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A COMMON CURRENCY
On New Year's Day, The Times reported,
"With fireworks, soaring rhetoric and last-minute controversy, Europe last night inaugurated its first single currency since the Holy Roman Empire.
As midnight ushered in the new year, the first of 304 million citizens from Lapland to Lisbon began withdrawing euro notes from cash machines to start the biggest currency exchange the world has seen. Within weeks the German mark, the French franc, the Italian lira and nine other ancient currencies will be consigned to history.
Across the Continent leaders urged doubting populations to celebrate rather than mourn an event that will bind Europe together as never before, establish the world's second currency after the dollar, and the third largest monetary zone after China and India."
But how substantial is this thirty year dream of peace in Europe, stability and prosperity?
1There are some clues. Trade and tourism will be easier within the euro-zone. National borders will become dotted lines and labour will migrate more fluidly. The future is, of course, known only to God but those in the UK who fear that a common currency would mean loss of sovereignty are right. In human terms, when you stop controlling the value of your assets, you loose power. Perhaps the gain for euro-politicians is that they are playing on a bigger stage and therefore have more power.
What is the currency of the Kingdom of God?
Neither the pound sterling nor the euro have any power in the Kingdom. Christians use money, we trust wisely, but an excess of it cannot increase or relationship to God. Likewise poverty is no barrier to intimacy with our Maker - indeed He seems to have a very soft spot for the poor. The paradox is that the Christian is richest when he gives most away, and poorest in the Kingdom when he hoards his wealth.
The currency of the Kingdom is love.
"For God so loved the world that he gave ... " is the economic model for the Saviour, and the saved. Love is the ability to give and not to count the cost. This is the only currency of the Church which makes it unique among the institutions of earth.
We can only get love by receiving it. It comes unearned and undeserved but once it is received, its value is enhanced by thankfulness and multiplied by giving it away. There is only one Bank of Love and its chief cashier has signed every note with His own blood! Lets not despise our spiritual capital by hiding it. Let's use it to His glory!
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