It is no secret to anyone with a Scriptural perspective in life that we are truly living in the last days. There are many indications that this is the case. These indications were foretold by the Word of God. Life at best is very transitory. Material possessions often lose value and require maintenance to keep them in order so we can keep using them. But eventually many things we have wear out and need to be replaced or updated. Currency is also very volatile. One currency is strong for a period of time and then it becomes weak. The forces of inflation and devaluation are always struggling against each other in any currency across the world. Some economies thrive for a period of years; then suddenly they tumble without much warning and leave investors bankrupt, scrambling to know what to do.
None of us know what the future holds, except for the fact that every prophecy of the Scripture that has not yet been fulfilled soon will be. As people of God, we live with the real awareness that the future is as bright as the promises of God. We live with the consciousness of eternity in our earth journey. If we will have anything after our life on earth comes to an end, eternal values need to capture our attention. If we only invest in material things, the day will come that we die and leave it all behind us and face the eternal destination we do not desire. But if we invest in eternal values, we can utilize our material possessions to lay up treasure in heaven; and when we leave this world we will be rewarded for that investment. The purpose of this article is to teach us how to invest in spiritual values, thus preparing us for a blessed eternity.
To invest means to use money to buy something that will produce a profit, an income, or both. It also means to spend or devote time and energy on material resources for later benefit. So an eternal investment is something that lasts forever, has a worth without end, and retains its value eternally.
There are many verses in the Bible that teach us to not lay up treasure on earth. The Proverb writer tells us “Labor not to be rich; cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle towards heaven” (Proverbs 23:4,5). “Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4). 1 Timothy 6:6-10 Speaks of the need to practice contentment and warns about the uncertainty of riches. There is also a real warning that the love of riches can cause us to err from the faith and take us into deep sin. Jesus Himself teaches us “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
There are also Scriptures that teach us that we do need to work and provide, not only for our own needs, but that we may have to give. We also have a warning not to live in worry for the needs of tomorrow. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1Timothy 5:8). “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). It is so important that our work be of a kind that fulfills a need in humanity. It is so necessary that our children also learn to work and earn, not only to spend, but for saving and giving. The Apostle Paul teaches plainly, that to avoid walking disorderly and to avoid a lazy, busybody mentality,we need to work. We need to earn our privilege to eat as God said in Genesis 3:19 ‘‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.”
Scripture clearly indicates the need to invest in eternal values. “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7). Jesus said to the rich young ruler, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). From the many principles in the Bible regarding eternal investment, it is clearly of importance to God. Next month we will look at practical ways in which we can make eternal investments.
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