Before you tell me I’m daft, let me explain. Our modern word ‘economy’ is just a transliteration (that’s changing the letters from Greek characters to English ones) of a common Greek word: oikonomia.
The ending ‘nomy’ is from the Greek word for law or rule. Hence ‘autonomy’ is ruling yourself, running your own life.
The prefix ‘oikos’ means house.
Therefore, economy means house-rule or house-government – the management of your domestic affairs. It has only more recently come to mean specifically to do with financial affairs in popular understanding.
So, when God tells us in Ephesians 1:10 that God has ‘a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.’ he is telling us that he has a plan, so big, so all encompassing, so complete that it will ultimately bring all things in heaven and earth to a right and proper conclusion!
This little verse is in the middle of a fantastic and full exclamation of all that God has done and is doing in his created universe. It should reassure us no end that in the middle of the uncertainty of this world there is One who knows what he is doing, and is able to do what he intends. There is One who can and will bring all the threads of life to a head, with God reigning supreme and all creation in its proper place.
There is a divine economy that needs no polls or surveys to discover what will happen. The plan is fixed and sure and to all who believe it is our sure and certain hope in an uncertain world. Let’s live by that.
2 responses to “God has an economic plan!”
Timely reminder Peter of who is really in charge. This gives much needed comfort and reassurance in these turbulent times.
A particularly powerful message for those in our society who are consumed with finance. God indeed is in control