"Secure Investments"

“Secure Investments”

 

During an interview the owner of a Major League Baseball team said, “I’m planning to write a book called How to Make a Small Fortune in Baseball. You start with a large fortune.” When asked if he had a racehorse Hall of Fame pitcher-turned-broadcaster Don Drysdale answered, “I did until I found out the slow ones eat as much as the fast ones!” So what these two sports figures thought were sound places for their money proved to be anything but.

A recurring theme in the news is that of a celebrity, athlete, prominent business mogul or lottery winner declaring bankruptcy due to poor investment strategies (or maybe mooching of family and “friends”). “Easy Street” sometimes doesn’t work out that way. I once saw a photo of a sign identifying a road as Easy Street and right behind it another declaring “Dead End”. Tragically there are instances in which this became literally true when the person committed suicide.

I’ve read stories of people (mostly men) who were so intent on getting “rich” that they lost everything, including their families in some cases. Sadly, believers in Christ aren’t immune from the trap of accumulating wealth. Jesus sounded a loud and clear warning about such misdirected priorities in what’s usually called His parable of the rich fool. The central character had more “stuff” than he knew what to do with and decided to make more room to keep it and live off it in retirement (“Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”—Luke 12:19). But apparently his plans never included God for He said, “…You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20). Jesus concluded His story with a word of caution: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for (oneself) but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21).

So how can we be sure our investments will be risk free? As He always did, Jesus has the answer: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth or rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20). All we have is from God (see Psalm 24:1 and James 1:17) and He’s entrusted it to us to be used for Him (“Honor the Lord with your wealth….”—Proverbs 3:9). So it’s only our heavenly investments that are secure. How am I doing with my “God Portfolio”?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan