You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
“We who formerly treasured money and possessions more than anything else now hand over everything we have to a treasury for all and share it with everyone who needs it. We who formerly hated and murdered one another now live together and share the same table. We pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us.”
Attributed widely to Justin the Martyr (100-165).
Soon it will be Sunday here in HK, and I will preach three services at Island ECC. My texts come from 1 Timothy and relate to this idea of putting off your former way of life, the thinking of the economy of this world, and put on the mindset of the economy of God (οἰκονομίαν Θεοῦ in 1 Timothy 1:4).
Ephesus was the financial capital of the ancient world. And, in the economy of this world mindset, all you needed was money to solve all your problems. This gives a person an operating system of greed. Alternatively, in the economy of God, all you need is God to solve all your problems.
Notice how this new self, this new OS, gives us an operating system of generosity as illustrated by this shift in Justin’s testimony. We formerly lived a certain way and that led us to treat one another horribly. No we share the same table and pray for others.
If you are reading this and you have not put off the former mindset on money, do it today. It will make you a slave to money and guide you to your destruction. And when you choose to live according to the economy of God, you enjoy and share His blessings and take hold of life.
Pray for me as proclaim this truth to bless one the largest churches in all of Hong Kong. It’s a big deal so please pray for me. Sure, I will make the link available afterwords. But for now, pray both for me and for all those who hear the “New Purpose” message God has put on my heart in their “A New Year, A New You” series.