In its basic form, the term “economics” is derived from the Ancient Greek term “Oikonomia” which is the merging of 2 Greek words, “oikos” and “nemein.” “Oikos” means “household” and “nemein” means “management and dispensation.”
Everything starts from the household – the choices that we make for our lives start at home. It is about the family and what the family does and how it manages its resources as a unit.
Particularly in the Caribbean, Home Economics used to be taught in most schools, but it is no longer offered as a single subject any more. It’s been splintered into different areas like Family and Consumer Management; Food, Nutrition and Health; and Fashion and Textile. Depending on which high school you attend, you may only be able to sit an external exam in only one of the areas, so you end up less rounded; but technical schools tend to offer all three.
It is important for all to recognize that God cannot be excluded from the Economy at any level, because the Economy was created by Him even before God created man. Family and consumer mgt (fmly home mgt), food nutrition and health, and fashion and textile
It was bad management and poor choices that caused man to walk the path of poor decision-making with the resources God gave to mankind. Hence, what was freely given to man, he has to work hard and till the ground to simply earn a portion of that.
The words farming, cultivation, and crops are inherent in us all and are a part of us, regardless of how we try to ignore them or push them away. Many give more preference to the stock market than they do to farming. Now, how many households can enter the stock market today? Are the choices of nations regarding the economy the right choices for the nation?
PROFIT FROM GOD’S ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES
God has a principle regarding how the economy must function, and He has given us a blueprint, which is the Bible. The Holy Spirit will teach us about Times and Seasons, and also the product(s) that must be prioritized. For example, you cannot plow before the rain. We must first allow the rain to fall so that it softens the ground. After that, then plowing can begin. Plowing can mean prayer, fasting, obedience, and worship – which will bring rain to soften the ground so that we can plant and reap a colossal harvest.
These days, man has developed innumerable schemes to attract great investment with the promise of greater return. We are now seeing the collapse of these principles that are not in line with God’s Principles; so, naturally, there will be great losses.
When God is going to bless a nation, He sends rain, wine, and oil. Deuteronomy 11: 13 – 17 reminds us, “‘And it shall be that if you earnestly [a]obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 then I[b] will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be [c]filled.’ 16 Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, 17 lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.”
Ultimately, what man has done, is to push away what God has freely given to us – without the need for hard work – and, instead, have chosen to do things our way, get what we want, how we want it; while having to pay for it with hard work and deception. This is simply because we want our will to be done and not God’s will.
