| The Best Investment You’ll Ever Make |
|
|
| By Rick Warren — Jun 2, 2015 |
“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven — it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.” (1 Timothy 6:18-19 TLB)
Generosity is an investment. Luke 16:9 says, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others” (NLT, second edition). I’ve said many times that you can’t take it with you. Did you know that mortuaries sell burial suits? They’re for people who want to be buried in a suit but don’t have one. Do you know what the difference is in a burial suit? There are no pockets in them! It’s true! You don’t need them, because you can’t take it with you. But you can send it on ahead.
How do you do that? By investing in people who are going there.
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven — it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well”(TLB).
Every time you are generous with the poor, a friend, or a neighbor, God says you’re storing up treasure in the bank of Heaven. Your time on Earth is only about 80 and at the most 100 years. You’ll spend trillions of years in eternity. Where do you need to have the biggest account?
There’s no greater investment than the Kingdom of God. When you help other people with your time, your money, your resources — whatever you’ve got — you are actually making an investment in Heaven. Your investment is protected in Heaven. It pays good rates. It’s proven. There are great dividends and no risks.
You’re not going to get that kind of investment anywhere else!
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
- Why do we sometimes find it easier to make an investment in our earthly bank account rather than in Heaven? Is it really more fulfilling?
- What is the risk of making an earthly investment over an eternal one?
- If salvation is based on God’s grace, why do you think he still wants you to do good works?
 |
|
| |
The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
--Proverbs 10:22
| |
| |
Money is a gift from God. But many people have a poor relationship with it—including many Christians.
Believers should have different attitudes about money than the culture at large. Because the Bible tells us there are things more important than money. For example, Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches….”
Proverbs also tells us that wisdom (3:13-18), character (23:23), intelligence (20:15), and human relationships (15:17) are more important than money. Even Jesus concluded in Mark 8:36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
In commercial office buildings, there are firewalls that protect the structure and its inhabitants from fire. When you’re online, there are firewalls that protect your computer from viruses.
And in order to protect your family from the dangers of money, you need to build a financial firewall around your life. You do this by earning your money honestly, managing your money wisely, and giving your money generously.
As a believer, you should have a different attitude about money.
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment