The 4th Money Principle
Let’s revisit the previous economic principles that Joseph used. Josephs’ 1st Economic Principle was setting aside 1/5 or 20%, otherwise known as a Tithe & a 10% Offering. He also used a natural principle of putting them on a savings plan. The Spiritual Concept was that of Seed, Time and Harvest. The spiritual concept of Seed Time and Harvest is giving (The Sowing of a Seed) and believing God for a return (The Harvest). The 2nd Economic Principle was the Bartering System. Barter is simply negotiation for goods or items. The Spiritual Concept employed was Exchange. By Bartering or exchanging with the people who had a need for food, Joseph gave them seed to grow their own food. The 3rd Economic Principle was a Monopoly. Times had become desperate for the Egyptian people and Joseph purchased their land in exchange for seed or food again. By this time, Joseph had purchased all of their livestock, homes and lands. He had monopolized the entire land of Egypt. The Spiritual Concept utilized was Prophetic Strategy and Positioning. Joseph knew the word of the Lord, understood prophetic dreams and their interpretations and correspondingly based his decisions and economic strategies using that spiritual advantage. Last, but not least, the 4th Economic Principle was exactly the same as the 1st Economic Plan. Only this time, the scale of application changed!
“Joseph then announced to the people: Here’s how things stand: I’ve bought you and your land for Pharaoh. In exchange, I’m giving you seed so you can plant the ground. When the crops are harvested, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh and keep four fifths for yourselves and your families-you’re going to be able to feed your children.” – Genesis 47:23-24 – The Message Bible
On the surface, this may appear to be as if Joseph were simply making the people pay taxes or forcing them to give a tribute to Pharaoh. However, if we understand Joseph’s heart to honor The One and True God and his desire to use Godly strategies, we see a different motive. Just as Joseph instructed and taught Pharaoh indirectly of the principle of Tithing(10%) with a 10 percent offering for a total of 20% or one fifth, in Gen 41:34, we see the same principle applied on a national level. What appears to be taxation was in fact Joseph instructing the people to give the Tithe and a 10 percent offering! If we compare Gen 41:34 and Gen 47:24 and examine the economic principles used in both scriptures, we will see the exact same strategy applied. However, the difference is that in the latter example, the strategy was used to train the entire nation! Through Joseph’s use of this economic principle at both the individual level and the national level, we can see that God’s principles will work both for an individual or an entire nation!! Here is something even more amazing, God’s Economic laws work whether people are saved or not! The Egyptian nation was a nation of idolaters and yet the principle still worked!
The giving of Tithes & Offerings is crucial to understanding when it comes to how to successfully operate in Kingdom Economics. Simply put, there are two different economic systems at work. There is the World’s System which by nature, is greedy, selfish and backstabbing. Then there is God’s Economic System. His system is that of Love, Honor and Respect of the Holy One Who has created you, given you sustained life and continues to bless you. The two systems are incompatible with one another. You will have to decide which system you will trust.
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” – Luk 16:13
- 4th Economic Principle: Tithes & Offerings Applied On A National Scale
- 4th Spiritual Concept: Seed, Time, and Harvest Applied On A National Scale
Ric Steele Ministries 