Economic Principles versus Spiritual Principles

Economic principles help to explain and predict people’s decision making process. The law of diminishing marginal utility, for example, states that the extra utility (or satisfaction) obtained from an extra unit of a good (or service) declines as we consumer more of it. When you are hungry, the first hamburger you eat gives you a lot of satisfaction; the second hamburger may still taste good but not as good as the first; the third hamburger gives you even smaller extra satisfaction, and so on. This principle explains the classic “water-diamond” paradox. Why is water (which is essential for survival) cheaper than diamond (a luxury item)? The answer: water is so plentiful that an extra glass of water gives us only small extra satisfaction, while an extra carat of diamond adds a great deal more satisfaction. Since we are willing to pay more for an item that gives us higher marginal satisfaction, diamond is more expensive than water. Price reflects marginal utility.

Most of items we consume follow the law of diminishing marginal utility. It is not easy to find many exceptions to this principle. Occasionally, my students would say, “But there is no diminishing utility for money. The more money we have, the more satisfaction we get.” This sounds right, but actually the statement is incorrect as it is a result of misunderstanding the law. The law says that the “marginal” utility of an item declines as we consume more of it. Total satisfaction may still be increasing (albeit at a decreasing rate) while marginal satisfaction declines.

Would this law be applicable in the spiritual world as well? I believe that it may not be the case. For one thing, I find that the more I study the word of God, the more understanding I have about God and his infinite love, and the more satisfaction I have in my heart. There seems to be no diminishing marginal utility for consuming the spiritual food! Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when he said “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him" (Mark 4:23-25).

Things in heaven will not be the same as things in this world. Who wants to live eternally in heaven if it is just an extension of this cursed world? Both the original paradise described in Genesis 2 and the Prophet Isaiah’s description of the coming kingdom of God (Isaiah 11:6-9), not to mention the book of Revelation, tell us that it will be a different place. Many of the economic principles we learn in this world will be useless there. We will have to learn God’s economics. The economics of God may include principles such as “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Purpose and meaning in life?

At the beginning of each semester, I ask my students the question, "What is the goal in your life? What would you like to do after you are done with your education?" An overwhelming answer to this question is: "I want to make a lot of money and be happy." Coming from mostly business students, this answer is expected, but I am still troubled by the premise of the answer (that money can make us happy). Of course, we need a certain level of material comfort to be happy, as Woody Allen said, "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons." Still, I'd like my students to see beyond this material world.

Come to think of it, I was one of these students who valued money highly in life when I was a college student. I grew up in poverty and my goal in college was to get a good job and establish myself financially. But this value system of mine was changed dramatically when I met my Lord through the Bible studies with a man of God.

In Mark's Gospel chapter 1, we meet a man named Simon Peter who had the same kind take on life as my students. He worked hard as a fisherman at the Sea of Galilee. Every night he and his companions fought against the strong wind to catch fish to earn his living. He had no hope and vision beyond earning three meals a day. But Jesus came to him and gave him a new purpose and meaning in life. Mark 1:16-17 read: As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus invited Peter and his brother Andrew to come and follow him. Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus’ plan was to raise them as spiritual leaders. These men had been following fish at night. They worked hard to make money. When they caught many fish, they were happy. But sometimes they worked all night but caught nothing. In times like that, they sighed a lot about their life. They had no true meaning in such life. Money couldn’t be their purpose in life. They knew better. So when Jesus called them to follow the Messiah instead, they made a decision of faith to become disciples of Jesus. At once they followed Jesus.

Mark 1:17 has a special meaning in my life. When I first became a Christian, my idea of being a Christian was to study the Bible and attend the church on Sundays and not much else. But God helped me to realize that he has a purpose in my life. He called me to be a fisher of men, based on Mark 1:17. When I studied this part of Mark’s gospel, I began to visualize the life of Peter and John at that time. I could see the similarity between their struggles on the sea every night and my own struggle to make a living. In fact, even before Jesus reached out his merciful hand to me, I was beginning to see the pointless struggle of many people. So I decided to turn down a job offer in my senior year in college. It was a tire manufacturing company, which later transformed itself into a giant conglomerate in Korea. I decided to go to a grad school instead. But this in itself did not provide a clear direction or purpose in life. It was only after Jesus came to my life that I could see things in perspective. So I made a decision to follow Jesus too. And now I am struggling to be a fisher of men for Jesus, that is to study the word of God with young people so that they may also see beyond the false promises of materialsim. This mission defines clearly the purpose and meaning in life.

~ DYL