When is time to invest?  When is too early?  When is too late? 

Jesus has the answer!  (He always does!)

Luke 19, The Message

The Story About Investment

¹¹ While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God’s kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:

^12-13 “There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, ‘Operate with this until I return.’

¹⁴ “But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: ‘We don’t want this man to rule us.’

¹⁵ “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.

¹⁶ “The first said, ‘Master, I doubled your money.’

¹⁷ “He said, ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making you governor of ten towns.’

¹⁸ “The second said, ‘Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.’

¹⁹ “He said, ‘I’m putting you in charge of five towns.’

^20-21 “The next servant said, ‘Master, here’s your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don’t suffer fools gladly.’

^22-23 “He said, ‘You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly—and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’

²⁴ “Then he said to those standing there, ‘Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.’

²⁵ “They said, ‘But Master, he already has double . . .’

²⁶ “He said, ‘That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

²⁷ “‘As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don’t want to see their faces around here again.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Is this story really about investing money? 

Or is it about investing our very lives, knowing the risks will be worth it all? 

Giving only a part and hiding the rest is not a “stock option.”  Giving all or nothing is the best investment.  It is knowing that the risk of losing all we think we have and control becomes gain of all our Lord wants to provide for us. 

We learn that when the Master returns, those who oppose our Lord will be no more. Those who believe, risked all in following the Lord’s directives, will live forever with our Lord in the place He is preparing for us.  This place is beyond our wildest dreams and beyond our imaginations. This place has plenty of rooms for all who have believed. This place is the reward for investing in Jesus who is Lord of lords and King of kings.

God has a plan and purpose designed specifically for every created individual.

Jesus came down from heaven, invested His very life in each one of us by laying down his life so that we could be free from the punishment we deserve for our sins.  This “investment” cleared the path to God, removing all our sins that get in the way of fulfilling the Master’s plan through us. 

God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence in all who believe investing all His time to guide us in completing God’s plan for us which is to help others know the Master, too.  Because of the power of God in us, Jesus’ cleansing of us, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance we have a vested interest in glory!  All things are possible with God. 

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Without God, there is no reward, no interest earned, and no place in His Kingdom.

Jesus is the greatest example of investing His complete life while teaching us to invest our lives, risking all we have for all of Him. We learn from the Master Teacher, Savior and Lord of our lives that the risk lies in our determined focus of God.

Max Lucado writes:

“One of the incredible abilities of Jesus was to stay on target. His life never got off track. Not once do we find him walking down the wrong side of the fairway. He had no money, no computers, no jets, no administrative assistants, or staff; yet Jesus did what many of us fail to do. He kept his life on course.

As Jesus looked across the horizon of his future, He could see many targets. Many flags were flapping in the wind, each of which he could have pursued. He could have been a political revolutionary. He could have been a national leader. He could have been content to be a teacher and educate minds or to be a physician and heal bodies. But in the end, he chose to be a Savior and save souls.

Anyone near Christ for any length of time heard it from Jesus himself. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

The heart of Christ was relentlessly focused on one task. The day he left the carpentry shop of Nazareth he had one ultimate aim—the cross of Calvary. He was so focused that his final words were, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

How could Jesus say he was finished? There were still the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, the untaught to instruct, and the unloved to love. How could he say he was finished? Simple. He had completed his designated task. His commission was fulfilled. The painter could set aside his brush, the sculptor lay down his chisel, the writer put away his pen. The job was done.” –Max Ludado

Our response is focused faithfulness.  In the end, this parable of the servants teaches us to be faithful to use our different gifts as God gives us opportunities to serve. Some people have a great deal of ability, so God gives them greater opportunity. The important thing is not how much ability you have but how faithful and focused you are to use what you have been given to you by God. The person with the least ability, if he or she is faithful, will receive the same reward as the most gifted church leader.  Where God guides—He provides.  Do all to please our Master. 

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 ICB (International Childrens Bible)

“Our only goal is to please God. We want to please him whether we live here or there. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each one will receive what he should get—good or bad—for the things he did when he lived in the earthly body. We know what it means to fear the Lord. So we try to help people accept the truth. God knows what we really are. And I hope that in your hearts you know, too.”

Lord,

Thank you for risking your life to save mine. Thank you for investing in my life daily to guide me to be and do all you created me to accomplish according to Your plan.  Thank you for the confidence to keep going, even when I wander from your plan.  Instead of condemnation when I fail—you forgive.  You set me back in motion with power to finish.  May I never give up telling your story of the investment you made in my life.  To you be the glory. To you be all praise for all you have done, are doing and will do in me until you come back.  May I hear the words, “Well done” from you for that will be the ultimate payoff for the investment of my life given to you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

(By Howard B. Grose, pub.1902)