Kingdom Economics | Fig Leaf Faith is Religion...

Religion is fig leaf faith...

In our last lesson we learnt from Genesis 3:7 how Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves. That action was their religious response to try and please God. They reasoned that by wrapping themselves with fig leaves (their own efforts), they would "earn" God's favour and approval.

Well, is this actually possible? Can we really "earn" God's approval? Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him..." (AMP)

"For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]" Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMP)

These verses make it very clear how our own efforts cannot bring into manifestation God's salvation and the finished work of Christ. In fact, Adam and Eve already enjoyed the favour of God since they were His children or sons (Luke 3:38). We see God's benevolence and grace towards them in Genesis 3:8 onwards. Even though they had sinned, God still came to them in the cool of the day as He did before. This distinctly shows He did not reject them in any way!

God visits Adam and Eve

After the fig leaf event of Genesis 3:7, God "drops in" on Adam and Eve in the garden the way He always did. Verse 8 reports how Adam and his wife "hid" themselves among the trees. God asks Adam, "Where are you?" Now, the question is, did the all-knowing God not know where they were? Was He playing "peek-a-boo" with them? I don't believe so.

My suggestion to you is that God asked, "Where are you?" with reference to their spiritual standing and position with Him. They lost their "intimate" position of fellowship with their heavenly Father. However, they did not lose their relationship as His children.

In verse 10 Adam announces, "...I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid..." Surely, this means when God visited with them in the past there was no sense of fear or urge to hide away? My viewpoint is that this sense of fear or "covering up" came as a direct result of their religious "figleaf" actions. Like many of us today, they suffered from the fear of "being found out", which boils down to guilt and condemnation.

How does this apply to Kingdom Economics?

In the previous lesson we briefly discussed 1 Timothy 6:10 where it says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil" (AMP). Money itself is not evil in the same way a Mercedes Benz is not evil because an evil person drives it. With money people can accomplish evil things because of the evil motives in the hearts of those using or spending it. There is also a converse reality to this observation. When we honour the Lord with our Firstfruits, Tithes and Offerings, we engage in holy "transactions" with Him.

Most of us are familiar with the concept of giving Firstfruits, Tithes and Offerings. When we practice giving in this way with the right heart attitude towards our heavenly Father, His Grace is activated in our lives. 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 gives wonderful insights regarding giving when done generously and with the right heart posture.

What I am saying is when we, for instance, give money, it remains neutral in the whole transaction. It is the heart of the person giving those funds which determines the outcomes and whether God's Grace will flow or not. The heart attitude determines whether the giving of Firstfruits, Tithes and Offerings will cover the giver with "fig leaves" or with God's Grace.

A fig leaf approach for financial protection and provision usually results in a kind of hit and miss state of affairs in the financial life of the giver. Believers who give in this way may be recognised by the complaints emanating from their mouths, especially when it comes to their financial wellbeing.

Reminder:

The main theme of this series of lessons deals with the subject of Kingdom Economics. Our economic successes or failures in life are directly linked to how deeply we've allowed religion to contaminate and infect the way we think about economics and money.

Therefore, before I conclude today's lesson, I want to introduce a few thoughts to you. In order to kickstart the process, I need you to think back to your childhood. Try to recall specific memories or instances where you encountered money. Like me, you may not be able to call up all those experiences, however, try anyway. Now, think back about what your parents, family, teachers or friends said to you concerning finances. Chances are some of what you remember may not be very positive.

When I think back, vivid images of how my parents scolded me for even touching "dirty" money, flood into my consciousness. So, as children we learn, or it is actually drummed into us that money is "dirty." Now, in a physical sense this is certainly true, since many of us know what it's like to pry a coin from and infants mouth. Such a situation can become very dangerous very quickly. Here we can already see the negative pattern evolving around the "fear," "dislike," or even disdain of money.

In this type of environment the enemy is quick to manipulate and exploit the vulnerable thoughts of the immature. He's a master at "blurring the lines" between that which is true and false. This creates confusion and opens the door for religious concepts to take a hold of the mind.

Now, couple this with a religious impetus from parents or other authority figures where the term "filthy lucre" is associated with money or wealth, and you've got a recipe for possible financial ruin. Additionally we have the misquoted verse that "money is the root of all evil" from 1 Timothy 6:10, and you're well on your way to developing a skewed perception and understanding of money and wealth.

It is appropriate to close this lesson with words my parents often said me, especially when I asked for something.

"Money doesn't grow on trees..."

The Cambridge Dictionary defines this phrase as follows: "Money doesn't grow on trees" is an idiom that means money is a limited resource that requires hard work to earn. It is typically used to warn someone to be careful with their spending and avoid wasting cash, as it is not freely or easily available.

Before coming to a proper understanding of Biblical Kingdom Economics, I was also guilty of employing this phrase to "defend" my lack of ability or capacity to meet a financial need. This expression smacks of and implies a constant lack of funds and the painstaking labour it takes to obtain it.
We will continue our discussion of this mindstream in the next lesson.

In the Love and Grace of Christ
Jan van Rooyen


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