Supply And Demand

Supply and demand is perhaps one of the most fundamental concepts of economics. It is the backbone of a market economy. The demand in the economics sense refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers at a certain price. Supply represents how much the market can offer or simply the quantity of a product of services supplied in the market at a certain price.

The relationship between demand and supply underlies the forces behind the allocation of resources. In the open market economy, demand and supply theory will allocate resources in the most efficient way possible by which an equilibrium level is achieved.

The concept of demand and supply in God’s new testament economy is viewed quite differently. It is the fundamental concept of law and grace. For the law demands and grace supplies.

Law Demands
Due to disobedience, the Jews continued to uphold and kept the law of Moses, refusing to accept Christ as the Son of the living God. Since the law demands it is difficult to continue to keep the law of Moses.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labour and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus was actually speaking to the Jews, who were labouring to keep the law of Moses. They were heavy laden by the heavy yoke of the law and wearied from trying to continue to keep all the commandments. No wonder Paul said the “letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 6:3). The letter which kills is the letter of the law, which only requires of man but is unable to supply man with life.

Grace Supplies
Since the letter of the law was weak it was set aside and replaced by the grace of the rich supply of Chirst, which gives life and life more abundantly.

By the blood of our Saviour, Jesus has made us perfect in the presence of God. We can now come boldly to God for the rich supplies by the grace of righteousness. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal 5:1). Also Heb 4:16.

The Grace supplies the enjoyment of our daily renewing of life supply and participation in Christ in the new covenant (See Nov 2008 article, “New Covenant”). “For His yoke is easy and His burden is light!”

Jonah & Whale

It has been a while since my last article. I have been very busy. Sorry.

Anyway, sometime in November 2009 I led a group of tourists to South Africa. To my surprise South Africa is a very beautiful, developed and scenic country. It reminded me so much of the countries of New Zealand and Australia. There are places after visiting once is just enough; South Africa is not one of those.

During my tour from Cape Town to Johannesburg, we had an opportunity stop at a small town known as Hermanus. It is a major tourist destination in South Africa because it is simply the best place in the world to watch whales there. It was amazing watching the whales at such a close distance. I could not resist but thought of the story of Jonah in the Bible.

The story of Jonah and the whale is too important to be left as just a children’s story. There are lots of life lessons in the Book of Jonah for children and adults. Jonah’s story teaches us about obedience, willingness of spirit, gratitude, compassion and God’s patience and mercy.

God wanted him to preach to the Ninevites but he hopped on a boat headed for Tarshish instead, attempted to run away from God. During the night, a huge storm came and rocked the boat wildly. The crews were very afraid and beginning to pray to their gods. They started to draw lots to determine who was causing the uproar. The lot fell on Jonah and he requested to be thrown overboard.

As Jonah was sinking, a big fish (whale) swallowed him. Jonah sat in the whale’s belly for three days and nights. He spent that time in prayer, thanking God for saving him. He realized the miracle that God has effected to save him and he was truly grateful. Here we see God’s great mercy and compassion. He could have let Jonah suffer the consequences of his actions and drown. Yet, God intervened and spared Jonah’s life.

This same issue is with us today. We often complain to God about the consequences of our sins but do we ever wonder how often He has spared us from consequences? I rarely ever think about that. There are times where we even doubted God’s guidance in our daily living. We question God’s existence and power. We begin to lose the first love. How wretched we are!!!? “For the good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Rom 7:19).

May God have mercy on us and may we be revived in Christ daily.