I have noticed something in the past couple of weeks. Value on earth is calculated by how scarce something is. Gold, for instance, holds great value in our earthly economy because of its scarcity as a precious metal. Each different precious metal, stone, or gem has a value dependant on its abundance or rarity in our environment. 

The economy of heaven seems to work the opposite. If the streets in heaven are made of gold, then gold is not scarce in heaven. Here it is used as currency because of its rarity. There it is used as pavement. What we so covet here (in such an extreme way that there could be such a thing as a “gold rush”) abounds in eternity. There is also the random fact that some very costly stones are used as foundation stones in heaven. Evidently, they are found in such abundance that they can be used as footings.

In the garden of Eden, the first of four rivers described in the second chapter of Genesis flows through a land abounding with gold, copper, and other precious stones. The word “Pishon” (the name of the river) means “fatness.” I don’t think it was ever the intention of heaven to plunge the earth into an economy based on lack or scarcity. 

An economy fundamentally based on abundance is something that we need to renew our mind to. It requires a new way of thinking to view value in this way. 

We are “in this world but not of it.” This phrase makes space available for us to live independent of the economy of this world. 

My prayer:  Jesus, show me your way of viewing value and economy. You were never lack oriented in your approach to anything you did. You were never intimidated by “not enough.” 

Let heaven frame understanding and language for this new reality in me. Father, lead me into an encounter with the economy of heaven. Amen!