Daily Encouragement (5/25/21) "A Consideration Of Investments"
Published: Tue, 05/25/21
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A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021
 An almost glistening white farm house here in Lancaster County
Click on photo for larger view "A Consideration Of Investments"
Listen to this message on your audio player. "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" (Matthew 6:19,20). "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with
everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Several weeks ago I received an email from Josh, a newer friend I got acquainted with in my home office. He followed up our meeting together with an email expressing an interesting and quite encouraging perspective on ministry with these words, "Thanks for investing in me, Steve".
Josh is in his late forties and leads a ministry called One Life Institute
, a nine month Christian Gap Year Program for students who want to grow in their faith, experience genuine community, serve others, and travel while earning college credit.
This made me realize, regardless of age, how we may invest in people and we may be invested in.
We are all involved in some type of investing. According to Investopedia, "Investing is the act of allocating resources, usually money, with the expectation of generating an income or profit. You can invest in endeavors, such as using money to start a business, or in assets, such as purchasing real estate in hopes of reselling it later at a higher price."
Most of the time we think of investing in a financial sense but Josh's comment makes me consider the sense of investing in people and ministry, which has several very critical differences. The income or profit we expect is not financial but rather a stake in the Kingdom. The resource we allocate may be money such as a contribution to a church or ministry but Josh's comment reminded me it's also our time.
In our first daily text it occurs to me that a suitable synonym for "lay up" could be "invest" and we can understand Jesus saying "Invest in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal".
Our second text applies to virtually all reading this. We are "rich in this present age" in comparison to most living on this planet. We often hear term "1%", applying to the super rich here in America, which may include a few reading this but not most of us. However from the perspective of the world's population I believe many of us (probably most) are in the top 10%.
Paul's charge to them ("the rich in this present age") and us is:
1) Don't be haughty (proud)
2) Don't set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
3) Do good, be rich in good works (investing our time),
5) Be generous and ready to share (investing our our resources),
What a great end result likely alluding to Christ's own teaching in our first text, "thus storing up treasure for ourselves as a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of that which is truly life".
I can think of so many who have invested in me from my earliest days as a Christian through Campus Crusade for Christ, my local church, Bible College and all through my adult life. I consider those still investing in me in a variety of ways and am so thankful. Some of you have made investments in our ministry of dailyencouragement as well. We are honored that we have many faithful readers from all over the world who invest their time, thought,
prayers, gracious words and even financial support as the Lord leads them.
What a joy also to consider those in whom we've invested (both individuals and ministries) and the increasingly long train of impact. We want to continue this type of investment until we are called home.
As we get older especially we pay more attention to our net worth and retirement plan. But I want to primarily focus on my heavenly, eternal investment portfolio! How about you?
I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom's fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, help us to remember that
our riches here are gone tomorrow but if we do good, if we are rich in good works and generous to others, we store up treasure for ourselves as a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of that which is truly life. As we serve You here on earth below we thank You for storing our eternal inheritance there in heaven above so that it will never perish, spoil or fade. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"My Worth Is Not In What I Own" Video
Fernando Ortega along with Keith & Kristyn Getty. We shared this song yesterday because it fit with that message as well.
Consider these very thoughtful lyrics:
My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength of flesh and bone But in the costly wounds of love At the cross My worth is not in skill or name In win or lose, in pride or shame But in the blood of Christ that flowed At the cross I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure, Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone. As summer flowers we fade and die Fame, youth and beauty hurry by But life eternal calls to us At the cross I will not boast in wealth or might Or human wisdom's fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness My value fixed - my ransom paid At the cross  This loaded
clothesline caught our eye along with the lush garden in the background.
Click on photo for larger view  In the summer
Lancaster County provides lots of interesting back-road scenery.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2021 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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