Some years ago, when francs were the currency of France, a Frenchman travelling through Switzerland, endeavoured to purchase a drink from a vending machine without success. He could not understand why the machine rejected his coins, leaving him thirsty and frustrated. A travelling companion enlightened him. His problem was that he was using French francs when Swiss francs were needed! He needed the coins of another realm!

What is the currency of God’s kingdom? Have you ever been guilty of attempting to “buy” with the wrong currency of another realm?….trying to “make things work” with the wrong method?

The currency of God’s kingdom is like none other. The words of Jesus guide us to the realm of the Spirit…Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is the order of God to seek first the kingdom of God. When man gets the order right he takes his eyes off his own need and seeks first the kingdom of God – then the unlimited supply of God is revealed.

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof….” Psalm 24:1 When I discover the unlimited supply of God, I realise there is no need to hoard for “a rainy day.” Hoarding for my own ends is a stronghold I need to relinquish and find out what God requires of my life.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. For what measure that ye mete, it shall be measured to you again,” Luke 6:38. The order of God is that to receive, one must give, even out of one’s poverty. The motive of our heart when giving should not be to receive for ourselves, but to bless others. God looks on the heart and knows every motive of deceit. However, when we humble and ask the Lord to work the changes in our lives He requires, He works His will in us for His good pleasure….and incidentally His good pleasure becomes my good pleasure! He does the work, the credit is all His. His glory is safe. Phil. 2:13 “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do, of His good pleasure.”

A busy young mother was feeling challenged over her lack of giving. She was struggling with a small amount of finance and an even bigger shortage of spare time. In desperation she cried out to the Lord, “How can I give when I am so limited in finance and time?” The Lord impressed her to give, even out of her poverty. When she put into action, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” and gave to the Lord first out of her limited finance and time, she discovered that the Lord sent her an increase in both these areas – but she also discovered another treasure of God’s kingdom – the joy of giving and the joy of pleasing her Master. She received the smile of heaven and discovered that one can never out-give God. Her life began to reflect the order of God and His peace replaced her stress. She became a living demonstration of an ordered life to the glory of God. Our lives speak!

Prayer……….Heavenly Father, please help us to be faithful stewards of the time and finance You bless our lives with.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth…Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”