“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”- 1 Peter 1:7
Over the years currency has taken on many forms and fashions. From gold coins, to paper bills, to the latest model of crypto currency. The type of currency has changed and evolved to meet our standardization that we deem necessary. However, in essence, currency will always be a medium of exchange.
Faith is the currency of heaven. For this reason alone it is far more precious than any currency mankind could dream up. Through faith we are saved, and by faith we are born into the Spirit and led by the Spirit. We understand the will of God by faith. We please God by faith, we accomplish the works of God by faith. It is a currency which we cannot place a value on. That which is purchased to us with the currency of faith cannot be purchased with any other currency. Only with the currency of faith can we find such precious promises in our possession. It is faith that saved the lame man, that healed the blind, that cleansed the leper and cast out demons. Faith that saves the sinner from the errors of his way, and sanctifies the believer to live holy. We do not need more money but more faith. Money can do many things, and often it does for us what we don’t want to do (or are unwilling to do) ourselves. Yet money, for all her lovers that she entertains, cannot do what faith can do. Compare one to the other and money comes up strikingly short. As the saying goes: “there are some things money cannot buy.” You may spend all day walking the streets of Fifth Avenue, New York but without money you will not be able to purchase a single thing. You can walk the car lot and test drive a vehicle but unless you have some form of acceptable currency then you will leave in what you came in. That which is desirable to you will remain beyond your reach. So it is to the man or woman who desires to please God but lacks faith. Hence, we do not need more money. We do not need more organizing, planning, scheming or human enterprise. We need more faith. Faith will purchase to us the ability to fight and win spiritual battles. It will allow us to become lights in a dark place. Give us wisdom in uncertain times. Direction to the lost, hope to the hurting and healing to the broken. I believe Jesus and his disciples condemned the passion for money, because the nature of this medium could only raise its handler to the highest and best standards of the world. Whereas the one who holds close to him the currency of faith, can rise to the highest and best standards of God.
The more currency a savvy investor has the more he can stand to make in the market by simply applying his capital. In the right place at the right time, of course. So it is with our faith. God wants us to exercise our faith. Pray without ceasing, learn the scriptures, lean on God, trust His Word and act on it. Love our neighbor as ourselves, and do good to them “who despitefully use us and persecute us.” He wants us to put our faith into the “marketplace” under the direction of the Holy Spirit so that it might grow. Cast it into good soil so that a chance of wheat or some other grain might spring up. Let us use it liberally to purchase to ourselves that which brings God, Christ, and His Church eternal returns. Spend and be spent with this currency of faith.
