Gtcotr/ss022215
Key Scripture: Matthew 6:21 "For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This
is the simple principle of investment and return. It is not so much that we
invest in those things we care about but rather we tend to care more about
those things in which we invest.
Case
in point: Unless you have current investments and hold stock in Sears you may
not care or even be aware of the company’s overall bottom line. However, if
your complete retirement package is invested in Sears Holdings Corp, (SHLD), I
bet you keep up with it, talk to others about it and have high hopes that it
does well. Who knows, you may even make your opinions known to those running
the corporation as to how they might do a better job. ((up 8.25% last week, 33+
to 36+) down 30% this year)
We
tend to care more about the things we invest in. Often, The more we invest the more we care. For example: A house can be
dirty and out of order for a month and no one picks up after themselves ~ but ~
let mom or dad clean it and get everything all straightened and you had better
not come in right afterwards with mud on your shoes or leave a sandwich and
coke can on the coffee table or pull your socks off and leave them on the couch
… Investments make the investor more conscious and more
caring.
It
is a Godly principle to care more about the things in which we are involved and
have invested. Perhaps this is one huge reason why:
John 3:16 God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes in Him shall
never die but have eternal life.
God
made a huge investment in this world and in every nation, kindred, tribe and
tongue and He loves them all. It might come as a surprise to many but let me
assure you that God even loves your enemies. God’s heart follows His great
investment. (The greater the investment, the greater the love) If we care
nothing for our investment we will care nothing about the return. We see God’s
love because we see God’s investment …
Isaiah 19:25 For the LORD of
Heaven’s Armies will say, “Blessed be Egypt, my people. Blessed be Assyria, the
land I have made. Blessed be Israel, my special possession!”
Egypt,
Assyria, Israel … God loves them all? Yes! These are all nations settled by the
offspring of God’s covenant with Adam, Noah and Abraham. (Note: Assyria was
settled by Abraham’s sons by his concubines - Gen 25)
God has an investment in every nation, each tribe and every people
group … He loves them all.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw
another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach to those who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe,
tongue, and people —
Revelation 5
9 And they sang a new song,
saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You
were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and
tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and
priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
(Story
if needed: If you don’t like it, you just haven’t eaten enough of it…)
God
so loved the world … God loving the whole world can
only begin with God loving you. God has made a personal investment in
your life – Jesus!
Where
your treasure is there will your heart be also … when you make a personal
investment in God it will strengthen each relationship and bring you many
earthly and eternal returns. The value of everything changes when we begin to
value Jesus. Today you can make an eternal investment.
Your
personal investment in God begins with a simple surrender saying, “Not my will but Thy will O God” … The first step is
to accept God’s Son as your personal Savior … without this first step, no other
step will matter. So, Let’s make your first step a certainty right now. (Altar
Call: Salvation; (Recognize; Repent; Receive) Then: Surrender to God’s Call on
your life)
