This is not a lesson on wall street. There will be no links to Scott Trade. It’s not an article on why you should go to college or how to fill out a job application. This is bigger than that. This is a secret of investing that transcends every area of life. If you will hold on to this truth I’m sharing with you today it will radically change the way you approach your future.
And it comes from the word of God.
Galatians 6:7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
Simply put — You reap what you sow.
For many it sounds too elementary to have any profound impact on their life. But that’s not true. This isn’t just for Christians either. It’s like gravity. It’s a law of nature that if used wisely will benefit you greatly and if violated will make your miserable.
I want to encourage you to lean into this teaching. Apply it to your life. And realize that you have absolute control in shaping your future.
Three Truths About Investing
1. You Get Out What You Put In
A few years back I walked into a Starbucks and saw a friend who was clearly upset. I wasn’t in the mood, I had also walked in with a lot of emotions weighing me down. But I walked up to him and bluntly said, “let me get my coffee then I’ll come and talk with you.” He shared with me his burdens and I encouraged him. I told him that God had a plan. I showed him ways to pursue God’s plan better and make it through his tough time.
I walked away from Starbucks and hour later and felt like I had won the Super Bowl. All of my negative emotions were gone and I was on cloud 9. That’s when I realized that giving is the best way to position yourself for receiving.
Galatians 6:8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Holly Furtick puts it this way, “When you give what you want, you’ll get what you need.” This is a very easy principle to understand — My question for you is, what do you need?
- Do you need encouragement? Be encouraging.
- Do you need money? Be generous.
- Do you need friends? Be friendly.
- Do you need love? Be loving.
- Do you need help? Be helpful.
— It’s not that complicated.
2. You Get Out After You Put In
Many people neglect to give time, energy, and resources because they don’t have much. The truth is, you will never have enough to give, until you give.
Matthew 25:29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
I remember coming to my job one day being very tired. The kind of tired where I was very tempted to cut corners to protect my energy. However, my job was at a church and if there’s one place in the world that demands excellence, it’s the kingdom of God. So I buckled down and decided the serve the best I could. In a matter of an hour I was full of energy.
Only after you give, will you have enough to give.
— It’s not that complicated.
3. You Get Out More Than You Put In
Genesis 26:12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him.
Years ago I was in a store and there was a older less fortunate looking woman in front of me buying groceries. My heart went out to her — so I bought her groceries. It was around $25, a worthy investment for a college student with low funds. The next day a woman from my church came up to me and said, “the Lord told me to give you some money.” She handed me an envelope — it had $250 in it.
I have many stories like that, now the digits are in the thousands. By time I’m an old man I want to give away millions. Rarely do I ever give thinking what will be given back. God has taught me something greater — It’s more blessed to give than receive.
I want to encourage you not to live with a poverty mentality. You have a great future. So don’t protect your energy, give it away. Don’t protect your encouragement, give it away. Don’t protect your money, give it away. Don’t protect your wisdom, give it away.
— It’s not that complicated.
I hope this blog encouraged you! If so, feel free to share it on Facebook!
