Published by admin on 23 Jul 2020 at 11:49 pm
INVEST WISELY
Much of the world is busy worrying about the bottom line of their finances, some with buying, some with selling, and some with investing. Indeed, it’s an unstable time seemingly all over the world, caused by COVID-19, and the fallout caused various political agendas throughout the world.
There are fortunes to be made, as well as lost, and it takes real wisdom to do the right thing at the right time. Some play the stock market, and are very good at it. Some are very aggressive with investments, and others are very conservative. Most everyone knows that the big money is made by those taking the biggest risks, but that can be very catastrophic, as many have gone broke when their investments went belly up.
“INVEST WISELY” is the key word. Don’t take big chances if you can’t afford to lose your investment. Now, someone might invest $10,000 in a very aggressive stock or mutual fund if they have enough money that the loss of $10,000 won’t put a serious dent in their wealth. But what if it’s all you have in the whole world? How could you go on if it’s suddenly gone? Would it be wise to invest it aggressively when there’s high risk of losing it? Some would, but a person of wisdom would not.
Wealth is not easily obtained, and a wise person guards it carefully, not spending foolishly or endangering their wealth by living beyond their means of income. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 23:5 says, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Surely you’ve heard the sayings, “easy come; easy go”, or “here today, gone tomorrow”, and it’s certainly like that in the financial world. You can be rich today, and broke tomorrow if your investments go sour. And you don’t get a “do-over”. No, you’re DONE! BROKE! FLATTER THAN A RUN-OVER HAT!
Now, your financial situation is important, but do you realize there’s something FAR MORE IMPORTANT than your financial picture? Yep, that would be your SOUL. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16:26-27,
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
While you’re busy in the world tending to your finances daily, there’s a devil out there who wants to keep you so busy, that you forget all about your most valuable asset, your soul. He really doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, he just wants control of your soul, so when your time is over on planet earth, you’ll join him in the Lake of Fire.
Now, most people have heard at least PART of the Gospel message, which includes 2 Peter 3:9-14, which says,
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Did you see anything there about your wealth or investments? Nope, I didn’t either.
God is concerned with your SOUL, how you may be saved and have everlasting life. Like I said, the devil doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor. And did you know that God doesn’t care either if you’re rich or poor? He doesn’t care how much money you have, as long as your money doesn’t have YOU! God wants you to invest wisely! And wisdom is taking care FIRST of your soul! Once you’re squared away with the LORD, you can take care of other stuff, but your FIRST obligation is to serve the LORD, and to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. After THAT, you can take care of your financial affairs, knowing you have God’s blessing in all you put your hand to.
How about YOU? Have you invested wisely, or are you in danger of losing your soul? It won’t matter on judgment day how rich you were or how many fine homes you owned, the only thing that will matter is if you invested your life in Christ Jesus. You may be thinking right now, “I’ll get right with God later, but FIRST, I must take care of my family and my finances, because I have an obligation to them.” Many have made a bad investment from which they crashed and burned, and wished they had the opportunity to do it over again and do it differently. But there is no DO-OVER in life. If you’re going to make the Kingdom of God, this is your only chance, my friend. The world and all that is in it will pass away, but the Word of God abides forever. And if YOU want to abide forever in God’s Kingdom, you will need to invest fully in Christ Jesus.
Don’t gamble your most important asset to chance. You MAY get to “get it right with God later”. Then again, maybe NOT! Your soul is way too important to gamble with. I know you’ve heard all this before, and brushed it off. “LATER, OK?” Jesus told a parable that goes like this in Luke 12:15-32,
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So, my beloved friend, I leave you with this: INVEST WISELY; THE SOUL YOU SAVE WILL BE YOUR OWN!