Jesus invited many times for us to “come!” ‘Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens; Let the children come to me … Come after me and I will make you fishers of men… Come to me and I will never cast you out; I am the Bread of Life whoever comes to me shall not hunger …”
What a wonderful series of invitations! There is another “Come” which to me is a beautiful expression of the economy of the Kingdom. This can be found in Isaiah 55:1-2.
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
There are two kinds of people who are invited. People who either suffering from the lack of money and people who are suffering because they have spent it and not been satisfied.
The first people are broke; they have no money and are hungry and thirsty. They are poor. They are suffering and life has not been kind to them. The Lord s saying to them, ‘Come!’ You’re just the candidate I am after: Come, everyone who thirsts and has no money — no resources, no bargaining position, no track record, no power, no prestige, little hope and at the end of their tether. God is inviting you to enjoy the banquet of His provision.
The second people are not broke, but frustrated. They have money and can spend it on whatever they like. However, they look back at what they have spent their money on and conclude that their purchases did not bring what they were looking for and they were dissatisfied. He’s not like the other guy — at the end of his rope. He is still spending and working, dreaming, chasing, searching, experimenting — different job, different city, different car, different house, different wife, new computer, new boat, new books, new bike, new grill, new season tickets, new diet, new looks …
So, two kinds of people are invited by the Lord: the thirsty who are broke and cannot pay, and the thirsty who think they can pay and work their way to satisfaction.
I think most people reading this would have to admit to being in one of those two groups, if we were honest with ourselves.
The Benefits
The offer is to be able to drink at the waters, to buy wine and milk, even if you’ve no money! These three beverages correspond to deep needs that every one of us has.
Water corresponds to the need for refreshment. When you are most thirsty and most desperate, most dehydrated, it’s water that you want, and nothing else.
Milk corresponds to the need for ongoing nourishment. When someone is gasping for life, you give them water. But when you want a little baby to grow day after day, you give him milk again and again.
Wine corresponds to joy and abundance. It is a luxury and the Lord wants us to enjoy all the good things in life which He wants to give us..
The Lord meets us in the desert with the miracle of his water; and make us strong and healthy and stable with the miracle of his milk; and then give us endless and ever-fresh joy with the miracle of his wine.
The Jewish commentators Hitzig and Knobel understand by water, wine, and milk, to be the rich material blessings which awaited the exiles on their return to their fatherland, whereas they were now paying tribute and performing service in Babylon without receiving anything in return. But the prophet Isaiah was acquainted with something higher than either natural water or natural wine. He knew of an eating and drinking which reached beyond the mere material enjoyment.
More importantly, when we respond to the invitation to “Come,” we meet the Lord Himself, with all the spiritual blessings He wants to bestow on us. Forgiveness, restoration, fulfilment and joy. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
You can buy this – without money! The best things in life are free!
Failing Forward
Failing forward means to ‘Come’ to the Lord with our helplessness and our frustrations.
Those without money should come to the Lord and trust in Him to provide all we need. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:23-25)
Those with money should evaluate their spending, prayerfully, with the Lord and make a spending plan, according to His ways. ““Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:25)
All have to “listen carefully to me and eat what is good.” They must listen to the Word of God, study what the Bible has to say about managing your finances and be obedient to His ways.
Failing forward tis to get to know how God’s economy works. Read my book “The Flow” which explains many features of the economy of the Kingdom and compares these with the economy of the world.
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