What Kind of Return on Investment Would You Like?
Good Morning Friends,
More and more countries are offering negative interest rates on bonds. I am sure it makes sense to some people, but really I do not get it. All the way through scriptures Jesus challenges us to invest and reinvest in the Kingdom…in something that lasts and grows. We need to realize that the earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it belong to God. With that in mind let me suggest to you that the best place to invest is in God and the gifts we have been given. So today we meditate on some Biblical advice on investing and also one the most practical of parables on the topic. So would you like to know how to make wise investments regardless of what happens in the financial markets? What Kind of Return on Investment Would You Like?
Scripture: “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29 (NRSV)
Scripture:11Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back. 2 Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth. 3 When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4 Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap. 5Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (NRSV)
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NRSV)
35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ‘
Acts 20:35 (NRSV)
Message: Our perspective on investment is shortsighted. When God made the Universe, and all that is in it, God also made all those treasures in which we are to abide forever, all everywhere and in time all at once to be enjoyed. With wisdom of foresight God diversifies His investment in humans and entrusts each of us with many things, but not all, and has given each of us special abilities and expects us to be faithful in using what we have been given. We are stewards of these possessions for the Master’s glory. We have a responsibility for managing God’s gifts given to us as individuals and to help others in discovering and developing theirs. We are not to hide our gifts, but to invest them in kingdom service collectively. There is no getting around the reality that we are responsible for what we have been given. So what are you going to do about tomorrow today? How is your obedience going to use your gifts and talents to build up the body to glorify God? You see, God has called us to be productive with the potential we have. We are not to waste our time digging holes. We as individuals and also as a collective body of believers are to be focused on the return for the Master. Friends, now is the time to bring honor to the Master. Now is the time to overcome the fear of failure in our lives. Now is the time to produce a harvest of faith. You see, when we invest our talents God will honor them. When we invest our love it will be returned and magnified and multiplied through the love of Jesus. The magnitude of the investment potential is unknown to us until we enter into it and its unlimited field of variety and beauty and begin bringing glory to God in its service. And the amazing thing is that here we can lose ourselves in the multitude of wonders and in exchange for ourselves find God. Here God’s attributes are manifested and our very souls confirm the infinite delight of being His treasure…made in the image of God… and in our living to become molded and built up as a wise and righteous work… invested in return for the love and joy of knowing and walking with God and with others.
Pray we are empowered by the indwelling Christ to make faithful decisions that lead to positive returns. Pray we are faithful to those who trust us. Pray we be a parable of potential realized. Pray we know our assignment. Pray we know the person making the assignment. Pray we are prepared, prompt and not afraid to perspire. Pray we realize it is a sin to have an unopened gift from God. Pray with praise when we are accountable to our potentials. Pray we produce a return for the Master. Pray we use what God has given us. Pray we learn the joy of reinvesting what he has invested in us. Pray we realize that with God we can multiply the investment. Pray we want to give to the Lord not because it is the law or that we ought to out of obligation but because we want to for the grace in carries out to others lives and the joy it brings into ours. Pray we realize that God is the owner of everything. Pray that we have a desire to invest ourselves in the lives of others so that we might all experience the joy of Heaven being magnified in us for Kingdom purposes. Pray we invest in what one day God will claim as an eternal treasure.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 