Oikonomics

Oikonomics

WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES OIKONOMICS MEAN? <br />Oikos is an old word that means “household.” It referred to a specific network <br />of relationships that functioned as an extended family with a specific purpose. It <br />would have included biological relatives as well as friends, servants, and business <br />associates. Everyone lived within an oikos in the ancient world. <br /> <br />We are re-learning how to live like this, with Jesus in the center. This is how the <br />ancient world was transformed—the good news of Jesus multiplying from oikos <br />to oikos, along the lines of relationship as the gospel was shared in the everyday <br />tasks of life. <br /> <br />And of course “nomics” refers to economics, which has to do with how we invest, <br />exchange, and grow the various kinds of capital that we possess. So Oikonomics <br />is about the economy of our oikos, the way our household invests its time, energy, <br />and money. <br /> <br />As we seek to live as Families on Mission, the way we invest our time, energy, and <br />money directly affects how effective and fruitful we become. It’s a big discipleship <br />issue, and Oikonomics looks at how Jesus did this with his Family on Mission and <br />how we can imitate him in it.