We all need that thing called money—dollars, pesos, gilders, franks, pounds, shekels, euros or whatever you want to call it—it pays the bills and buys what we need, and at times buys what we want too. Currency has many names, but it all conveys the same result. It’s needed to survive, and without any type of currency, we would eventually end up penniless, destitute, and maybe out in the street.

If you want to be a racer, you must have money. If you want to eat, you must have money. Therefore, none of us can get too far without the all-mighty dollar in our pocket. Yes, money does make the world go round, and has in every culture.
It’s easy to talk drag boat racing; but a real racer has to put his money where his or her mouth is to field a drag boat. To run fast, it takes more money, and as they say, “speed kills” parts, so the faster you want to go, the more it’s going to cost you.

Jesus spoke about money often in the Bible. He frequently taught about wealth, and His primary focus was on a person’s attitude concerning their wealth. If a believer truly trusts God, he’s freed from the pagan’s desperate focus of life’s necessities.

Spiritually speaking, you can’t serve God and money at the same time, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money,” (Mathew. 6:24).

Jesus taught about a rich man and how his wealth had blinded him to spiritual reality. The treasures that people store up on earth are susceptible to theft, rust, and corrosion, and they may at times distract us from our concentration on seeking God first.

The term currency means something needs to flow, or to change hands to be effective. Therefore, faith must also flow to be effective too…so please let your faith in God flow as freely as your faith in your racing machine.

Racing has been known blind some people, causing them to spend everything they have on their racing program. They not only use up their money, they use up their relationships, they use up their mental capacity for clear thinking, and they pass up their spiritual life in an attempt to satisfy their physical life. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Don’t surrender to despair, surrender to God’s pair…joy and dependence.

Having money, and being able to purchase all the best parts is good, but how far will it get you into eternity? We won’t need any money in heaven, nor will we have the urge to want to buy something—because it was already bought and paid for by Jesus on the cross. God took care of everything for us. Period!
Wealth and riches are blessings from God if they are gained, and used, in harmony with God’s values. But wealth can bring war against the soul distracting us from the reality of significant issues in life, and drawing us away from reliance on God alone.

The Bible says, “We live by faith, not sight.” Here at Team RFC we’ve always been lean and mean (i.e. no extra finances for fancy frills and thrills). If RFC had a big bank account we wouldn’t have to depend upon God (through you) to take care of us every month. Maybe that’s the way He wants us to be. We’ve come to trust Him and not bank on a big bank account. We bank on a portfolio that is based on a Savior…not savings.

As Christians, we should thank God if He chooses to give us riches; then properly switch on the current(cy) in service to Him. But if He does not choose to enrich us, we need not be concerned. It is “godliness with contentment” that is the believer’s true gain.

The word “money” is used one hundred and twenty three times in the NIV Bible. Being mentioned that many times means it’s an important subject. The more God speaks about a particular theme, the more we should listen.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," (Hebrews. 13:5). Being content is a key to life. Trust in God’s providence for your life, and all you do in life will be more fulfilling, especially as you get older.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs,” (1Timothy 6:10). Money can never buy love or happiness. Attempting to buy what is freely given may cause you to drift away from all that God has for you, and end up with troubles that could have been avoided if you had sought God’s will instead of other things.

Listen to what Corrie ten Boom used to say, “Vell, I’ve learned to hold every ting loosely, because it hurts ven God pries my fingers apart and takes tem from me.” Everything belongs to God, so treat your stuff as His stuff.

“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,” (2 Timothy 3:2). Money forces some people to sink deeply into the depths of depression, selfishness, disrespect, and lawlessness as they lose their love for everything…but themselves. It’s usually best to avoid this type of person.

“The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more,” (Matthew 25:16). Investing in your eternal future pays dividends for the believer that knows serving God with all his heart, soul, strength, and bank account is the way to rewards not made or given by man.

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts,” (Mark 12:41). It’s easy for the rich to put money into the church…but it’s a lot harder for someone to give sacrificially any amount that really costs them.

Jesus told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic,” (Luke 9:3). God likes to take care of His servants by providing for all their needs through the efforts of His teammates. His team should be ready, willing, and able to assist in any and all needs of the church.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Anytime one of God’s children desires to take on a project, it should be bathed in prayer. “God’s will be done” is the answer that needs to be received…even if it takes time to hear from Him.

“So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,' he said, `until I come back,'” (Luke 19:13). Keep investing, keep working, keep serving, keep praying, and keep up the faith until you see the Lord descending from heaven.

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money,” (Acts 8:20). No one can ever do anything good enough to earn Gods gift of eternal life (grace). If you are waiting to buy it, you’ll be in a long line for eternity.

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made,” (1Corinthians 16:2). The church will always be in need of finances to keep the doors open, keeping the body of believers in good health, and spreading the good news of God’s kingdom.

“Not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money,” (1Timothy 3:3). The human flesh craves many things, but the spirit needs discipline so as not to have love for a temporal substance: Character counts…cash consumes.

“Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve,” (1Peter 5:2). God will give you the desires of your heart. That God shaped void in your heart is not a piggy bank; it should be a selfless account that only wants the best for others.

Drag boats are some of the coolest “things” on the planet. Some people have them, but many don’t. In heaven, your boat won’t get you anywhere, or get you anything. Cool is good when talking about godly things or heavenly places, but only your faith will get you a nice place in Paradise with a river front view.

Heaven will be the coolest. Gals won’t need a purse, and guys won’t need a wallet. The grace of God got us that far and the Spirit of God will get us the rest of the way. No money, no need. No car, no need. No boat, no need. No banks, no need. “The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith,” (1John5:4b MSG).

Our goal is not to become wealthy but to be found faithful. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world, because we were purchased with currency that is absolutely foreign to this planet. Faith really is heavens currency. No worries. No anxiety. Simply bank on Christ…He’ll keep you posted as He manages your portfolio with the Messiah Market. No Bull.