The Holy Bible - Covenants increase or reduce economic growth

Covenants increase or reduce economic growth

Apostle Steve Lyston, Contributor

We have seen the prosperity and fall of individuals and businesses as a result of covenants with other individuals and nations.

A covenant is a serious thing spiritually and naturally. It is an agreement that can either bring prosperity or curse. God takes covenants seriously. Interestingly, the devil also takes covenants seriously.

There are different covenants recorded in the Bible - marriage, business, treaty, bi-lateral, Abrahamic, Davidic - all of which carry blessings and curses. Everything that God does with individuals or nations is done through covenants. For example, both America and Jamaica are now suffering badly because they have broken the covenants that the forefathers have made in the past, and have formed new covenants with other parties that they should not.

In times past, God would instruct His people not to marry certain persons because being connected to the wrong lineage could cause serious economic and familial issues in the future. It is for this reason that Nehemiah had to break some of the covenants made by and with the nation that had been affecting the economy and security of the nation!

Every covenant is established with four factors - parties (involved), conditions, results and security.

Oftentimes, people are not fully aware of the conditions until it is too late to bow out without penalties. For example, loans, charities, divestment and alliances.

The question that must be asked at all times is - "what are the spiritual and natural consequences if the covenant is not kept?" The covenant that God had with Abraham as a result of his obedience to God's instruction was to give him a seed. That seed was Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:16; Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 13:16)

With each covenant that is made there must be a seal - which is the security. It is a symbol of the parties to each other that they will uphold their end of the agreement. For example, an official stamp on a document or a statue erected in a public place for all to see. Other examples include land given, keys to the city or nation or even circumcision.

Circumcision was the seal between God and Abraham and all men for the promise He had made to Abraham and his seed! (Genesis 17:14; Genesis 21:30; Genesis 31:52).

For any nation to return to economic stability, all the past and present covenants and contracts must be revisited. When a covenant is made, both the blessings and the curses are inherited. The question is, suppose for economic stability you enter into a covenant with a nation, even for a loan agreement, and it's in fact a curse; how would it affect the nation?

Covenants For Businesses And Leaders!

Each leader that God promotes - whether secular or religious - He always makes a covenant with them; even from childhood.

The covenant that God made with King Asa (II Chronicles 15 and 16) brought instant victory and prosperity to him and to the nation. But the moment he established covenants with another nation to increase his prosperity and win the war, his trust shifted from God and allowed him to be defeated and even led to his death!

Likewise, King Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20: 31 - 37, having reigned successfully with a good Administration, he got into bi-lateral agreements with wicked administrations and led to the destruction of all his legacy and negated all the work he had done in the past! Solomon also entered into business and marriage covenants which were not godly. As a result, it led to his defeat. (I Kings 10:28-29; Deuteronomy 17:16-17; and 1 Kings 11:1-13)

There are always rules that govern leaders concerning the forming of covenants. Leaders such as kings, presidents, business leaders and religious leaders. Their main focus therefore, should be to trust in God - not money, not the military strength of the nation or other countries that seem not to be experiencing a recession. They must receive a blueprint from God, for the nation or organisation they govern.

Apostle Steve Lyston is a Biblical Economics Consultant and Author of several books, including End Time Finance and The New Millionaire.