Steve Lyston | Empowerment for economic growth

There are many conversations taking place about economic growth. Some are not growing at the level or to the extent of expectations. There are even debates and comparisons made about other countries, such as China or India, regarding economic growth. So my question is, if economic growth is taking place in these countries, why is there no growth for the poor at the bottom? No nation will experience true economic growth until the feet of the nation begin to receive growth also.

Analysing Our Resources

We need to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our economy if we truly want to achieve workable goals. Are our goals as a nation workable? Are we willing to put away ‘the book’ and open our minds to begin to look at things differently and think outside the box? We have to look beyond price, demand and supply, wages, labour and capital. Many will quickly believe that these are what affect GDP (gross domestic product) and GNP (gross national product).

First and foremost, we cannot grow the economy by taking God out of the picture. Even if some nations are experiencing certain growth, it is just a matter of time before it all comes crashing down and we start having negative growth. God gives every nation all the necessary natural resources and human resources to make them rich. What we have are managerial and political problems.

Each country must first look at the natural resources that exist in their nation and community, and empower the people accordingly so that they can properly harness and manage the natural resources and achieve success. For example, Jamaica has fruits, herbs, spices, doctors, farmers, dancers, water, athletics, culinary skills, churches and music, to name a few.

Harness The Potential Within

Why is the nation investing more heavily in other areas which the people will ultimately leave to pursue an alternative career not connected to their area of study? We cannot get the economic growth we need when the people can’t even afford to pay their school fees and when we have to expand the security force. We seem to be the only country whose people don’t believe in their own abilities to succeed. Every expert brought in to bring development and growth is a foreigner. That says that we don’t believe in our own people. In most cases, the foreigners bring their brand of ‘First World’ plans and strategies that are not compatible with our people and our natural resources.We need to recognise that ‘First World’ does not necessarily mean ‘Better World’.

In order to achieve true economic growth, we need to move beyond setting everything up around a cash system. We will need to have a plan for the people and their empowerment – individual growth first. When people have town hall meetings, instead of using it as a feeding ground to shove ideas and ideologies down the throats of the people, it should be used to present what they have and then listen to the solutions that the people come with for betterment also, with a willingness to implement those ideas from the people that can actually work.

Always remember that man’s actions affect economic growth and development. The environment we create is what we will get. Instead of talking about climate change, we should focus more on our actions, utilise whatever resources we have and build low-income houses. We should do more in the areas of education and community empowerment.

The Spiritual Side of Growth

It is strange that people are focusing on Marxist theories for economic growth rather than utilising the principles of the Bible. God created the economy even before He created man; man messed it up, but since He created it, He can fix it too. Righteousness creates economic growth and development. Seeking God first leads us to economic growth. When we abide in Him (John 15), then He will begin to open our eyes to the gold within our midst. Hence, we will not have a situation similar to that of Africa, where people went in and extracted the precious resources (gold, diamonds) without a care for the people or the continent’s economic growth and development.

God’s word, prayer and fasting all lead to economic growth. Nothing will grow without these elements.

- Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including ‘End Time Finance’ and ‘The New Millionaire’.