If you believe that the universe was created by the God who revealed himself in Scripture and incarnated himself in Christ, then you most likely look to Scripture to inform your view of all life, including disciplines such as economics.

Given this predicate, I offer the following definition of economics.

Biblically, economics is the social science that describes the factors that determine the stewardship of T4 (time, talent, treasure, and technology) through production, distribution, and utilization of goods and services to facilitate mankind in finding and fulfilling mankind’s role (individually and organizationally) in the metanarrative congruent with the Creation Mandate.

If the stewardship of your T⁴ (time, talent, treasure, and technology) is to be understood holistically, this intimates that economic stewardship is all encompassing. Therefore, understanding economics from a biblical perspective is foundational to living a wise, prudent life.

Sadly, though, few people seem to have much profound understanding of biblical economics. For example, consider four rudimentary biblical principles of economics.

• God owns all. The Creator owns everything (see the above text). Nothing exists that he did not create. Humans are, therefore, simply stewards created by God to execute his commands.¹
• God funds his will.² Given the sovereign nature of God, he rules over everything and is executing his plan (metanarrative) over time. Because no one can thwart his will³ and he has created all wealth, he will fund activities aligned with his will.
• Gold is the basis for monetary systems. The purpose of God in creating mankind is stated in what is commonly called the Creation Mandate or Cultural Mandate recorded in Genesis 1:26–28. God stated that he made mankind to be his ruling agents on earth. The scope and size of the project will require monetary transactions. The basis for a monetary system to facilitate these transactions is intimated to be gold.⁴ Historically, gold has been widely accepted as the basis for monetary systems.
• True wealth and temporal wealth. There are two types of wealth—true wealth and temporal wealth.⁵ True wealth has value both in this existence and in the next. Temporal wealth only has value in this existence and is best used to gain true wealth. Physical assets—money, stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, and collectibles—are examples of temporal wealth.

Were you challenged by these principles? If so, you need to become a faithful student of biblical economics.

Biblical economics begins with the predicate that the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Consequently, it is the responsibility of organizational leaders to recognize their roles as God’s stewards. Furthermore, a corollary of this axiomatic truth is that wise stewards measure economic success first and foremost by alignment with the will and ways of God. This metric is in stark contrast to the commonly presumed measure—money.

Therefore, to lead organizations well, we need to become students of biblical economics.

Here is your business tip. Leaders must recognize that they are stewards and that organizations exist to serve the will and ways of the Creator. Economics should therefore be rooted in biblical truth about the will and ways of the Creator. The best sources of revelation about the will and ways of the Creator are Scripture (special revelation) and creation (general revelation). Since God funds his will, long-term success requires alignment with God’s economic principles, which are best revealed in Scripture. Furthermore, any principles gleaned from general revelation must be congruent with Scripture.

_______________________________
1. Luke 19:11–27.
2. Matthew 6:33.
3. Isaiah 46:10.
4. Genesis 2:11–12.
5. Matthew 6:19–21.