October 21, 2001
What does it take to make a good investment? Inside information aside, the more conservative advisor might say, "Get started, work hard at it, and avoid chasing rabbits." That¡¦s good advice.
An immigrant came to this country with little more than the clothes on his back. Using the above formula he built a thriving business selling vegetables and fruits from a street cart. Expanding, he built a sizable empire, raising his young family in comfort.
One of the sons graduated from college with a degree in accounting. He wanted to enter the family business and help Dad. When he arrived for his first day on the job, he asked to see the inventory sheets and the account books. "Don¡¦t got ¡¦em," said Dad. "Where are they?" countered Junior. "They ain¡¦t." "You mean you don¡¦t keep an inventory or accounting records?" asked the incredulously shocked graduate. "Nope."
"Then how do you keep track of your stock and raw materials? How do you know where you stand? What is your profit and loss picture?" asked the son.
"Son," answered the father, "You want to know how I do accounting? When I arrived here by boat I only owned the pants I was wearing. I have managed to buy and pay for a six-bedroom house, with a car in each of three garages, feed, clothe and send you and your brothers and sister to the finest schools, build a nestegg of three hundred thousand bucks in the bank.
I guess my method of accounting is to add all that up, subtract your foolish questions, and the pants I started with, and the rest is pure profit!"
The apostle Paul knew a good deal, and he knew his job was to convey that good "eternal" investment to the community at Thessalonica.
In writing to these people he loved Paul reminded them of three areas of eternal investment that were effectively working in their lives:
Investment #1 Salvation
AND WE ALSO THANK GOD CONTINUALLY BECAUSE, WHEN YOU RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH YOU HEARD FROM US, YOU ACCEPTED IT NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT ACTUALLY IS, THE WORD OF GOD, WHICH IS AT WORK IN YOU WHO BELIEVE." [NIV](2.13)
YOU MUST START SOMEWHERE
Paul had come to Europe to bring the gospel message of Jesus. He shared with people this good news that Christ had died for our sins, and He wasn¡¦t the God of the dead, but had risen again, and was victorious over the grave.
And we can be forgiven. These people had heard this news, and RECEIVED it. To receive carries the meaning of "taking up with the hand." If you want to receive the salvation God offers, you simply take the gift as it is offered. How do you do that?
A LEAP OF FAITH
Those who "believe" are those who:
...in their hearts, have seen the difference between good and evil.
...they have also recognized that although they would rather choose good in all circumstances, there are times they choose to do wrong. That is the sin nature.
...the leap of faith is taking Jesus at His word; that, confessing this sin, and asking Christ to forgive and save, He will! And He does!
ONCE STARTED THERE¡¦S NO STOPPING
When God makes a promise He keeps it. The Thessalonian believers had accepted what Paul had preached as the Word of God. They had received it by faith, confessing their sin, and been saved. Paul now wrote to them and said, "That word is still working in you."
Paul knew, and so did the church, of changed lives. Christ was effectively changing lives in that fellowship, and good things were being done because of the change.
How does He do that in my life and yours? I¡¦m not certain...but He does. Jesus knows just what is needed in my life, and by His word He is changing me, and circumstances to make me what I really need to be.
A small factory had to shut-down because one of the vital pieces of machinery broke. The company mechanic couldn¡¦t get it running, so they called an expert. The man looked over the machine for a few minutes and took a hammer and tapped it, and it began running as it should.
He submitted a bill for $1,500, and the owner hit the roof. "Five minutes work for that much?" he bellowed. He demanded an itemized bill, which he got; it read:
FOR TAPPING MACHINE --------------$ 10.
FOR KNOWING WHERE TO TAP --------- 1,490.
When it comes to the "human machine" Jesus knows what needs to be tapped. The best eternal investment you could make today (if you haven¡¦t already) is to be saved.
You should start investing eternally somewhere. Start by accepting God¡¦s free offer of salvation.
Investment #2 Suffering 2.14-18
For you, brothers, became imitators of God¡¦s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus; you suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.
They displease god and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of god has come upon them at last. But brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you - certainly I, Paul, did, again and again - but Satan stopped us.
PAUL SUFFERED
Perhaps the least popular concept in Christianity is that suffering is actually a part of God¡¦s plan.
Those who preach a wealth and health kind of gospel skip over the reality that suffering is part of life, and it isn¡¦t always God¡¦s will that we be spared.
If that were so, I know of twelve early followers of Jesus that must¡¦ve REALLY messed up, because they all were persecuted and 11 of them paid the ultimate price with a violent martyrdom.
WE WILL SUFFER TOO
Christian commitment will inevitably lead to suffering. Paul wanted so much to go back to visit and minister to the folks at Thessalonica. But Satan managed to set up roadblocks at every turn. It was agony to Paul to "fail" at this point, but he saw what we must see about the eternal investment of suffering....
IT ISN¡¦T WASTED
Since suffering is a reality, and it is sometimes a part of God¡¦s plan for your life and mine, then it must also have a purpose.
When Christ died for us, He suffered on the cross. It was an atoning for OUR SINS. He suffered for us. That is called vicarious suffering. Jesus felt the pain, we receive the gain.
In some way we can be that for others. G. Campbell Morgan was a pastor in London who went through a painful illness, and became quite depressed. He went to see his friend, Joseph Parker at the famous "City Temple" to get some advice. Parker told him, Never mind the suffering son, your people will get the benefit.
What he meant was that God will turn the suffering into salvation somewhere along the line.
„Y Mothers suffer vicariously in childbirth. She hurts, a child lives.
„Y Soldiers suffer for their countries. They die, we live.
„Y When you give your time and effort, and very soul to serve, someone will benefit.
There¡¦s no such thing as crop failure in God¡¦s vineyard. Even a cup of cold water, given in His name will be seen.
Eternal investments: Salvation, Suffering, and¡K
Investment #3 Substance 2.19, 20
FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE, OUR JOY, OR THE CROWN IN WHICH WE WILL GLORY IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD JESUS WHEN HE COMES? IS IT NOT YOU? INDEED, YOU ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY
PAUL HOPED
When the Bible says "hope," the Bible is saying "expect." It isn¡¦t a kind of wishful thinking. This word means I have a firmly fixed event coming to me in the future. Paul was convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that the substance of his life was invested eternally in a firm foundation.
WELL-PLACED HOPE
What was it that Paul had invested in?
„Y Was it securities?
„Y Government bonds?
„Y Pork futures?
Paul had invested his life, his strength, and his all in people. This was no slick-talking, razor-cut evangelist in a white suit, signing people up on his mailing list.
Paul pointed to the fact that it was THEIR FAITH, their love for Jesus that was his crown. All the eternal returns and reward Paul expected or wanted was to see those who he had seen converted under his ministry learn to throw their all into serving Jesus too. This was substance. This was investing for real! This was laying-up treasures in heaven.
HOPE REWARDED
Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
You can invest in a lot of things - a job, home, and bank. You can also invest in what God did - people.
How much touch do you have investing your life in other people?
„Y If you invest in earthly things, earthly rewards follow.
„Y If you are heavily-heaven minded, and invest in souls that will live forever, the crown of glory is laid up yonder.
True hope - substance - will ALWAYS be rewarded in kind.
In 1626, Peter Minuit, the director-general of Dutch West India Company¡¦s settlement in North America, made what he thought was a pretty good deal. He bought Manhattan Island from the Indians for $24.
Unfortunately, headquarters didn¡¦t agree with him. They fined him that amount for being "extravagant" with company money. Today you couldn¡¦t buy a square inch of Manhattan for that amount.
What kind of choices are you making? The words, works, wisdom of men will lead you away from eternal investments. The Word of God will lead you to it!
Who here, today, is willing to make eternal investments? You begin by following the Lord Jesus Christ?
Who is willing to begin?
