If there is one thing that every person wants and needs in life, it is security. We want to know our future is not in jeopardy and everything we will need shall be in place. We want to know we’ll have enough food to feed our families, enough money to pay our bills, good health, a place to live, adequate resources in case of emergencies, and a long life.
For most people, we seek to obtain our security through our jobs, businesses, trying to eat right, and saving up for a rainy day, but many of us know that even our best efforts can’t stop life from laying an unexpected and staggering sucker punch. Being faithful on the job won’t prevent a layoff. Eating all the right foods won’t fully prevent a cold or cancer. And at just the right time, tragedy can strike and you are completely unprepared. It’s like my dad would always say, “Just keep getting up in the morning…”
Many of us depend on our local, state, and federal governments to provide security. Through laws passed and the fair execution of the laws, we hope that our elected and appointed officials will discharge their duties faithfully and in the best interest of the people they are sworn to serve. We want to live without threat of our leaders and public servants causing us harm. Yet, one doesn’t have to look far to see cases of bad apples, rogues, and self-centeredness that compromises the security we expect to receive from our government.
There used to be a time when people left their front doors unlocked, expected visitors, and generally felt safe in their own neighborhoods. Now, we have 300 locks on the door, a security system, a guard dog, and if anyone rings the bell that didn’t schedule an appointment, we pretend like no one is home. Why? It is because of a lack of security. We generally feel less safe and understandably so. From the constant barrage of violence and crime highlighted in the news to stereotypes reinforced to us through culture, it won’t be long before your first instinct is to suspect people of ill intent. For quite some time, our world has been spiraling down the funnel of insecurity and it stems from our distrust of one another. So, what are we to do and where can we turn to obtain the security we so desperately desire or is this simply a foregone conclusion?
Most people would tell you, “Look, this is the just the world we live in. You need to accept it and understand that you can’t change anything.” I can completely understand that perspective. When you look around, from where is hope going to come? Who among us is going to solve the problem WE have caused? A friend of mine has a saying, “If you hang around 9 broke people, what makes you think you aren’t number 10?” It’s funny every time I hear it, but the point he makes is relevant. We look to people with the same problems as us to fix them. That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this works. Blind folk don’t lead blind folk the last time I checked. Could it be that these individuals limit their vision by their sight? Are we looking to the right people and places to solve our problems?
However, every once in a while, you’ll run into someone who has a wild optimism and an obstinate belief in a world that is polar opposite of the one we live in today and takes steps every day to make it so. No, our heads are not in the clouds, our feet are firmly planted in reality. We simply believe there is more to life than what we see. We believe in the potential for goodness within every human being. And we believe we all have the capacity to change our world.
For myself, this hope and belief come from the unchanging and unshakeable reality of the Kingdom of God. It was one verse of Scripture I’d read dozens of times before that began a revolutionary change in my life a little over 2 years ago.
Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33
This is the ultimate promise of security! I have access to an infinitely powerful God with unlimited resources, has boundless love and care for my life, promises to meet all my needs and righteous desires by simply entering His Kingdom and staying rightly related to Him. The most reassuring thing about being a citizen in the Kingdom of God is that God’s provision in my life is not a product of my labor, but a product of my right relationship with the Him. My needs become His top priority. My life is now His concern. Where I live, what I drive, my family, my health, my wealth, and everything in between now becomes the responsibility of the King.
You may be wondering, like I did, if this means all my efforts become irrelevant and I can be lazy. Certainly, not. It is God who gives us the ability to create wealth (Deut. 8:18). We are called to be responsible and industrious stewards of the resources God has given us (Luke 12:48). Laziness brings poverty (Prov. 20:13). We are to use every gift, skill, talent, and ability we have to be productive in the world.
What this promise guarantees us is that no matter what economic system we are part of in the world, the outcome of our lives is determined by the commonwealth economy of Heaven. God’s commonwealth is not like capitalism where everyone must make their own way. It’s not like socialism where the wealthy are heavily taxed to take care of the poor. God’s economy is based on the personal wealth of the King; He gives all His citizens common access to His personal wealth at His discretion (Psalm 24:1, Job 1:21). The King gives His citizens resources with the responsibility of using those resources according to His will. When we are faithful with those resources, we keep the gates open for more to come to and through us, thereby, securing His provision in our lives (Matt. 25:21).
That sounds way better than everyone competing for resources. That sounds better than being a heavy tax burden on the people. That a vast improvement over stressing where the money is going to come from to pay the bills. That’s better than being filled with anxiety about my health. That’s better than fretting when crisis hits. God’s economy is never in crisis, never needs a bailout, never sees recession or depression, and is never in jeopardy of shutting down! What’s more secure than that?!?
I want to strongly encourage those of you reading this, if you aren’t already under God’s economy, to get under it! All you need to do to become a citizen in His Kingdom is repent of your sins, confess Christ to be Lord/Owner of your life from here on out, stay rightly related to Him, and there you have it! Life won’t get easier, but you will have security.
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. -Romans 10:9
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Prov. 3:5-6
Grace and Peace,
Professor Q