Multiply opportunities, not wealth, goods

“It is not money the Great Asymmetry accrues, nor energy, nor stuff. The origin of economic wealth begins in opportunities.” Kevin Kelly, New Rules blog.

This great little post suggests these opportunities are the origin of economic wealth.

Opportunities can come of new objects, new minutes, new imaginings, and new connections.

There are Gospel applications for this too. Over 1 billion people do not have the opportunity to hear the Gospel, or the opportunity to become disciples. I am reminded that David Barrett, in the World Christian Encyclopedia and World Christian Trend, referred to “evangelism-hours” and “discipleship-opportunities.”

Many who receive the Gospel are given it as information upon which they must make a single decision. They are not offered the opportunity to become disciple-makers.

It is this latter opportunity—not just the Gospel, not just teaching, but the opportunity to spread it further—that unleashes a multiplicity of new opportunities.

What does Jesus say about how we should live? Obedience-based discipleship leads to a radical transformation that opens up these opportunities: to bless, to help, to minister, to release from oppression, to teach, to use talents and prosper, to clothe and heal and feed, and ultimately to proclaim and make disciples.

Unfortunately, we in the Church often seem to be running a “service-based economy”: we bring the Gospel to those who are willing to pay for the opportunity (in some way), where there is some kind of benefit, where it leads to an expansion of our opportunities, our ministry, our wealth, our pride, our collection of amazing stories to tell.

Perhaps we should be about intentionally multiplying the opportunities of those who are opportunity-poor?

1. Azerbaijan: Growing drunk on oil wealth
2. Richest women: The great wealth of China
3. Vulnerabilities and Opportunities
4. Looking for choice points and Gospel-investment opportunities
5. Opportunities, Challenges for Global Christianity