KFLCC Kingdom Economics

F INANCIAL S ECURITY IN THE L AST D AYS

would bless Israel with vines and fruit bearing trees, their animals would be healthy, and their wives would birth strong children. Christ had none of the above. He purchased no property for himself, and He pruned no natural vineyards at His own private estate. He invested no income in animals or livestock, and His financial portfolio was nonexistent. Jesus remained unmarried and, of course, He never fathered children. He was not married to Mary Magdalene as some heretics have suggested, but His true bride would be comprised of individual believers from every nation—His called out ones. His Word—that is, the seed of the Word, according to Matthew 13:18-30—would conceive millions of sons and daughters into the heavenly kingdom. He was born in a stable and placed in a borrowed manger. He preached from borrowed boats, stayed in the homes of close friends, and ate from the tables of disciples who invited Him for dinner. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey that was loaned to Him, and borrowed a rich man’s tomb to be buried in for three days. Christ fulfilled every moral, sacrificial and judicial command; yet He refused to accept the prosperity blessings promised to those who would obey God’s instructions (Josh. 1:7; 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Chron. 22:13; 2 Chron. 20:20; Neh. 2:20; Ps. 122:6). Why? Let’s look at the possible reasons. First, Jesus was not connected to earthly things, because His kingdom was spiritual and heavenly in nature (John 8:23; 18:36). His home was with His heavenly Father, and He chose to have no ties to things, possessions and earthly goods. He knew that His human life would be for a short season, and then He would return to His Father in heaven (John 14:1-2). Imagine this. What would Christ have done with bags of money, land, houses and possessions? Can you imagine the arguments over who should split His wealth when He ascended to heaven? The disciples were often so carnal that they might have gone to court and divided the possessions among themselves instead of traveling the world, spreading the gospel, and most dying as martyrs. Just as some today, they might have been so caught up in building a museum or a monument to particular events, that the gospel could have been hindered. Had He owned anything, those things would have become a holy relic, a spiritual monument, or a point of debate between the churches. Today in the Holy Land the Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others draw lines in buildings to mark the “real spot” where Christ ministered. As an example, there is a physical division in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

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