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The responsibility of Christians in regards to economic development, leadership within the community, as a Christians God has given us all spiritual gifts and with these gifts, we are to use those gifts to provide leadership in our communities and to ensure economic growth as well.  In addition to the spiritual gifts, we also have scripture to use as guidance to set an example for others and serve others as Jesus served others during his three years of ministry.  The gifts that God gave us according to I Corinthians 12(NIV) are administration, discernment, faith, healing, knowledge, wisdom, miracles, prophecy, teaching, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of the tongues.  These gifts can and should be used within every community according to Proverbs 29:7 (NIV) The righteous care about justice for the poor but the wicked have no such concern.  In disadvantage and non-disadvantage communities as a Christian, I have to ensure that any economic development plans will meet the needs of everyone within that community.  

The gifts that God has blessed us with are to be used to help one another but also to be effective in our stewardship with others but also with our actions we are showing love for those in need as God has commanded us in scripture.  I John 3:17-18 tells us that if we have material possessions and know that our brothers and sisters are in need but we show no love towards them how can the love of God be in us however we cannot love with words or speech but with actions and truth.  Teaching members of the community how to be productive, prosperous but also showing God like love within the community benefits everyone and draws people closer to God.      

Our leaders have a responsibility to coordinate each step of the local economic development process as well as the development strategy plan that requires fiscal resources, technical expertise, leadership, and imagination (Leigh and Blakely, 2017, p.439).  God has shown us in Acts 20:35 (NIV) That everything he did, he showed us that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  Therefore, leaders, the technical experts, and others involved must be available to assist in identifying and mobilizing all resources to carry out strategic planning by working hard.  Furthermore, due to the decrease in public revenue, private funding of economic development has increased and economic development organizations due to pressure must track their performance to show what the return is to their investors (Leigh and Blakely, 2017, pp.439, 453).

Subsequently, as Christian leaders we have a responsibility to make a difference in our community as God have command us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  The Lord gave us commandments to follow and spiritual leaders to lead his flock therefore good governance is the protection of inalienable (meaning God-given) rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (McDonald, 2016, p.80).  According to I Timothy 6:18 God commands us to do well, be rich in our good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  Therefore our leaders and stakeholders should ensure that the development goals are met not only in the present but must look to the future  and place current and short-term community interests and needs in the context of a long term perspective on community revitalization and independence (Leigh and Blakely, 2017, p.442).     

Scripture tells us in Romans 12:13 (NIV) Share with the Lord’s people who are in need, Practice hospitality.  Therefore, leaders and members in the church that have spiritual gifts in administration can train people in their congregations and communities in a variety of economic development interventions.  These interventions are how to form savings groups, how to improve their small businesses, and how to save money for higher education.  There is a financial practice that are deep rooted worldwide about humanity’s relationships with the supernatural, ourselves, other people, and the physical world where poor people are told they are incomplete people and they are under the belief that they are at the mercy of capricious gods and evil spirits.  For the most part, they purchase more and more goods and service for “protective” services from witch doctors and spiritists believing this will change their circumstances (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

Therefore, the importance of Christians and the church getting involved in economic development is to introduce the poor and non-poor to Jesus the one who can free all people from their spiritual and economic bondage to an animistic worldview and materialism.  In addition, communicating to the poor that they were created in the image of God and were given gifts to serve their families and communities can free them from the belief they are forsaken and are not capable of being involved in economic development activities (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

Furthermore, Christians and the church can promote economic development activities, where they can train individuals in sound biblical values that promote honesty, encourage transparency in financial transactions while promoting discipline in keeping agreements to repay loans (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.).  In addition, Christians and the church leaders can teach people to understand that their fruits of labor (money or assets) are not to glorify themselves but to glorify God, serve God and support themselves and their families.  

In conclusion, we must understand as Christians we play a large role in economic development in our communities and God has given us scriptures to help others as well as how we can invest in our communities to meet the needs of those that may be at a disadvantage as well as at an advantage.  Matthew 6 tells us that Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and that we should always know the importance of acknowledging God’s rule and reign in heaven as well as on earth.  In addition, he tells them to pray that God will meet their basic, physical, social, spiritual, and economic needs.  Making our request to God in prayer although he already knows what we stand in need of, can help the churches teach, model and encourage prayer as part of their promotion of economic development activities in our communities (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

In my Christian walk from a child into adulthood, I have learned the importance of tithing and offerings, God commands that we give back to him.  In Malachi 3: 6-12 (NIV) God commands that if we give our tithes and offerings as commanded he will open up the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing where I will not have room enough to store it.  God has promised that he will take care of me and I would not go without as I have invested my love and trust in him.  We can use this scripture to invest in our people, our communities, and economic development by sowing a good seed it will produce a good harvest for everyone, a thriving community.

There is a financial practice that are deep rooted worldwide about humanity’s relationships with the supernatural, ourselves, other people, and the physical world where poor people are told they are incomplete people and they are under the belief that they are at the mercy of capricious gods and evil spirits.  For the most part, they purchase more and more goods and service for “protective” services from witch doctors and spiritists believing this will change their circumstances (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

Therefore, the importance of Christians and the church getting involved in economic development is to introduce the poor and non-poor to Jesus the one who can free all people from their spiritual and economic bondage to an animistic worldview and materialism.  In addition, communicating to the poor that they were created in the imager of God and were given gifts to serve their families and communities can free them from the belief they are forsaken and are not capable of being involved in economic development activities (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

Furthermore, Christians and the church can promote economic development activities, where they can train individuals in sound biblical values that promote honesty, encourage transparency in financial transactions while promoting discipline in keeping agreements to repay loans (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.).  In addition, Christians and the church leaders can teach people to understand that their fruits of labor (money or assets) are not to glorify themselves but to glorify God, serve God and support themselves and their families.  

In conclusion, we must understand as Christians we play a large role in economic development in our communities and God has given us scriptures to help others as well as how we can invest in our communities to meet the needs of those that may be at a disadvantage as well as at an advantage.  Matthew 6 tells us that Jesus taught the disciples how to pray and that we should always know the importance of acknowledge God’s rule and reign in heaven as well as on earth.  In addition, he tells them to pray that God will meet their basic, physical, social, spiritual, and economic needs.  Making our request to God in prayer although he already knows what we stand in need of, can help the churches teach, model and encourage prayer as part of their promotion of economic development activities in our communities (“Rationale for Churchcentered economic development,” n.d.)

Reference

Leigh, N. G., & Blakely, E. J. (2017).  Planning local economic development: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks: CA. Sage Publication, Inc.