Operating Under Heaven’s Economy vs The World’s Economy Part 2
In my previous blog, we delved into the concept of seed time and harvest, emphasizing the importance of being good stewards and operating within Heaven's economy rather than conforming to worldly norms. Today, let's explore the idea of investing God's way as a crucial aspect of managing money. The Bible talks a lot about stewardship and the parable in Matthew 25:14-30 explains this perfectly. In the parable, the first two servants wisely invest the talents they receive, earning praise from their master upon his return. However, the third servant, out of fear, buries his talent and faces admonishment. His master scolds the servant for not at least depositing the money with the bankers, which would have earned some interest. The unfaithful servant is called wicked and lazy, and his talent is taken away and given to the servant with ten talents. This passage confirms that we should be investing our money and making our money work for us. If we are not doing that, then we are wicked and lazy. To make this easy on everyone, look at it as this, everything on this earth belongs to God including the money we receive, we are called to be stewards of it. Unlike the world's mindset that views money as entirely ours to do with as we please, a godly perspective involves putting money to work for us.
Proverbs 21:20 (NIV) The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
Investing is not just an option; it is an expectation. The various avenues for investment, such as IRAs, Roth accounts, stocks, bonds, CDs, money market accounts, and real estate (which is my favorite), provide opportunities for our money to work diligently on our behalf. Establishing multiple streams of income is essential. One source of income is not good enough especially these days with inflation soaring through the roof. You might be thinking, "I don't make enough money to invest." The truth is, if you want to invest, you can find a way. Consider finding additional sources of income, even if it means taking on a part-time job.
Reflecting on a personal experience, my father advised me to start investing in a Roth IRA when I was 25 years old. He set up the account, initiated it with $500, and encouraged me to contribute at least $100 per month for retirement. My exact, thought was… Retirement?? I’m 25 years old, why would I be saving for retirement? At the time, retirement seemed like a distant concept for a 25-year-old. Fast forward to today—I'm 48, years away from retirement, and I wish I had heeded to my father's wisdom. That account started with a modest investment, and could now be worth close to a million dollars due to compound interest! This makes me want to cry! But when we are young and make just enough money to survive we feel like we can’t afford to invest but we can’t afford not to invest! No matter how much money we make we can afford something, even if it’s $25.00 a month, there is usually something that can be sacrificed to make this happen.
Proverbs 13:11 (NIV) Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
The lesson here is clear: No matter our age or income level, we can afford to invest. Even if it's a small amount, such as $25 per month, there's usually something we can sacrifice to make it happen—whether it's cutting back on dining out, bringing lunches to work, or reducing the number of times fingernails and toes get done per month. Investing God's way involves recognizing God's ownership, embracing stewardship, and actively putting our money to work. Let's break free from excuses, cultivate a mindset of financial responsibility, and watch as our investments grow and multiply in alignment with Heaven's economy.