Spiritual Law of Exchange
(Reading time: 2 minutes) To exchange is to give and receive in return or to trade, and we see several examples of spiritual exchange in our relationship with God. John 3:16 provides an example by stating that Jesus came from eternity to our temporal world so he could die on the cross for our sins, which then allows us to live for eternity. He became sin for us, so we can become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21) and he became poor for our sake, that we might have everything we need (2 Cor. 8:9). It also assures us the reason he bore our diseases and suffered terribly in his body was for us to have wholeness in ours (Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
In our relationship with God, the exchange seems grossly imbalanced in our favor because we clearly have nothing of value to offer, but he offers what has great value for us. The beauty of this exchange is that he values his relationship with us and doesn’t need what we have or can do. Yet he honors us by allowing us to contribute what we have, even our sins, weaknesses and illnesses.
Jesus calls all of us who are weary and burdened, and invites us to take his yoke and receive rest from him, implying we have to give up our yoke to receive his (Matt. 11:28-30). In exchange, he bore our sins which had loaded us down (1 Pet. 2:24).
The law of exchange also applies to our relationships with other believers. For example, we’re urged to carry each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thess. 5:11). Today someone may need your help and in the future they may be able to help you. Or, as members of the church at large, the body of Christ, we may set this law in motion by helping someone today and someone else may help us in the future. We each offer the abilities and resources God gave us and receive the help we need as each of us does our part (Eph. 4:16).
The spiritual law of exchange is a key to our relationship with God and our relationships with other believers.