing beauty
Made something out of nothing
Evolved each step into something new
His work was artistic
 His
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work was good
Work is honorable
God’s work can be seen in four categories:
creation, providence, judgement,
redemption
Principle 4: Work
 Human
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work
To manage the earth
To subdue it
To fill it
 Work
1.What rate of interest do they charge?
was cursed in the
fall
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It became hard work
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From gardener to farmer,
from fulfilment to
frustration
But the command to
manage did not change
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Abuse of work takes two
forms:
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Principle 5:
Rest
Idleness
Overwork
Work without rest is one of the
major sins
 The Sabbath
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a symbol of the covenant
between God and his people
a time to reflect and rest
out of this reflection, worship.
Christians enter a permanent
rest
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We rest in the spirit in our work
But we also take seasons of rest
Principle 6: Redistribution
The Jubilee (Lev 25:8-17)
Every 50th year,
It was a time of equalizing.
I. LIBERTY
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It is synonymous with the year of liberty.
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Slaves are to be set free.
II. DEBTS ARE TO BE CANCELED.
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Economic freedom is inherent in the gospel message.
III. CELEBRATION.
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Celebration is inherent in the gospel message.
IV. REDISTRIBUTION
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The means of production, the land was to be returned to the
original owners. Redistribution of the means of production is
inherent in the gospel message.
V. OWNERSHIP
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Even the Levites were to have their own home
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Jesus’ Message of the
 This theme of the Jubilee Jubilee
becomes central to the
New Testament
In the central passage
around which Luke builds
his gospel and the Acts,
Luke 4:18, Jesus declares
his mission
 He inaugurates the
Jubilee eternally.
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Jubilee Economics in the
Acts Community (Acts 2:42-44)
New PRINCIPLE: FORSAKING
2nd PRINCIPLE:
COOPERATIVE
ECONOMICS 6th
PRINCIPLE: MEETING
NEEDS
6th PRINCIPLE: VOLUNTARY
GIVING
6th PRINCIPLE: THE
EQUALIZING GOSPEL
8th PRINCIPLE: CELEBRATION
9th PRINCIPLE: PRIVATE
OWNERSHIP WITHOUT
POSSESSIVENESS
AN EQUALIZING GOSPEL
Rich 5%
Middle Class 10%
A RANGE OF JUSTICE & EQUALITY
Labouring Poor 45%
Destitute Poor 40%
Principle of Simplicity
I Tim 6:6-10
A Lifestyle of Simplicity
Earn much
Consume Little
Hoard Nothing
Give Generously
Celebrate Life
Principle 6: Jubilee and
International Redistribution
(2 Corinthians 8,9)
The principles of Jubilee as evidenced in
Jesus community, then in the Acts
community are further extended globally
in Paul’s teaching on global
redistribution between the churches
Principle 6:
International
Redistribution
Sacrificial Simple
Lifestyles
lead to
Interchurch
International
Economic Justice
(II Cor 8,9)
Summary of Principles of Kingdom Economics
Principle
Genesis/ Jubilee
1. Creativity
God the creator
2. Cooperative
Economics
Let us make
3. Productivity
Good outcomes
4. Work
Gospels & Acts
Epistles
Spirit sets free
Sharing
Provide for
others
He makes
He structures
Labour in the
gospel
Work with hands
(1 Thes 4:11)
5. Rest
God rests
Jubilee come
3. Rest
6 Redistribut’n
for Equality
Jubilee –return
of land
Tithing
No needy one
Weekly Giving
Global redist’n
(2 Cor 8,9)
Simplicity
7. Savings &
Debt
Jubilee cancels Debts
debts
cancelled
8. Celebration
It was good
9. Ownership / Own home /
(Levites)
Owe no man
Worship daily
Forsake all,
yet own home
/ Provide family
(1 Tim 5:8)