Beyond The Numbers: Understanding God's Economy

Beyond the Numbers: Understanding God's Economy

Introduction:

- We live in a world that is obsessed with numbers. We measure everything by numbers: our income, our expenses, our achievements, our popularity, our success, and our happiness. We think that more is better, and that bigger is greater. We compare ourselves with others by looking at the numbers. We think that God also values us by the numbers. But is that true?

- The Bible tells us that God's economy is different from ours. God's economy is not based on numbers, but on values. God's economy is not based on human logic, but on divine wisdom. God's economy is not based on what we deserve, but on what He gives. God's economy is not based on what we see, but on what He sees.

- In this sermon, we will look at some examples from the Bible that show us how God's economy works. We will see how God values people and things differently from us. We will see how God blesses those who trust Him and obey Him, even when it does not make sense to us. We will see how God challenges us to live by His economy, not by ours.

In Jesus’s parables:

1. One sheep gets more attention than 99.

- In Luke 15:3-7, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep. He says that if a shepherd has 100 sheep and one of them goes astray, he will leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it. And when he finds it, he will rejoice more over it than over the 99 that did not go astray.

- This parable shows us how God values each individual soul. He does not care about the numbers, but about the person. He does not write off anyone as hopeless or worthless. He does not give up on anyone who wanders away from Him. He pursues them with His love and grace until He brings them back to His fold. He rejoices over every sinner who repents and every lost sheep who is found.

- This parable also challenges us to value people as God does. We should not judge people by their outward appearance, their social status, their achievements, or their failures. We should not ignore or neglect those who are marginalized, oppressed, or forgotten by society. We should not be indifferent or apathetic to those who are hurting, struggling, or sinning. We should care for them, reach out to them, share the gospel with them, and pray for them. We should rejoice with heaven when they come to know Christ and join His family.

Story: "When the tsunami struck Banda Aceh, Indonesia, it also hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands. At that moment, I was the Pastor of our Church, which sat by the seashore. The day started with a powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook us to our core. My wife and I quickly gathered our children and rushed outside. We stumbled to the ground, and for what felt like an eternity, I couldn't fathom the danger we were in. It seemed like the end of the world.

But by God's grace, we emerged unharmed. My thoughts immediately turned to our church members. I was anxious to know if they were safe. We had 32 families in our congregation. Determined to check on their well-being, I hopped on my scooter and set out to find them, encouraging them to join us for Sunday worship. I met with all 32 families, offering prayers of thanks for their safety.

Upon my return home, I witnessed chaos in our residential area, nestled on a hill near the seashore, where our Church and home were located. People were in a state of panic, fleeing for their lives. I wasn't sure what was happening, but my family was down by the seashore, and I had to reach them. As I attempted to descend, people urgently warned me not to proceed, saying that the sea was rising with colossal waves. Many had already been engulfed by the sea.

My heart pounded with fear for my wife, Vimala, and our young children, Titus and Rebecca. When I finally reached the seashore, it was a heart-wrenching sight. The sea had swallowed numerous homes and shops, and countless vehicles floated atop the water. Amidst this chaos, our own home was wide open, and I had no idea where my family was. Tears streamed down my face as I frantically searched for them, asking everyone I encountered. Nobody had seen them.

After what seemed like an agonizingly long time, I finally found them at the hill's summit. Tears welled up in my eyes as we were reunited, each of us having been deeply worried about the others. Losing someone or something in such circumstances is a heartbreak beyond words."