Investment

Investment

• putting money into something with the expectation of gain, usually over a longer term.
• all investments involve some sort of risks
• "An asset or an item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future. In an economic sense, an investment is the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth. In finance, an investment is a monetary asset purchased with the idea that the asset will provide income in the future or will appreciate and be sold at a higher price." (Investopedia)
• The result of forgoing consumption - using one's resources (time, talent, treasures) for others' good and gain

Golden Rules of Investment

1. Know your worth

a. John 15:5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

b. Romans 12:3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

c. Matthew 6:25-27 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

2. Don't invest in a product you don't really understand - Count the cost

a. Luke 14:27-28a "And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don't begin until you count the cost."

b. Costs/benefits analysis - count the cost, time/treasures/talent spent immediate vs. long-term (ie - college, stocks, real estate, business, etc.) - what will the Kingdom cost you? What will you gain?

3. Diversify (risky and secure)

a. Ecclesiastes 5:13-15 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children. We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us.

b. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, 6 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another-or maybe both.

c. Investing in the Kingdom - other people (risky investments) -but- how you treat others is as unto Him; the returns on time spent investing in people may not be quantified in our lifetimes, but we will reap a great reward

4. Do not invest and forget - become a follower of Christ, eyes on the Kingdom

a. Matthew 13:3-9,18-23 Parable of the soils

b. James 1:22-25 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

5. Learn to cut your losses - sin so easily entangles, concerns of this world

a. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

6. Weather the ups and downs - press on toward the goal, live or die "win/win" proposition

a. Philippians 3:12-14 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

b. Philippians 4:11b-13 I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

c. Philippians 1:20b-24 I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

7. Recognize Whose resources you have been entrusted with

a. Understand that all that you have (time, talents, treasures) come from Him; He has entrusted them to you to invest and to produce a return

b. Mindsets - lack of faith, pride

c. Luke 12:16-21 Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!" But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

d. Resources are not given to be hoarded to ourselves, but to be used wisely for the advancement of the Kingdom. What is the Kingdom? Becoming a follower of Christ, sharing good news of Christ with others, serving them in love, so that they too will become followers of Christ; a lifetime role, not one-time

e. Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Three Servants

f. Matthew 13:44-46 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!"

Application: What has God given you to invest?