Texts: Genesis 1:28; Deuteronomy 8:18; Haggai 2:8; Revelation 21:24–26
From the very first chapter of Scripture to the closing vision of Revelation, the Bible reveals that God’s plan for creation is comprehensive. He is not only redeeming individual souls but reclaiming entire cultures, economies, and nations for His glory. Redemption is not just personal; it is cosmic.
The prophet Isaiah declared: “The wealth of the nations will come to you” (Isaiah 60:5). This vision points to a day when the resources, creativity, and honor of nations will be gathered and consecrated to God. This is not a promise of indulgence or prosperity for its own sake, but a summons to participate in God’s redemptive mission on a global scale.
Abraham Kuyper captured this reality with his thunderous declaration: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” If Christ claims every square inch, then He also claims every coin, every idea, every song, every institution, and every economy. The wealth of the nations belongs to Him.
The question before us is this: how should the church understand and steward this wealth for the purposes of God’s Kingdom? To answer that, we turn to the framework of the dominion mandate, which reveals three essential truths:
- Ownership by God
- Stewardship by the Church
- Transformation of Nations
Point 1: Ownership by God
Psalm 24:1 proclaims, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This verse is not mere poetry—it is a declaration of cosmic sovereignty. Everything—land, resources, wealth, people, and nations—belongs ultimately to God. Human ownership, therefore, is temporary, limited, and delegated. We may hold deeds, titles, and bank accounts, but these are legal fictions in comparison to divine reality. The Creator is the true Owner; we are simply tenants on His land.
This truth is reinforced in Haggai 2:8: “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty.” God does not say, “It once was mine,” but “It is mine.” Wealth does not pass out of His possession when it enters human hands. Even when empires boast of their riches, or individuals cling to their fortunes, the true Owner has never relinquished His claim. Wealth is not man’s invention; it is God’s possession. Human beings may manage it, but they do not create it out of nothing. At best, they rearrange what God has already provided in creation.
This reality directly challenges one of the great cultural lies of our time: that wealth is the result of human ingenuity, self-made ambition, and hard work alone. Modern economies often glorify the “self-made man” who claims to have pulled himself up by his own bootstraps. Yet Scripture exposes this myth. While diligence and creativity matter, they are not the ultimate source of wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us: “Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the power to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant.” Notice, God does not only give wealth; He gives the power to produce it—the skills, opportunities, networks, health, and even the breath in our lungs. Our capacity to earn, invent, and innovate is itself a divine gift, not an autonomous human achievement.
Theological Insight: Ownership by God establishes the foundation of the dominion mandate. If God is the Owner, then humanity’s role is always derivative. We exercise dominion only as trustees of divine property, never as absolute masters. The biblical picture is closer to stewardship under a King than ownership in an absolute sense. To forget this is to fall into idolatry, treating wealth as an idol to be served rather than a trust to be managed.
Illustrations:
- A farmer tills the soil, but he cannot command the rain or the sunshine. Without God’s provision, his labor is in vain.
- An entrepreneur may build a successful company, but the ideas, health, timing, and opportunities that made it possible were all gifts of providence.
- Even great empires like Babylon or Rome, which boasted in their power and wealth, ultimately fell because they forgot that their wealth was on loan from the Sovereign Lord.
Implications:
- For the individual believer: Recognizing God’s ownership should produce humility. We are not self-made; we are God-made. This truth destroys pride and dismantles greed.
- For the church: Our budgets, buildings, and resources are not monuments to ourselves but instruments for God’s mission. Every dollar in the offering plate belongs to Him already; we are simply returning what was His.
- For nations and societies: Economies must be judged not only by growth or prosperity but by whether they acknowledge the true Owner and steward wealth with justice. Nations that forget God eventually turn wealth into an idol—and idols always destroy their worshippers.
John Calvin said, “We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us, therefore, forget ourselves and all that is ours.” If this is true of our lives, how much more of our wealth!
Application:
- Personally: See your income, talents, and possessions as God’s property entrusted to you. This will break the pride of self-sufficiency and the fear of scarcity.
- Church-wide: Recognize that budgets, buildings, and programs are not ends in themselves. They are tools that belong to God, given for mission.
- Marketplace: Businesses are not merely profit engines but sacred trusts. Christian entrepreneurs must see their companies as Kingdom outposts.
Ownership by God is the foundation. Unless we see wealth as His, we will misuse it as ours.
Point 2: Stewardship by the Church
God’s ownership leads directly to our stewardship. In Genesis 1:28, humanity was commanded: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion…” The Hebrew word radah (dominion) implies governance that reflects God’s character—wise, just, and life-giving. Dominion is not domination; it is stewardship under divine authority.
Theologically, this is what we call the cultural mandate. Humanity was tasked to develop culture, cultivate creation, and organize society in ways that reflect God’s wisdom. Farming, art, education, politics, and technology all flow from this mandate. Yet, sin corrupted it. Dominion became domination; stewardship turned into selfishness.
Adam, the first steward of creation, was entrusted with the responsibility to cultivate and rule as God’s image-bearer (Genesis 1:28). Yet, through sin, Adam failed to fulfill this mandate. Instead of ruling creation under God’s authority, he surrendered authority to the powers of sin, death, and the devil. The result was distortion: dominion became domination, stewardship became exploitation, and culture—intended to glorify God—was corrupted by idolatry.
But Christ came as the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45–49), the true and faithful steward who fulfills what Adam failed to do. Through His obedience, death, and resurrection, Jesus not only saves sinners but reclaims the dominion Adam lost. That’s why after His resurrection, He could declare with absolute authority: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Notice that Christ does not say, “Some authority,” but all. This is cosmic lordship: every sphere—spiritual, cultural, political, and economic—comes under His reign.
This means that the dominion mandate, once marred by sin, is now renewed and fulfilled in Christ. The church, as His body, shares in this mandate. We are not merely waiting for heaven; we are commissioned to extend His lordship into every sphere of life. Business is to be conducted under His righteousness. Government is to reflect His justice. Education is to pursue truth under His wisdom. The arts are to reflect His beauty. Media is to communicate truth, not lies. Families are to be formed in love that mirrors Christ and the church. Dominion is not confined to Sunday worship—it pervades every arena of human existence.
Because Christ has reclaimed all authority (Matthew 28:18), the wealth of the nations now falls under His dominion. If all things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16), then all things—including material wealth, cultural achievements, and human creativity—are to be reconciled to Him (Colossians 1:20). This means wealth is no longer the possession of empires or elites for their own glory but is destined to serve Christ’s Kingdom.
Isaiah foresaw this reality when he declared: “The wealth of the nations will come to you” (Isaiah 60:5). John saw its fulfillment in Revelation: “The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it… The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into the New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:24–26). Notice what is happening: what once served idols is redirected as worship to Christ. The wealth of nations—gold, art, knowledge, governance, commerce—becomes tribute to the King of kings.
Theologically, this gives the church legitimate access to the wealth of the nations. Not because we seek riches for ourselves, but because Christ, the true Owner, has commissioned us as stewards. If He has “all authority,” then the church has authority under Him to direct resources for Kingdom purposes. The dominion mandate, once corrupted by Adam, is now renewed in Christ, empowering the church to disciple nations not only spiritually but also culturally and economically.
Implications:
- Theological Implication: Christ’s Lordship is Comprehensive
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) flows out of Christ’s declaration of authority. Evangelism is not only about saving souls but discipling nations—bringing whole cultures under the obedience of Christ.
- As Abraham Kuyper said: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ… does not cry, Mine!”
- Implication: Theology cannot separate the sacred from the secular. Every vocation, every discipline, every industry belongs to Christ.
- Ecclesiological Implication: The Church as Kingdom Agent
- The church is not a passive audience waiting for heaven, but an active agent of Kingdom transformation on earth.
- The church’s mission is holistic: preaching the gospel, discipling nations, advocating justice, and shaping culture.
- Implication: A church that limits itself to spiritual matters only, without engaging society, betrays the fullness of Christ’s mandate.
- Practical Implication: Christians as Stewards in Every Sphere
- In business: wealth is not just profit, but provision for mission and community transformation.
- In government: leadership is stewardship, seeking justice and righteousness for all people.
- In education: truth is pursued as God’s truth; knowledge is reconnected to wisdom.
- In the arts and media: creativity reflects the Creator, and storytelling becomes a vehicle for truth and hope.
- In families: households become microcosms of God’s Kingdom, embodying covenant love and discipleship.
- Missional Implication: Nations Can Be Discipled
- The dominion mandate renewed in Christ implies that mission is not only about rescuing individuals but transforming societies.
- The church is called to demonstrate that Christ’s authority is not abstract, but concrete—expressed in justice, compassion, integrity, and truth lived out in the public square.
- Implication: Wealth, influence, and power must be intentionally consecrated to Christ to disciple nations, not just maintain institutions.
Application:
- Personally: Steward your finances through generosity, wise budgeting, and avoiding debt slavery.
- Church: Steward resources toward discipleship, missions, and serving the poor, not self-preservation.
- Society: As Christian professionals, bring integrity into industries plagued by corruption. Redeem culture with justice and beauty.
Stewardship is Kingdom responsibility: using God’s resources God’s way for God’s purposes.
Point 3: Transformation of Nations
If God owns it and the church stewards it, what is the goal? Transformation. Wealth, aligned with God’s purposes, becomes a catalyst for national renewal. Proverbs 14:34 teaches: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Wealth is either fuel for corruption or an instrument of righteousness.
Biblical Case Studies:
- Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 41): God entrusted Joseph with the wealth of Egypt to save not just one nation but many. His stewardship preserved life and displayed God’s wisdom.
- The Exodus (Exodus 12:35–36): Israel left Egypt with silver and gold. That wealth later built the tabernacle—a house of worship funded by the wealth of nations.
- Solomon (1 Kings 10:23–25): Nations brought wealth and tribute, not to glorify Solomon, but to magnify the wisdom of God in Israel.
- Cyrus of Persia (Ezra 1:1–4): A pagan king financed the rebuilding of the temple, showing that even unbelieving rulers can release resources for God’s Kingdom.
Historical Examples:
- The Clapham Sect, led by William Wilberforce, used their wealth and influence to abolish the slave trade, establish schools, and reform society.
- Christian pioneers founded universities (Oxford, Harvard, Yale) and hospitals across the globe, laying foundations of education and healthcare that endure today.
Modern Case Studies:
- Business for Mission: Companies like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A in the United States openly run their businesses on biblical principles, funding churches, mission projects, and humanitarian work worldwide. They prove that wealth, when stewarded under Christ, can influence culture, support workers with dignity, and fund global Kingdom work.
- Technology for the Gospel: The YouVersion Bible App, developed by Life.Church, has provided free access to Scripture in over 1,900 languages. What began as a digital project is now one of the most influential mission tools in history, bringing the Word of God to billions through smartphones—the “wealth” of modern technology repurposed for God’s glory.
- Arts and Media: Films like The Chosen or Christian music that reaches mainstream platforms are shaping culture with stories of faith, hope, and redemption. This is cultural wealth redirected to magnify Christ in spaces once dominated by secular narratives.
- Education and Poverty Alleviation: Christian social enterprises across Asia and Africa are using business profits to build schools, dig wells, and create jobs for the poor. For example, World Vision and Compassion Internationalsteward donations and partnerships to transform entire communities, breaking cycles of poverty through Kingdom-shaped economics.
Theological Anchor: Dallas Willard was right: “The Kingdom of God is God reigning. It is present wherever what God wants done is done.” When business leaders, artists, educators, and policymakers align their wealth with Kingdom vision, nations begin to taste the justice, mercy, and flourishing of God’s reign.
Application:
- Marketplace leaders: See your company as a mission platform. Your wealth can disciple nations.
- Artists and creators: Shape the imagination of society with beauty and truth that glorify Christ.
- Policymakers: Redirect national budgets and laws toward righteousness and justice.
- Churches: Become channels, not reservoirs, of blessing—fueling missions, planting churches, shaping education, and serving the poor.
Wealth is not the goal; transformation is. When consecrated to Christ, wealth becomes worship, technology becomes testimony, and business becomes a blessing to the nations.
Conclusion
The wealth of the nations belongs to God. The church is called to steward it. And when we do, nations are transformed.
- Ownership: God owns it all.
- Stewardship: The church manages it faithfully.
- Transformation: Nations are discipled and cultures renewed.
One day, in the New Jerusalem, John writes: “The kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it… The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it” (Revelation 21:24–26). What was once used for pride and idolatry will be consecrated as worship. Our stewardship today is a foretaste of that eternal reality.
Billy Graham once said: “God has given us two hands—one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing.”
May we, as the church, rise to our calling: to be faithful stewards of the wealth of the nations, so that the glory of Christ may fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.
budi hidajat 