Investing

Matthew 25:14-30

The moral to this parable is about investing. When we think of investing or investment our minds immediately go to Wall Street, Dow Jones, 401k, etc. But in reading this parable we learn that investing was not originally a capitalist idea. It is a kingdom principle!

Jesus is teaching that God has bestowed upon us what he refers to as Talents. These talents were a form of currency and they were given not for the personal use of the one receiving but meant to be invested that the master might get some return. It also teaches us that we have the responsibility of using what God has given us knowing that someday we will have to give an accountability for these gifts. God has invested in us and we have to take what we have been given and invest in others.

The parable also teaches us that investing is all about the future. Our future, the future of others, and the future of the kingdom.

First, it teaches us that we have been given salvation and have in no way earned it. And along with it comes gifts to manifest this great work of salvation for us, in us, and through us, for the glory of God. The return is unto God just as the Psalmist said “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” Psalm 115:1 God very seldom blesses us for our own benefit, but blesses us for the benefit of others. When we have this attitude toward investing what God has given us then in the day of accountability we will give back more than we have received and hear the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21

Second, we need to take what has been given to us and bestow it upon others. Jesus said “freely ye have received, freely give.”Matthew 10:8 God has given the church the privilege of communicating the Gospel to a lost world. He could have chosen his own voice, angels, or some other type of method, but he chose instead to use you and I to share the good news that God has provided redemption through his son Jesus Christ by way of the cross. Jesus, right before his ascension, said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 Jesus said Go and we must obey! Let us not be guilty like the servant who buried his talent because of indifference, shame, or fear.

Lastly, we are to invest in the future of the church. Today as I write this, church attendance is dropping to an all time low. Many have blamed this on the pandemic, but truly I think that the pandemic has become the excuse for the lack of interest and concern in spiritual things, prior to the release of COVID19 in the world. There are churches closing weekly and this too has brought a reproach on Christianity as most of our church buildings are nothing but a symbol of what we once was. Like the servant who hid his talent, the church has gone into hiding and has lost its relevance in society. We have to invest in the young people today and disciple them through teaching, training, and most of all by example demonstrating the importance of assembling ourselves together.

Investing cost us something now and the dividends come later. There is a risk when investing in Wall Street. An investor can make great gains in a single day, but also suffer great loses as well. Let us take heed to the words of Jesus when he said “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 When we invest in eternal things, then we will reap in eternal things and eternal things never die!

Pastor Robby