It’s a regular feature on the news each night – how the markets are doing. New York, Toronto, London, Hong Kong: up 2%, so many shares traded, this sector hot and that one not.
Glued to these reports are millions of investors, each wondering how their portfolio is faring. Are they making money or losing it? Able to retire younger and take that dream vacation, or forced to work a few extra years?         Investments.
        A whole world of it’s own.

        Some of you earn your living with it.
        Others dabble in it.
        And then there are those who can’t even imagine what all the fuss is about. You’re just hoping to be able to scrape together enough cash to pay the rent, get a bus pass and put food on the table. Invest for tomorrow? Hah - gotta deal with today first! Leave me out of any conversations about investing.
                Is that you?

Whatever your position, would you allow me to pass along one hot investment tip - one that depends very little on what your bank statements or visa accounts look like?
        It’s accessible to every single one of you, no matter how old or young you are, what your citizenship is, or your educational level.

Over the last number of weeks we’ve been talking about some key words around which we can organize our spiritual lives. They are central themes that the Bible presents to us as critical to our well-being.
        This week’s theme, the word to live by, is Investing.

Without any further intro, let’s listen to something that Jesus had to say on the topic: Matthew 25.14-30 p.1120

It’s a rather vague picture to say the least. Not too many specifics are nailed down. Just some broad brush strokes, meant to describe some of the broad parameters of what I’ll term "biblical investing."

We’re not told anything about the investors – nationality, age, education, previous investing experience. None of that. Just that the Master calls them. And gives each of them a handout – different amounts to different folk.
To each of them comes a loan from His rich hand to theirs, meant for use.
        No dust is to gather on this coin.

        What they do with it – well, that’s left wide open. They’re not given restrictions at the beginning. And we who listen are not told what they actually do. Just that they’re busy.
        And successful.
        Interesting note – both of the investors who took a risk, who put their resources to work, ended up with a significant return. The only one who got burned, who bungled the job, was the one who sat on his cash; did nothing with what was available to him.

The master returns and the two successful investors bring their financial statements in with some pride. They tell him what they accomplished. They feel good about it. The master also feels good about what they’ve done. They are rewarded with even bigger investment opportunities – new challenges, and new happiness as they share in the Master’s wealth.

        The sit-down artist.... well.... that’s a different story. And not a pretty one. He tries to pin the blame for his inaction on the boss: "I’ve heard the stories. You’re tough. You’d a got it anyway. You don’t really need me. At least you didn’t lose anything." And we witness the harsh reply from the Master. Given the boot. Left with nothing.

The Son of God is the Master.
We are the servants. Given resources to invest for Him somewhere, somehow. No dust is to collect on these resources. Instead, we’re given opportunities to stretch a bit, take a risk, get active for the Master. Doing it while He is away, anticipating His return and the day of accounting.

Can you see where, perhaps, you fit into this?
        Don’t lay down too many restrictions. Some used to say that to serve the Lord you had to go to seminary or become a nun or serve in overseas missions. Whatever you didn’t it couldn’t be fun...... setting down walls and erecting fences where the Bible never intends them to be.

        Can you even see that you are involved, that you do fit?
        Because you do, you know!! Somewhere, somehow, in some form God has placed into your life a resource or two or five that you are privileged to be able to invest for Him. If you’re a 13 year old student, or a 45 year old working mom, or a 72 year old retiree..... you can invest.
The Lord is expecting you to invest. He provides the investment material. And He’ll make sure that there’s a positive return at the end. All He asks is that you give it your level best.

Let me ask it again - can you see where you fit into this?
What has resources and opportunities has God injected into your life?

- Are you perhaps drawing a reasonable pension, enjoying good health, family situation stable...... rather than directing your sights on the golf course or the Florida resort as first priority recipients of this blessing, what may God be lining up for you in the volunteer sector? How can you direct this life blessing of available time to inject something good somewhere in a multiplying sort of way?
- Are you in the middle of your income-producing years, and find that you’ve been blessed with a salary that allows you to most comfortably care for the needs at home with more left over? It would be easy, incredibly easy, to find all kinds of places to spend it. But before you do, stop to ask if God may be pleased for it to be directed in a way that invests in the lives of others or the community in some multiplying, building sort of way.
- Have you got a specific talent that comes naturally to you..... in music, or sports, or being able to help people in difficult situations, or a good listener, sympathizing and understanding those who are really hurting, or able to swing a hammer, or feeling good about baking a cake or pushing a broom, or teaching a class, or writing a card, or driving, or sorting through complex problems, or managing groups of people or.....
- Are you young, and blessed with a strong body, lots of energy and optimism?

Think big picture on this one.
What comes up positive in your life?
And how can that be directed – invested – into the lives of those around you?

Other bible passages help fill in the picture a bit more:
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." [1Peter 4.10]

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
[Matthew 20.28]

"Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it." [Luke 17:33]

"Now to each one gifts of the Spirit are given for the common good."
[1 Cor 12:7]

I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
In passage after passage the Bible makes it clear that what God desires is that we take the resources of our life position, the blessings that He sends our way in this rich, peaceful and opportunity-full land of Canada –
        – take those things and channel them towards the service of others, be that other individuals or the community as a whole; be that here within the life of this church family or your neighbourhood or beyond.

Spiritual investment –
        Friends, what’s going for you in your life? Realize that it’s no fluke. It’s not something to be hoarded for personal consumption in those few moments of free time you manage to find. Nor just to be left to sit quietly on the shelf.
        God’s looking for you to take the benefits, the riches, and strong point of your life; the things learned, challenges overcome, experiences managed; skills mastered..... He’s looking for you to take them and invest them.

Invest yourself into the lives of others.
Invest yourself into the life of your community – here at church and in your neighbourhood.

You just worry about doing your best.... and the Lord will worry about the rate of return. He’ll make sure that what you do – prayerfully, willingly, sacrificially – for Him will end up making a positive difference somehow, somewhere, at some time. Perhaps you won’t be around to personally witness it. But rest assured that it’ll happen.

When you invest for the Kingdom of God, when you invest with a backing of prayer, when you invest seeking the Lord’s blessing there is no such thing as failure.

        The spiritual investors who fail are the ones who fail to invest. Remember the teaching from Jesus, the parable we read together.

        Spiritual investors who fail are also the ones who go into it asking the question, "And just what am I going to get out of the deal? What’s in it for me? After all I’ve done, don’t I deserve....."
        Nip that sort of talk in the bud.
        As soon as the thought begins to form in your mind, cut it off.
        That’s dead end thinking.
        That’s the sort of thinking that got Adam & Eve into trouble in the first place. It caused no end of misery for Israel. It forced Jesus to give royal dressing down to Mrs. Zebedee and her two sons (check out Matthew 20 for that incident).

Spiritual investment -
        When done under the guidance of Jesus, who invested himself fully, all the way to death, for our sake
        When done in prayer seeking the power of the Holy Spirit
        When done seeking the good of God the Father -
It’ll always come out positive.
                It’s not fickle like the stock market.
                No crashes or market corrections.
                No special expertise needed to figure out where the good buys are and when it’s time to cash out.

You can bank on this bible promise:
"that God who has started this great work in you will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."
[Philippians 1.6]

Spiritual investment -
        One of the places that the Master is looking for special investment is within that group of people that are devoted to Him; believers in Him, ones whom He calls "my brothers and sisters...", His family here on earth – the Church. Jesus said at one point, "I tell you the truth, whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you do for me." [Mt 25.40]
And so, as we leave summer vacation behind and head into another season of activity at home, at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, and here in at Calvin, I’d like to invite you to take a moment, right now, and look around you.

(Oh, I know. In church you're supposed to sit still. Well if you don't want to turn around and stare at the person behind you, then glance to the side or look at those in front of you..... which I guess helps everyone except those in the first row.)

I want you to focus on those people. And as you look at them I want you to repeat in your minds the words of Jesus -
        The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (v.28)

Do you see these people? Not people in some vague, general sense.
        No - THESE people.... the warm bodies here today.

        You can give glory to your God,
        you can make your life count,
        you can become a little more like Jesus
                by serving
                        THESE
                                people.

        Look at all the resources of life that our LORD has put at your disposal. What abilities do you have?
        What physical resources?
        Time.
        Money.
        These are his investment tools entrusted to you.
Who will benefit as a result of you having been blessed with them?

Maybe by reaching out and giving physical assistance.
Maybe by committing to develop a closer relationship where you can encourage that person.
Maybe by offering your services to this church community, helping it become a stronger and better place where that person you are looking at can grow in their faith.

How will it be for you?
        You know, I've heard people say to me, "But Pastor Ken, nobody asked me to do anything in the area where I feel I am gifted."
        Hmmmmmm.....
        Don't notice anything in the Bible about having to wait until the Pastor or elder asks you. YOU take the first step.

        Go ahead. Begin this week. Begin today.
        The blessings for you and the blessings for this congregation or your home congregation will far exceed even your greatest expectations!

I’d like to invite you to dedicate this coming season to the Lord.
We’re going to sing a song. Then a prayer. And another song.
 
 
 

Please stand and join me in singing:
MP3# 236 "Make Me A Servant"

Pray with me, please.
Lord God, here we are - an incredibly diverse group of people. All kinds of potential. All kinds of rich resources. None quite the same. It would be terribly tempting for us to adapt the mindset of those two brothers who wanted to sit on the glory thrones beside Jesus. It would be terribly easy for us to want to use these resources of time and talents and money for our own comfort and pleasure and benefit. But that's not really what counts with you, is it?
        Here we are, Lord. You've placed us with these people whom we are called to serve.
        How do you want us to serve them?
        What would you have ME do for these few people right close to me?

        Holy Spirit, I release my tight grip, my jealous control on your gifts to me. I give them back to you.

        Jesus, I want to serve as you served - to become a little more like you - to give glory and honour to you in this way.
        I want you to come first in my life
                in my use of gifts
                in my thoughts
                in my loves
                in ALL of life
        I want you to come first.
        I give myself completely to you.

        Holy Spirit, flood me with your power. Fill me with the love of Jesus. Grace me with your presence so that I can give honour to the Heavenly Father.

Hymn: MP3# 261 "Servant Song"