Lasting Investments

There are limitless ways to invest our money, each with a varying degree of risk and reward. Jesus teaches us that there are really only two types of investments: we can invest our resources in insecure investments or secure ones, in earthly treasures or eternal heavenly treasures. Jesus warns us, Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon is materialism. However, it's important to understand that we can have both, but we cannot serve both. We can have money and God, but we can't serve money and God. We can only serve one master. It’s not wrong to possess resources; the issue arises when those resources control us. John 6:27: “But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you…” Whatever we give to God will never go away. When we invest in evangelism, God uses that to bring many people to Him, and they go to heaven. God urges us to be cautious about how we invest in material things. He wants us to maintain perspective on life and to understand the implications of our earthly investments. Jesus taught Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Let’s remember that earthly treasures are ultimately destined for destruction. Only two things last forever: the eternal Word of God and the souls of men and women. These are the only two things that will endure; everything else will fade away. So, how can we ensure our investments are timeless? We do this by supporting ministries that impact lives, nurture souls, and help spread the Word of God, bringing souls to salvation. The Bible tells us that we are investing in a way that can never lose value; instead, it will continue to grow endlessly. When we give to God’s work, He takes our gifts and multiplies them. You might be wondering how this works. For example, when we contribute money to God, that money can be used to bring a family to Christ. Once a family comes to faith, their children may also find Christ, and eventually, their children's friends may believe, too. This cycle keeps going, leading to even more lives being transformed. Investing in God's work also engages our hearts, bringing great joy along with a deep longing to contribute to the kingdom's purposes. Our hearts become truly invested in the kingdom. If our resources are not dedicated to God’s kingdom, it likely shows our hearts aren't there either. Our hearts and our treasures go hand in hand; where one is, the other is sure to follow. We honor God with our resources, which helps us align our hearts with what is happening in His kingdom. As a result, we become more enthusiastic and feel a greater sense of ownership when people come to Christ. This is an investment opportunity we don’t want to miss.

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