The Opportunity: August 2012

What is an investment? Well when you look in the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language we see this, "The laying out of money in the purchase of some species of property, literally, the clothing of money with something."

But we also know that beyond the physical realm of investments there are also the spiritual investments. "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 destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.Then there is, I think, another investment, "Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction." Proverbs 10:14. "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinners is stored up for the righteous." Proverbs 13:22. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. Do you see it? The third investment is in your children and their spiritual life.So let's review the three investments we can make...

1 ~ Investing in stocks, bonds, property, or other alternatives to hard cash.

2 ~ Investing all aspects of your life into Christ's eternal "trust fund".

3 ~ Investing your time, wisdom, knowledge, and God's Word into your children and your children's children.

So what made me think on the differing investments of life? Well, as I was working on reorganizing all my hope chest stuff, I realized that all my cookware and other home making necessities were really investments. They were things that would later save me and my future husband money, thus allowing us to use that money we saved for other expenses. In the same way, all the studies and research we do in our Bibles are another kind of investment. As we study and search the Scriptures God gives us wisdom, knowledge, and a deeper love for Him. Same goes for our children. The investment of all you've learned from God should be poured out on your children. Teaching them from the Scriptures and other godly books.That got me thinking. How could I better invest in my children, before I'm even married? Then I had, one way was getting books! But not just any genre. Rather good, godly books that would encourage my future children to grow in Christ. With some of the money I've made on yard work and selling flower bouquets this month I spent on some amazing books! At least I think they are are a wonderful additions to my library!