A Profitable Investment

I. "THEN I KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE WORD OF THE LORD. AND I BOUGHT THE FIELD OF HANAMEEL MY UNCLE'S SON, THAT WAS IN ANATHOTH, AND WEIGHED HIM THE MONEY, EVEN SEVENTEEN SHEKELS OF SILVER."

A. This is one of the most striking incidents in the life of Jeremiah:

1. The transaction of the purchase of the field by Jeremiah came at a time when things looked grim and hopeless for the prophet

2. Even Hanameel was bitterly opposed to Jeremiah because of the unfavorable message the prophet preached

B. But the purchase of the field:

1. was an expression of faith in his own preaching, that while Israel would go to Babylon for 70 years, God would return them and they would dwell in the land of their fathers

2. It was Jeremiah's faith in God's promises, even at a time when the outlook for his people and for him looked very dark

II. WE HAVE HERE, DEAR FRIENDS, THE STORY OF ACTIVE FAITH IN ALL AGES

A. Faith is an investment:

1. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" - Heb 11:1

2. Jeremiah demonstrated the truth of this text: he believed God and what he promised to Israel, and purchased the field

3. God's children weigh out the seventeen shekels of sliver amid the laughter of an unbelieving world

B. Faith accepts the cost:

1. "I weighed him the money"--says Jeremiah

2. But that was nothing compared to what life he lived, his suffering and the bitter persecution he endured

C. Heaven's Faith in you and me, dear friends, paid:

1. An infinite price for you and me--the price of the shameful cross of Calvary - I Cor 3:20

2. Because God believed in you and me, He invested all He had to purchase us and give us redemption - Eph 1:14; Ruth 4:10

D. Yes,God'sfaithinusmadethepurchase,paidthepriceforourredemption,whenthe value of our life was most unlikely:

1. Rom 7:26

2. Gal 2:20

III. WHAT A LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY!

A. Faith's investment in God's promises:

1. God told Noah that he would destroy the wicked with a flood; that he should build an ark to save himself and his family

2. The faith of Noah made the investment, built the ark - Gen 7:5; Heb 11:7

3. God called Abram out of the land of the Chaldeans to a land that His seed should possess afterward: the faith of Abraham believed God and made the investment - Gen 12:1-6; Heb 11:8,9

B. Faith in God's faithfulness knows that there is a price connected with the purchase of the heavenly treasures:

1. Our Lord stated that price on a number of occasions: Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23

2. Examples: The conversation of the rich ruler and our Lord's answer - Matt 19:16-22; Peter's statement to the Lord - Mark 10:28-30

3. The martyrs in all ages paid the price: Stephen - Acts 7; the panoramic view of the martyrs of Christ in all ages - Heb 11:28-40; Rev 7:9-17

C. A very serious question presses itself upon our own conscience:

1. Do we look upon our relationship with God and the message as a profitable investment?

2. Are we committed totally to the cause of missions -- because we believe it is worth it?

3. What about Christian education and its purchase price? Does it pay to pay the price for the education of our children in Christian schools?

4. What about foreign missions? Does it pay to give of our means to send missionaries into the dark places of the earth to save souls for whom Christ paid the supreme price?

D. What a lesson of a wise investment byJeremiah:

1. He believed God's promises and acted

2. He weighed the seventeen shekels and that sealed the purchase