DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – AN INVESTMENT STRATEGY

"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (Luke 9:23-25)

People pay great prices to gain the things of this world that seem important to them, but in the end their lives are lost or destroyed. We look around us and see it happening again and again. They sacrifice their health, their relationship, their integrity for things that will not last. The person may be outwardly successful with all the good things of life that money can offer. But they are bankrupt when it comes to things that are truly important – faith, family and a clean conscience. So what is worth gaining the whole world and losing one's soul?

But the loss goes far beyond this life. It stretches into eternity. Ignoring the things of eternal value for the pleasures of this passing world does not seem to me to be a very good long-term investment strategy. Short-term investments may have some reward, but the long-term investments are the ones that last.

That's why Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:19-21, 33). Paul echoed this thought when he said, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).

Long term investments keep your retirement goals in view. As the church sign reads, "Work for God; the retirement benefits are out of this world." Following Christ has rewards both in this world and in the next. So why would I want to invest only in this world when I can have both in Christ?

Love, Dad