To Spend or TO Invest
Opening Hymn Scripture Reading : Matt 6:33
Closing Hymn
The Elusive
The rich man in his castle
The poor man at his gate
They all wanted one thing
But for them, it was far too late
The Lawyer in his chambers
The Maiden in her room
Both sought the same gift each time
But alas it was nigh pass noon.
The prime minister in his parliament
The pauper in her home
Thought forever they could keep it
But in an instance, it was gone!
Time is not like money,
Which can be stored each day.
As it comes to you, my friend
Use it right away!!
By Sylvester Fergusson
Have you ever been to the sea and watch sailing boats as their glide over the water. I remember watching such sailing boats at Brandon’s Beach and wondering how come each boat could go in a different direction. After all the wind was only blowing in one. It was only after some years that I realized that it was all in the set of the sail. Those who were able to set the sail appropriately got the most out of the prevailing wind and it took them furthest. The set of the sail can also cause you to go way off the course and it takes much time to return.
So it is with us. The wind of time is constantly blowing. The way we set our sails will determine what use we make of these winds, where we are going, how fast we get there and our final destination.
So often I have heard the saying “Time is money.” This proverb has been heard so often that it is probably ingrained in each of our psyche as a truism. I had unconsciously believed it until I came into the house of the LORD. There is something about knowing God that gives you a fresh perspective on time. When I examined this phrase I realized that it was really saying - the ultimate goal of time is to gain money. Thus a monetary value is placed on time. Have you ever wondered why one may pay $80 to a doctor for 15 minutes attention while a maid gets $20 for the whole day? In fact there is a system in place where the time of each profession is valued. Time is the foundation for all that we do. This is the set of the world’s sails and it can only lead to destruction.
It is a mistake to seek to value time using money and place the value of one man’s time above another. A millionaire on his dying bed can no more buy an ounce of time than a pauper on his own. Each man’s time would have run out and off he must go.
Time is man’s greatest asset and the true currency of life. How you use it will determine your destiny: You can spend it or you can invest it.
Moses of old came to this realization and made a decision that would change the course of history: God was looking for a man, a man who would invest his time in God’s work. God found that man in Moses. Thus Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us:
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
The scripture says that Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh. There comes a point in each of our lives when we must make a decision whether we will spend our time or invest it. What will we be pursuing in the years ahead? What will be our goals and what do we want to achieve in life?
Moses had his options. He had come to a decision making age; A time when he was in charge of his destiny. What road will he take? His mother had taught him well about the history of the Hebrew slaves and the promise of deliverance that God had given them. Moses could see that the years of deliverance was nigh because four hundred years of slavery were almost upon them.
On the other hand the house of Pharaoh had also trained him well. He was versed in the history of the Egyptians and had knowledge of their science and technology. He was a prince and was trained as a prince, in the house of Pharaoh. He had a tremendous future under ahead. There was much that he could accomplish and acquire. He could certainly live a life of comfort. He could have at his disposal the latest technology that money could afford, but he chose rather to suffer affliction with the children of God. Moses chose to invest his time rather spend it. For over 40 years Moses toiled on God’s behalf, never complaining always faithful. (Num. 12:7) He proved true the saying by Wendell Phillips when he said:
What imprudent men the benefactors of the race have been! How prudently most men sink into nameless graves, while now and then a few forget themselves into immortality.”
Brothers and sisters t we achieve success not by remembering ourselves, but by forgetting ourselves in devotion to things larger than ourselves2
Moses understood that the spending of ones time bought no returns . You only obtain what you have spent it on and this deteriorates with the passing of time. But if you invest your time, you obtain it back with interest. There is only one person who offers time shares that is God. He has promised that if we invest our time with him here on earth he will give us an eternity of time in the earth made new. Matt. 10: 39 Jesus promised
39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
And again in Matt. 16:24-26
24…, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Which of us has given up as much as Moses ? Which of us has moved from enjoying the luxuries of a Cruise Liner to suffer in the doldrums of a fishing boat? Moses adjusted his sail to go in the direction God wanted him to go! We must do the same.
Too often when we are asked to give up little small luxuries we find it ever so difficult, we want to cling unto to those things which bring us worldly pleasure and satisfaction but makes no contribution to the furtherance of God’s work. God wants us to rearrange our priorities. Place his goals first!! Just like Moses! Readjust your sails!!
When God says – Go to the hospital and visit James and you decide to go into town to purchase some item you wanted so badly;
You are not investing time you are spending it.
God is not top priority, you are.
You are not fulfilling God’s desires, you are fulfilling yours!
When God says listen to this person because they need someone to hear them, but you figure I have no time for this I have something to do that I want to finish:
You are not investing time you are spending it.
God is not top priority, you are.
You are not fulfilling God’s desires, you are fulfilling yours!
You are not in
When God is impressing on your heart to give an offering or a gift but you decide to purchase that item you had always wanted
you are not investing time you are spending it.
God is not top priority, you are.
You are not fulfilling God’s desires, you are fulfilling yours!
God may not have called you to invest all twenty four hours in one task as he may have called Moses but he certainly calls you to invest time.
You invest time when you use it to study the Word of God
You invest time when you use it to fellowship with other believers in praise and worship
You invest time when you use it to further the kingdom of God by witnessing, or supporting the missionary work with your finances
You invest time when you use it to help your neighbour, friend or anyone in need.
You invest time my friends when you stand up for what is right and glorify your God in the eyes of men.
There are many ways, God calls on us to invest our time, but it is up to us, whether we invest or not!
In 1928 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, The greatest wheat speculator, The president of the New York Stock Exchange, A member of the President’s Cabinet, The greatest "bear" in Wall Street, The president of the Bank of International Settlements, The head of the world’s greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples. Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to these men:
The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died broke.
The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent.
The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison.
The member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home.
The greatest "bear" in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide.
The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide.
The head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide.
All of these men had learned how to invest money, but not one of them had learned how to invest time. The set of their sail was wrong.
Paul in the summation of his life declares in Phil.3: 7,8
7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul placed his relationship with Jesus Christ as top priority in his life. He was prepared to make whatever sacrifices were necessary to insure that this relationship remained in good standing order. He was prepared to invest the time required to develop a long lasting relationship. Paul recognised as Moses did that the things of this world would last but with time become rusty and old. It makes one wonder how much time did I spend to acquire this?
Too often in our early years time is wasted on things of little significance then we look and search for time to spend on weightier matters, but time marches on. We sailed withour sails set in the wrong direction and we have gone far off-course. It takes time to get back on course. We become like the song writer Halph Hodgson who wrote:
“Time you old gypsy man,
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
Just for one day?
All things I’ll give you
Will you be my guest,
Bells for your jennet
Of silver the best,
Goldsmiths shall beat you
A golden ring.
Peacocks shall bow to
Little boys sing,
Oh, and sweet girls will
Festoon you with May.
Time you old gypsy,
Why hasten away?”
by Halph Hodgson
Brothers and sisters in any one moment you can only do one thing. The competition for your time is tremendous. There must be an underlying philosophy which dictates what will take priority in your life. What is that philosophy? I would like to suggest to you that “God First and any thing after” should be our philosophy!
Jesus gives us an example in the Gospel Luke 2:46-49; where did Mary and Joseph find him when he was missing?
46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
They found him in the temple. He was not out playing with the boys or arguing about cricket game, not that this is wrong, but his main interest was to know more about God and to speak about him. Jesus invested time with God on a daily basis and so ought we.
A story is told of a teacher who asked a class of students, ‘What would you wish for if you had one wish?”
One enthusiastic student shouted out, “Mama, I would wish for a big house for my family and myself.”
Another student proudly stood up and said, “I would wish for lots of land, to plant an orchard and export fruits.”
A third student, unable to contain himself declared, ‘Sir, give me the latest automobile.”
Then a young chap stood up, as if possess with all the wisdom of Solomon and said, “Sir, I would ask for a million, million dollars or more. You see, with that I could buy the house the orchard and the latest automobile!”
The teacher then called upon a shy student, sitting quietly in the back, trying to avoid attention and asked, “And what would you wish for?”
The shy student stood up timidly and whispered, “Sir, I would ask for an eternity of time, for with that I could make the money, to buy the house, the land, and the automobile and live long enough to enjoy them!” Young Chad had a bad case of sickle cell. He knew he had limited time. He knew the true value of time.
Chad wished for an eternity of time but we do not have to wish, God has promised us an eternity of time. All we have to do is invest our time now with him. Fortunately for us he never goes bankrupt and we can be sure of good returns for the time we invest.
Are you going to spend or invest your time? I say to check the setting of your sail and readjust it. Invest your time with Christ today.
