Your Greatest Investment
Have you ever thought of your life as an investment? Jesus did. He continually compared your life with an investment of money. Jesus wants you to invest your life for the greatest possible return. He wants you to help build his Kingdom.
Q How are you currently investing your life?
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The Three Servants
Jesus told the story of a prince who had left his three servants a huge amount of money to invest for him. He would settle with them when he returned years later. When the time came to settle, and reward them for their faithfulness, the prince asked them for an accounting
The first servant said, “Master, I doubled your money.”
The prince was elated, and said, “Great job! Because you’ve earned me so much on that small investment, I’m going to put you in charge of ten cities!”
The second servant said, “Master, I made a fifty percent return on your investment.” The prince said to him, “I’ll put you in charge of five cities.”
The third servant said, “Master, here’s your money, safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the basement since I was afraid to lose it. I know you…don’t put up with fools.”
The prince was extremely disappointed…and told him, “You’re right that I don’t put up with fools…and you have been a fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in a savings so that I would have gotten a little interest on it?”
Then turning to the others standing nearby, the prince ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who earned the most.’ They objected, and said, ‘But master, he already has double…”
The prince then said, “That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.” (Luke 19:12-27, The Message)
Jesus told his disciples this story to give them the picture that God expects a return on our lives. In other words, He wants our lives to “count” for Him.
Life on earth is short. Soon it will be over–then it will be too late to invest your life for Christ.
The Judgment Seat of Christ
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that when your life is over, you will have the great honor to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive rewards for your faithful service to Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:10.)
All believers will give an account of their walk with Christ, but unfortunately not all will receive rewards.
Q What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15?
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Jesus wants you to invest your life for the greatest possible impact for his Kingdom. Like the prince who rewarded the first servant who doubled his investment, Jesus greatly desires to reward you.
Expand Your Territory
In The Prayer of Jabez, author Bruce Wilkinson relates how a relatively unknown man from the Old Testament, Jabez, asked God for “expanded territory” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Jabez wanted to be special for God. He wanted to invest his life for the greatest return. (This book will greatly challenge you.)
D.L. Moody was a man who asked God to expand his territory. He made this statement: “The world has yet to see what one man who is totally sold out to Jesus Christ can accomplish. By God’s grace, I want to be that man!”
Q What “expanded territory” are you asking God to give you?
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