The Divine Art of the Deal: Winners & Losers in God’s Economy
- Kerry Morris
- May 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 10
We are always making deals. Countries strike trade deals. Governments decide where to spend and where to cut. Individuals trade time for money, data for entertainment. We even give up parts of ourselves for relationships, approval, or influence. Everyone gives up money to buy things from Amazon or Temu.
Few things are as central to the modern human condition as making decisions about transactions. And we often evaluate people as winners or losers based on the types of deals they make.
If transactions are such a big part of our lives, then it’s worth asking: what makes a good deal in God’s eyes? According to Jesus of Nazareth, stewardship matters, motives matter even more, and God’s economy runs on an entirely different currency.
Stewardship Matters
Jesus made it clear that we are to carefully steward valuable things. This includes quantifiable things like time and money, but also things like forgiveness and mercy that cannot be measured.
Don’t Waste. He taught his disciples not to waste anything, even scraps of food. “When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.”” (1)
Invest For Return. Jesus not only taught us to avoid waste - he urged us to invest in things that yield growth. In one parable, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them…One who had received five valuable coins came forward with five additional coins. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five valuable coins. Look, I’ve gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant!…(2)”
Small Things Matter. This command to steward resources applied even to the smallest things. In fact, responsibly managing small things is the key to being trusted with bigger things. ““Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much (3). ‘You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.” (4)
Motives Matter
While wisely investing our time and resources was important to Jesus, he did not say we should only focus on quantifiable return. Our motives are even more important.
No Expectations. Sometimes we are to invest without expecting anything in return. “If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate (5).” God views giving as a valuable transaction.
Expression of Thankfulness. Giving expresses thankfulness for what we’ve received. “Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’” (6) ““I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other” (7).
Giving from Lack. Jesus also taught the most valuable gifts came from areas of personal need. “Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury…Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on (8).”
Different Currency
From pragmatic human perspective, these types of transactions don’t make sense. How can God want me to invest my valuable time and money to get maximum return, but also say I should not expect a return? But God’s economy runs on a different kind of currency. Jesus teaches us to value the welfare of others, honoring God, and removing things that keep us from following God.
Helping Others. God values when we invest in helping those in need. “Jesus replied, “A man…encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds…took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?” Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.(9)””
Honoring God. God values when we invest in honoring God, humbly acknowledging where we stand in the context of the divine. “…Mary took an extraordinary amount…of very expensive perfume…She anointed Jesus’ feet with it…The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples…complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it (10).”
Letting Go To Follow God. God also values when we give up things, even good productive things, that hinder us from following him. “Jesus…he saw two brothers..Peter and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him (11).” Fishing was good, honorable work. But, Peter and Andrew could not do that job and also devote their lives to what God was asking them to do. They traded the good known for the better unknown, and wound up founding a movement that would change the world.
God’s Economy
Across Jesus’ teachings about transactions, one theme permeates them all. We are to transact and not horde. He calls us to invest, to give, to act.
As is often the case, what Jesus taught aligns with principles we see in science. Economics teaches us about the Circular Flow Model of the economy, which basically says the economy thrives when money and resources are in motion (12). Transacting builds value and creates more opportunity. In fact, one way economies fail is by falling into a “liquidity trap”, where people and governments horde money instead of investing it. This can kill economic growth (13).
Likewise, Jesus taught that time and treasure, forgiveness and mercy, love and compassion are not to be hoarded. They are to be invested lavishly, even if that means the return on the investment is in a currency we cannot measure. They are to be invested, not despite their value but because of their value.
Jesus calls us to take the good things we have, and by letting them go, trust God to turn them into something wonderful. The only way to lose is to insist on keeping score.
Footnotes
John 6:12 CEB
Matthew 25:14-15, 20-21, 24-27 CEB
Luke 16:10-11 CEB
Matthew 25:23 CEB
Luke 6:34-36 CEB
Matthew 18:33 CEB
John 13:34 CEB
Mark 12:41-44 CEB
Luke 10:30, 34-37 CEB
John 12:3-5, 7 CEB
Matthew 4:18-20 CEB
Source: Circular Flow of Income – Economics Help https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/glossary/circular-flow-of-income
Source: Liquidity Trap – Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquiditytrap.asp
Comentarios