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Nov 09, 2024 06:00am

Invest

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As I venture into my mid adult years, I’ve been thinking more about the idea of investment. Suddenly, I find myself checking how much money I’ve put into retirement and if these funds will sustain me in my old age.

My husband and I have been contemplating speaking with a financial advisor to get help with investing in things like: a high-yield savings account, stocks, and or mutual funds.

There truly are many routes of financial investment.

Jesus addresses investment in Matthew 6:19-20 when he says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Important to note: Being good stewards of our financial resources is biblical. Jesus is not implying that we shouldn’t practice any sort of financial planning.

Instead, Jesus is addressing the idea of the heart’s intent in investment.

We can invest our time, resources, and energy into many earthly things (a bigger house, a nicer car, a grand vacation, social media, being the best dressed, etc.)

However, all of these things will eventually pass away when we do. As I’ve heard it put before, “I’ve never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse.”

As Christians, our number one command and calling is spiritual investment.

Matthew ends with Jesus speaking these words, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20

Notice Jesus did not say the mission was for preachers/teachers only to make disciples, but disciples (i.e., a personal follower of Jesus) making disciples (i.e., personal followers of Jesus.)

This means, if you’re a disciple of Jesus Christ you’re commanded to make disciples.

How? By teaching them to observe all Jesus commanded and taught.

This command spans throughout the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 calls Christians ambassadors (i.e., God’s representatives) and ministers of reconciliation (i.e., the message of salvation.)

Titus chapter two calls both Christian men and women to have steadfast faith, teach, and train the younger generation in the things of the Lord.

The New Testamemt makes it clear, all Christians (not just pastors, teachers, and those with platforms) are commanded to have a younger Christian they are actively discipling and training in the things of God.

We must grab hold of this truth and start treating it like a command and not a suggestion.

As His disciples we have to stop making excuses and missing the mark.

Often, a fear for older Christians is they will not be able to relate to younger Christians. As I heard it put in a sermon recently, “The younger generation doesn’t need another friend; they need spiritual parents.”

Spiritual parents to guide and train them in the things of God; how to seek Him, how to know Him, and how to practically apply biblical truth to their lives.

Gen A and Gen Z are not like me, but that’s okay; the goal is not for them to become like me but like Jesus. The one whose character is the same yesterday, tomorrow, and forever.

The other fear I often hear is, “I didn’t have a spiritual parent to disciple me.” In this case, we must remember God is our heavenly father; the Spirit is with us and will help us in our time of need as we seek to fulfill this command.

How does this sort of spiritual investment happen?

It takes intention.

First, we must be careful to not exhaust all of our resources on investing in earthly things that will pass away.

Second, we must be intentional in our own spiritual growth so that we’re sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and continually become like the one we are training and teaching others to be like: Jesus.

Third, we must be willing to, as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, have an affectionate desire to share not only the gospel, but our very lives with younger Christians in the faith.

Sharing our very lives means being intentional to share meals, texts, vulnerability, struggles, what we are learning from the Lord, prayer, etc.

As we plant seeds of truth through these things, we must pray the Lord will be faithful to give the increase and growth.

The goal is that our spiritual investment in younger disciples will lead to their investment in the next generation of disciples and so on and so forth.

Am I financially planning for my golden years? Yes.

However, I pray that I strive to make every effort to invest in the golden gates even more so.

I want to have as many spiritual children and grandchildren as the Lord will allow; the only investment I can take with me when I go.