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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, ESV).
Talking to a friend recently, discussing faith, I used this illustration. . .
If you have one hundred dollars in your checking account and a bill of one hundred dollars to pay, you may not be rich, but you have the assurance that you can pay the bill. But if you have only five dollars in your checking account, do you have assurance that you can make that nuisance of a one-hundred-dollar payment?
The Book of Hebrews tells us that faith gives assurance of our ability to pay a one-hundred-dollar bill with only five dollars. Often, those following Jesus find themselves bankrupt in the presence of their God-given assignments, yet they have hope!
This is five-dollar faith!
Hebrews chapter eleven lists believers who paid bills of one hundred dollars with five dollars. This “five-dollar faith” list included — Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel, David, and many others.
Do we have five-dollar faith? As the Book of Hebrews continues. . .
Without [five-dollar] faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is the conviction of things not seen.
The Apostle Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by [five-dollar] faith, not by sight.” And he says in Romans 1:17, “For the righteousness of God is revealed from [five-dollar] faith to [five-dollar] faith; as it is written, ‘the righteous will live by [five-dollar] faith.’”
I’m not demeaning faith by comparing it to five dollars but encouraging us to grasp God’s promises of peace, power, and provision (Philippians 4:7, 13, and 19) when following Christ into situations beyond our resources.
As followers of Jesus, we will be called (if not yet, it’s just a matter of time) to acts of obedience, though initially causing fear, but as the Lord provides, helping our faith grow large enough that we are confident even without the five dollars.
We develop this crazy faith and find that an empty bank account works too!
Fear and anxiety are the demonic oppressions of our culture. Striving to make money, trying to control life situations, and manipulating others to achieve our ends — just doesn’t work — as the oppressions easily out-flank our efforts.
Five-dollar faith does work! And if you don’t have five dollars, send me an email, I’ll pray that you will stand in faith even with an empty bank account.