I now reflect on faith as a form of currency. I ask myself, can it be considered a form of currency? I think to myself that it possibly can be.
Generally, though, when I think of currency, the first thing that comes to mind are the words ‘money’ and ‘money exchange.’ Life revolves around money and potential earnings. I also think about cash flows and trade. The thought of an economy also comes to mind. I consider that money is probably the most talked about topic in man’s everyday household. Money is like man’s fuel to live out his life on the earth. Money is like man’s means of living. Taking away man’s income is as taking away his very life. I consider much.
He who deprives others of a livelihood kills them, and whoever withdraws the salary of a worker is guilty of blood. (Sirach 34: 22)
Though money may be an essential factor or need in man’s life, is this the only currency that man has floating around to his avail? Interestingly, I toy with the idea that perhaps faith can used or applied in the same way as monies are used and applied in man’s everyday life. But now I ask, if money is available to man, and man can indeed achieve earnings and man feels satisfied in his life, then why is faith needed in man’s life? That is a true and pertinent question.
But I play with this thought for a little while. Money allows for the acquisition of certain prized possessions and affords man his comfort and safety. But I ask myself. Is this all that man thinks about when it comes to his security? Does his increased earnings make him more secure? I have a challenging thought. Does having more make man more or less secure? I must imagine, as earnings increase, worries begin to increase. As man attains more, man’s thoughts become filled with much, wondering about the care and growth of his earnings. After all, the economies of life keep the money flowing. For money to hold some power, it must move from one hand to the other. It is trade that gives money its life and meaning. I consider much.
It must mean then, that man’s security that is rested upon man’s earnings relies heavily on the life of the economy. Man lives in an ecosystem, where variables are always fluctuating. Somewhere along the line, risk adds texture and flavour to his present and future earnings. Man’s security therefore rests very heavily upon risk.
So, now I return to my first question. I go back to my question of faith. If faith were a currency, would it prove to hold up more strongly than the currency known best to man? Put differently, would the economy that gives life to faith ever come to a sudden halt? Is one able to rely on faith’s currency to withstand the shocks and bruises that sometimes occur with man’s economy. This is a very difficult question for me to answer. But I ask it anyway.
Faith is so difficult to describe or explain or even understand. It may seem very simple on the surface, but I would imagine that there are so many different levels of understanding to this one word called faith.
Let me suppose then, that faith was indeed, an actual currency. What meaning would this currency have in my life?
Would I use it to get me the things that money can buy?
Can money buy things that faith cannot buy?
What are some things that faith can buy but money cannot buy?
How is one truly able to measure the faith amounts or quantities?
Does one start off with a balance of zero in faith credit?
How does one go about earning their credit?
Is it possible to use up one’s faith credit?
What are certain items or objects that can be received when one chooses to spend his credit?
Can one save up their faith earnings for a rainy day?
Can one use his credit for the benefit of someone else?
How can one boost his credit earnings, if that is even possible?
It is a bit complex to imagine when one views faith from its definition. Faith is already defined to be an invisible thing. So, how exactly does one measure the quantity or amount that one may carry inside of her? I think for a bit.
Though faith may be invisible, I utilize the relation that fear has with faith to help me come to some conclusion about faith’s size. Before I can evaluate the measure of faith, I would first have to evaluate the measure of fear. For they are equal and in exact opposition and hold inverse relations with each other. It must mean then, that one may measure faith by assessing whether he can overcome his fear. I think for a bit.
Though fear is also difficult to quantify, and is pretty subjective, it still provides some information specific to one’s experience and his ability to overcome in successive events. I suppose then that faith and fear can be measured once that information revolves around an individual and not across a group and that these levels can be measured across time for that specific individual. Building faith then, seems to be an individual activity that is easier to measure for that person across the parameter of time.
Fear can be seen or noticed and is very palpable to the holder of the fear. Fear is also responsive to an external or internal stimulus. In this way, fear may be somewhat more tangible and within sight. Faith is invisible and its works also seem to be invisible. Though invisible, I would imagine it possible, then to measure faith by putting its value against the measure of the fear that one may have to overcome at a point in time. For example, if King David came up against a giant and overcame, I would assume that perhaps his faith would measure up to be the size of a giant. This may perhaps speak to his measure of faith. Though King David, was mostly likely not afraid at that point in time, I must consider that, he, over time, built up enough faith when he spent many occasions fighting off lions and beasts much bigger than himself while tending to his sheep. He built up enough faith, such that when put to the test, he was able to conquer an actual giant. He had already past the fears that most would otherwise be afraid of.
So, now I start to link my thoughts. Man sets out to earn. Man receives rewards. Man is satisfied. So, why exactly does man need faith? Good question. I would re-iterate though, that not always is man in control of his immediate and distant external world. How does man survive when variables are taken away from him and it is completely out of man’s control? As it pertains to God’s Law and his ways, there was one specific caution that Moses highlighted found in the Law. There was a promise made by God to his children provided they keep the commands. But there was something noteworthy that greatly stuck out to me. I could not look away. There was a condition placed on man. When man gets fed and becomes satisfied in the land, he suddenly loses interests and almost forgets about the One who supplied him with these things in the first place. Man forgets his Maker when he is settled in a land of plenty.
I read from the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 8:
2 Remember how Yahweh, your God, brought you through the desert for forty years. He humbled you, to test you and know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his Commandments or not.
16 And He fed you in the desert with manna which your Fathers did not know. He made you experience want and put you to the test, so that it would be for your good later on.
17 lest you say, “with my own strength I have attained all these good things
18 Remember Yahweh you God, the One who gave power to become prosperous, as you are today in fulfilment of the Covenant He promised under oath to your fathers.
Additionally, taken from the book of Sirach Chapter 17:
11 He gave them revealed knowledge as well and handed over to them the Law of life.
12 He established an everlasting covenant with them and let them know his judgments.
I reflect then, that there is an element of chastisement such that man reflects on his life and remembers where the source of his prosperity came from. Not always is man able to control the physical elements that affect his daily living, but faith helps bind man to the Covenant that God keeps with him, such that man never remains in want. Faith then becomes a type of currency that allows man to continue living despite the shocks that may be thrown in his direction. It is worth much, then, to consider holding on to life’s faith currency as the mover and shaker to help man manoeuvre himself in this course of life. His faith is his only currency that may be his saving grace.
It interests me to find out and dig deeper into this type of currency.
I read from the book of Luke Chapter 12:
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the Kingdom.
33 Sell what you have and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, and make safe investment with God, where no thief comes and no moth destroys.
34 For where your investments are, there will your heart be also.
Now I read from the book of Matthew Chapter 6:
19 Do not store up treasure for yourself on earth where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it.
20 Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it.
33 Set your heart first on the Kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you.
Also, from the book of Revelation Chapter 3:
18 I advise you to buy from me gold that has been tested by fire, so that you may be rich...
Security most often times relate to the state of mind. So having more doesn’t necessarily make man feel secure, as a plenitude of other worries may be filled in his mind as he lives in a constantly changing world. On the other hand, when man exercises great faith, he just may receive the greatest security that he will ever find for his lifetime. For this one, he feels peace of mind.
I now read from the book of Proverbs Chapter 10:
10 Prefer my teaching to silver and seek wisdom rather than gold, because wisdom has more value than any jewel and all that you may desire cannot equal it.
18 Riches and honor are with me, true well-being and upright living.
19 More precious than silver and gold are my fruits and my yield.
20 I proceed on the path of righteousness and make use of the ways of justice,
21 giving riches to those who love me, and filling their cellars.
Also, I meditate further on the words taken from the book of Psalm Chapter 37:
18 The Lord watches over the lives of the upright; forever will their inheritance abide.
19 They are not crushed in times of calamity; when famine strikes, they still are satisfied.
Even more so, I marinate in the words taken from the book of Psalm Chapter 131:
2 I have quieted and stilled my soul like a weaned child on its mother's lap; like a contented child is my soul.
From the book of Ezra Chapter 8, I read:
21 There at the banks of the river Ahava, I proclaimed a fast so we might humble ourselves before our God, to implore him for a safe journey for ourselves, our children and our goods.
22 So we fasted and prayed to our God for this intention, and He listened to us.
From the book of Psalm Chapter 34, I read:
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me; from all my fears He delivered me.
5 They who look to Him are radiant with joy, their faces never clouded with shame.
And finally, from the book of Sirach Chapter 35, I read:
24 Blessed is his mercy in the time of adversity! It is like rain clouds during a drought.
So, now I spend some time to crystallize these thoughts.
If perhaps, faith were indeed, a currency, it would be one that is applied to 'some' Kingdom.
'some' Kingdom?
Whose Kingdom? God's Kingdom. God has made a command about his Kingdom. Man is to first set his eyes on his Kingdom. But also, as part of the law, there is a condition. What is the condition? Man must also posture his heart towards the justice of God.
Justice of God?
Justice of God= God's Wisdom
= God's ways
= ways by which man lives.
Man must contemplate his life to determine first if he is deemed fit for access to God's Kingdom to receive his faith currency.
So, now, I work out that in this 'invisible' world,
the economy is the Kingdom, with all its riches.
And the Kingdom operates on the currency of faith, by which man can access his rights and privileges and that allows man to live.
I wish to dig deeper into faith’s characteristic as a currency.
Generally, though, when I think of currency, the first thing that comes to mind are the words ‘money’ and ‘money exchange.’ Life revolves around money and potential earnings. I also think about cash flows and trade. The thought of an economy also comes to mind. I consider that money is probably the most talked about topic in man’s everyday household. Money is like man’s fuel to live out his life on the earth. Money is like man’s means of living. Taking away man’s income is as taking away his very life. I consider much.
He who deprives others of a livelihood kills them, and whoever withdraws the salary of a worker is guilty of blood. (Sirach 34: 22)
Though money may be an essential factor or need in man’s life, is this the only currency that man has floating around to his avail? Interestingly, I toy with the idea that perhaps faith can used or applied in the same way as monies are used and applied in man’s everyday life. But now I ask, if money is available to man, and man can indeed achieve earnings and man feels satisfied in his life, then why is faith needed in man’s life? That is a true and pertinent question.
But I play with this thought for a little while. Money allows for the acquisition of certain prized possessions and affords man his comfort and safety. But I ask myself. Is this all that man thinks about when it comes to his security? Does his increased earnings make him more secure? I have a challenging thought. Does having more make man more or less secure? I must imagine, as earnings increase, worries begin to increase. As man attains more, man’s thoughts become filled with much, wondering about the care and growth of his earnings. After all, the economies of life keep the money flowing. For money to hold some power, it must move from one hand to the other. It is trade that gives money its life and meaning. I consider much.
It must mean then, that man’s security that is rested upon man’s earnings relies heavily on the life of the economy. Man lives in an ecosystem, where variables are always fluctuating. Somewhere along the line, risk adds texture and flavour to his present and future earnings. Man’s security therefore rests very heavily upon risk.
So, now I return to my first question. I go back to my question of faith. If faith were a currency, would it prove to hold up more strongly than the currency known best to man? Put differently, would the economy that gives life to faith ever come to a sudden halt? Is one able to rely on faith’s currency to withstand the shocks and bruises that sometimes occur with man’s economy. This is a very difficult question for me to answer. But I ask it anyway.
Faith is so difficult to describe or explain or even understand. It may seem very simple on the surface, but I would imagine that there are so many different levels of understanding to this one word called faith.
Let me suppose then, that faith was indeed, an actual currency. What meaning would this currency have in my life?
Would I use it to get me the things that money can buy?
Can money buy things that faith cannot buy?
What are some things that faith can buy but money cannot buy?
How is one truly able to measure the faith amounts or quantities?
Does one start off with a balance of zero in faith credit?
How does one go about earning their credit?
Is it possible to use up one’s faith credit?
What are certain items or objects that can be received when one chooses to spend his credit?
Can one save up their faith earnings for a rainy day?
Can one use his credit for the benefit of someone else?
How can one boost his credit earnings, if that is even possible?
It is a bit complex to imagine when one views faith from its definition. Faith is already defined to be an invisible thing. So, how exactly does one measure the quantity or amount that one may carry inside of her? I think for a bit.
Though faith may be invisible, I utilize the relation that fear has with faith to help me come to some conclusion about faith’s size. Before I can evaluate the measure of faith, I would first have to evaluate the measure of fear. For they are equal and in exact opposition and hold inverse relations with each other. It must mean then, that one may measure faith by assessing whether he can overcome his fear. I think for a bit.
Though fear is also difficult to quantify, and is pretty subjective, it still provides some information specific to one’s experience and his ability to overcome in successive events. I suppose then that faith and fear can be measured once that information revolves around an individual and not across a group and that these levels can be measured across time for that specific individual. Building faith then, seems to be an individual activity that is easier to measure for that person across the parameter of time.
Fear can be seen or noticed and is very palpable to the holder of the fear. Fear is also responsive to an external or internal stimulus. In this way, fear may be somewhat more tangible and within sight. Faith is invisible and its works also seem to be invisible. Though invisible, I would imagine it possible, then to measure faith by putting its value against the measure of the fear that one may have to overcome at a point in time. For example, if King David came up against a giant and overcame, I would assume that perhaps his faith would measure up to be the size of a giant. This may perhaps speak to his measure of faith. Though King David, was mostly likely not afraid at that point in time, I must consider that, he, over time, built up enough faith when he spent many occasions fighting off lions and beasts much bigger than himself while tending to his sheep. He built up enough faith, such that when put to the test, he was able to conquer an actual giant. He had already past the fears that most would otherwise be afraid of.
So, now I start to link my thoughts. Man sets out to earn. Man receives rewards. Man is satisfied. So, why exactly does man need faith? Good question. I would re-iterate though, that not always is man in control of his immediate and distant external world. How does man survive when variables are taken away from him and it is completely out of man’s control? As it pertains to God’s Law and his ways, there was one specific caution that Moses highlighted found in the Law. There was a promise made by God to his children provided they keep the commands. But there was something noteworthy that greatly stuck out to me. I could not look away. There was a condition placed on man. When man gets fed and becomes satisfied in the land, he suddenly loses interests and almost forgets about the One who supplied him with these things in the first place. Man forgets his Maker when he is settled in a land of plenty.
I read from the book of Deuteronomy Chapter 8:
2 Remember how Yahweh, your God, brought you through the desert for forty years. He humbled you, to test you and know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his Commandments or not.
16 And He fed you in the desert with manna which your Fathers did not know. He made you experience want and put you to the test, so that it would be for your good later on.
17 lest you say, “with my own strength I have attained all these good things
18 Remember Yahweh you God, the One who gave power to become prosperous, as you are today in fulfilment of the Covenant He promised under oath to your fathers.
Additionally, taken from the book of Sirach Chapter 17:
11 He gave them revealed knowledge as well and handed over to them the Law of life.
12 He established an everlasting covenant with them and let them know his judgments.
I reflect then, that there is an element of chastisement such that man reflects on his life and remembers where the source of his prosperity came from. Not always is man able to control the physical elements that affect his daily living, but faith helps bind man to the Covenant that God keeps with him, such that man never remains in want. Faith then becomes a type of currency that allows man to continue living despite the shocks that may be thrown in his direction. It is worth much, then, to consider holding on to life’s faith currency as the mover and shaker to help man manoeuvre himself in this course of life. His faith is his only currency that may be his saving grace.
It interests me to find out and dig deeper into this type of currency.
I read from the book of Luke Chapter 12:
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the Kingdom.
33 Sell what you have and give alms. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, and make safe investment with God, where no thief comes and no moth destroys.
34 For where your investments are, there will your heart be also.
Now I read from the book of Matthew Chapter 6:
19 Do not store up treasure for yourself on earth where moth and rust destroy it, and where thieves can steal it.
20 Store up treasure for yourself with God, where no moth or rust can destroy nor thief come and steal it.
33 Set your heart first on the Kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you.
Also, from the book of Revelation Chapter 3:
18 I advise you to buy from me gold that has been tested by fire, so that you may be rich...
Security most often times relate to the state of mind. So having more doesn’t necessarily make man feel secure, as a plenitude of other worries may be filled in his mind as he lives in a constantly changing world. On the other hand, when man exercises great faith, he just may receive the greatest security that he will ever find for his lifetime. For this one, he feels peace of mind.
I now read from the book of Proverbs Chapter 10:
10 Prefer my teaching to silver and seek wisdom rather than gold, because wisdom has more value than any jewel and all that you may desire cannot equal it.
18 Riches and honor are with me, true well-being and upright living.
19 More precious than silver and gold are my fruits and my yield.
20 I proceed on the path of righteousness and make use of the ways of justice,
21 giving riches to those who love me, and filling their cellars.
Also, I meditate further on the words taken from the book of Psalm Chapter 37:
18 The Lord watches over the lives of the upright; forever will their inheritance abide.
19 They are not crushed in times of calamity; when famine strikes, they still are satisfied.
Even more so, I marinate in the words taken from the book of Psalm Chapter 131:
2 I have quieted and stilled my soul like a weaned child on its mother's lap; like a contented child is my soul.
From the book of Ezra Chapter 8, I read:
21 There at the banks of the river Ahava, I proclaimed a fast so we might humble ourselves before our God, to implore him for a safe journey for ourselves, our children and our goods.
22 So we fasted and prayed to our God for this intention, and He listened to us.
From the book of Psalm Chapter 34, I read:
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me; from all my fears He delivered me.
5 They who look to Him are radiant with joy, their faces never clouded with shame.
And finally, from the book of Sirach Chapter 35, I read:
24 Blessed is his mercy in the time of adversity! It is like rain clouds during a drought.
So, now I spend some time to crystallize these thoughts.
If perhaps, faith were indeed, a currency, it would be one that is applied to 'some' Kingdom.
'some' Kingdom?
Whose Kingdom? God's Kingdom. God has made a command about his Kingdom. Man is to first set his eyes on his Kingdom. But also, as part of the law, there is a condition. What is the condition? Man must also posture his heart towards the justice of God.
Justice of God?
Justice of God= God's Wisdom
= God's ways
= ways by which man lives.
Man must contemplate his life to determine first if he is deemed fit for access to God's Kingdom to receive his faith currency.
So, now, I work out that in this 'invisible' world,
the economy is the Kingdom, with all its riches.
And the Kingdom operates on the currency of faith, by which man can access his rights and privileges and that allows man to live.
I wish to dig deeper into faith’s characteristic as a currency.
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