We honored Pastor Mike at a meeting of area ministers last night. He has served his congregation for 50 years! He built the church – literally – from the ground up. He was employed outside of ministry for many of the early years to support his family. After working a full day in construction, he took up the work of preaching, teaching, loving, and leading in what amounted to a second full-time job. We all laughed, albeit respectfully, when minutes from a board meeting in 1963 revealed that his salary went from $10/week to $12.50/week. That little fact proves he wasn’t in it for earthly rewards! What faithfulness we saw in his lifework.
Oswald Sanders makes this arresting statement. “We must aim to put more into life than we take out of it!” (Spiritual Leadership)
Are you investing or just spending your days?
An investor always considers return. Before buying into a company, the astute investor considers the value, the stability, the probability of long-term productivity, the quality of the leadership of the company, among other things. Foolish investors look only at immediate returns. Spenders waste their days, chase fantasies, play games, and create nothing of value. They use up resources, burn through relationships, and ‘kill time.’
A life committed to Christ Jesus is wisely invested! Those who love always, who offer encouragement, who find ways to serve others, who give of their resources generously, Jesus says, are investing for long-term reward. His investment advice? "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds." (Matthew 16:25-27, NLT)
Are you questioning the value of standing by that person who tries your patience, who just can’t seem to ‘get it together?’ It’s time to invest!
Are you ready to quit your ministry because it requires so much time? It’s time to invest!
Are you tempted to sin in some way, attracted by the possibility some new diversion from the difficulty of life? It’s time to invest!
In Heaven’s prospectus, we have this promise of return, made by God Himself. "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith.” (Hebrews 10:35-38, NLT)
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder this investment advice today. May the Spirit of God make you wise.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)
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