What do you want to invest in this upcoming year?
What kind of investments will you make?
Let’s think about investments this morning
-but not necessarily financial investments
-the investment of your life - your year
-though, finances may figure high in what you want/need to do this year
You know, the years are slipping away
-if you’re young & in school - or just out of school
-you may not feel it yet
-you’re more in the, “I can’t wait to get done” stage
-but the years go by
-& we have only so many years to invest our lives
-I remember one New Year’s Eve - my brother & I were home
-I think with a babysitter
-& my brother & I got to wondering:
“Do you suppose we’ll be alive when it’s 2000 - the new century?”
-we did some math - it was the early 1960s
-we figured, we’d be in our 40s - & we figured,
“We might be able to live that long!”
-either way, it seemed like it was a long time off - & now it’s 2010
The years go by - praise the Lord for eternity!
So, we want to make the most of our years
-& we have most of 2010 before us
Psalm 90:9-12
All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 The length of our days is seventy years —
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
What are you going to do this year?
How are you going to, with a heart of wisdom, invest this year for eternity?
In these difficult economic times - high unemployment, low real-estate values
-poor returns on investments
-we can easily worry about money - & we need to think about money
-but it’s not really about money - mostly
-look what Jesus once said, as we try to number our days aright
-to gain a heart of wisdom
Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
It’s nice to have enough money - certainly
-& let’s try to get the best jobs we can - have the best businesses
-make the best financial investments that we can
-the point is not, that it’s wrong to have a business
-or to expand your business & be successful
-but money, & financial success can’t be what you build your life on
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Riches of this world are uncertain - you can’t trust them
-we need to be “rich toward God” - we need to invest in heaven & eternity
-& we need to have a plan for numbering these days of 2010
-so we can live wisely & in a way that it matters for eternity
-so, that we can live for & build the kingdom of God
Luke 12:22-34
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
For the most part, people need to serve the country, or “kingdom,”
-in which they live
-sometimes, people can emigrate to another & a lot want to come to the U.S.
-a lot of people even sneak in illegally
-because they really want to be in America
-but, we’re far from a perfect country
-but, here too, we pay a lot of taxes
-& I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse
-& when you think about it - many times, we’re paying for things
-that we don’t want to pay for what our government does
-& a lot of money, goes to waste by our government
-so, think about how privileged you are to be in God’s kingdom
-it’s good to concentrate on God’s kingdom
-may our heart be in building up God’s kingdom
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
How will you invest this year - so that you will be rich toward God? (v.21)
What plans are you making for your eternal savings account in heaven?
What will make you rich toward God?
How do you add to your heavenly bank account?
In the brief example that’s given here - plain & simple - it’s serving people
v.33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
-that’s how you pay taxes in God’s kingdom
-broadly summarized - it’s love - or service to others
vv.35-37
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.”
We should think here this a.m. - about how we’re going to serve God this year
Maybe for this week - in our home groups, or youth groups
-it might be worth a good discussion
-in our individual prayers - in our time by ourselves
-let’s contemplate & seek the Lord’s will
-& plans for our lives
-numbering our days aright - to gain wisdom
“How will I serve the Lord this year?”
Or, in the days ahead - take a month at a time if you will
-or a semester if you’re in school
-some time frame that has to do with this year & ask:
“How will I serve God - for His Kingdom?”
Serving God is the investment for eternity - it’s truly putting “money”
-into your heavenly bank account
1 Peter 4:7-10
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Now, if this is your church - this is the most important place to start
-in regard to serving the Lord
So, I ask the question of us & I ask this question of myself:
“In what role or roles, am I serving in this church?”
“What way am I going to serve the Lord here at the RCBC in 2010?”
And, let’s take this even a step further - for a better investment:
“In what way am I serving, such that,
-I’m preparing someone else to serve?”
-time is limited - right?
-Jesus used only three years - as far as we know - to build His Church
-He very effectively served - but while He served - He developed servants
-Jesus was a disciple maker - a servant maker
-for just three years - He used His time well!
-the best eternal investment that we can make
-is not just serving the Lord - as good as that is
-it’s serving & while we’re serving - it’s helping others to serve
-as we say here - it’s about being a disciple & making disciples
Here’s the meat - here’s the formula - to wise eternal investing:
-first, you need to find a ministry in this church - or even create a ministry
-where you are actively loving people by serving people - & therefore God
-but while you are serving the Lord - after maybe a time, you’re finding others
-to serve along side of you - partners in the ministry
-you are helping others become involved in the workings of the church for God
-you are investing not only in a service ministry - but a servant doing ministry
So, maybe you’ve been faithfully working for the Lord in this church for years
-now, it’s time for you to search through this family of God & pray
-for someone to help you - ask, encourage someone to help you
-for someone who will become your partner
-who can also serve with you
-& maybe, hopefully, that same person can sometime soon, serve
-by him/herself
-& that same person can then find someone to partner with them
-& so on - & so the church grows - & so, we invest for eternity
-in finding a partner in the ministry - you can even prayerfully find someone
-who isn’t even yet a part of this family of God in this church
-for someone you’ll maybe even bring to Christ in faith
-& help that same person to grow in his/her faith
-& then in a time, that same person is serving the Lord in some way
-that’s called - a long term investment
-but of course, in all this - you need to be serving the Lord yourself
How do you get started?
Let’s say, you now consider yourself an attender of this church
-you’re ready to get involved & serve the Lord
-which I highly recommend you do
-which the Lord wants you to do
-God has uniquely gifted you to serve in a church
-& you will be rewarded by the Lord for your service for Him
-there’s a place for you to serve here
-look around at what’s being done
-find something that you might be able to do
-& simply talk to someone who’s already doing it & ask,
“Can I partner with you? Can I join you?”
-it may not work for everything - but if you keep at it you’ll find a place
AWANA clubs, on Wed. has a tremendous need & room
-for people to serve
Nursery - is a great place to serve
Sunday School, MOPS, Youth Groups, Music ministry
Computer & Sound booth ministry
Home Group ministry
Seasonal ministry like VBS
Mission projects - service ministries to people
And, maybe there’s something that you’d like to do that hasn’t been done
-or, it’s something that use to be done
-maybe someone would like to resurrect the Wild Game Banquet
-or something new, like go around in the community
-let’s say once a month with a team of people
-fixing things, or building things, or doing labor for people
-who can’t or need the help - like we did for the teen mission
The next step, is to progress toward church membership
-soon there will be a SS class for preparing those
-who want to get more involved to become members
-becoming a church member helps everyone go through a process
-to learn more about our church
-& to create a system of accountability
-& to help you learn how you can fit in
In this context, let me add
-when we’re serving in the church - we need to be extra careful
-that we’re living for the Lord out in the world as well as in the church
-it’s counter productive when someone is doing church things in the church
-but ungodly things outside the church
-that makes God mad & we need to guard against that
-holding each other accountable in this regard
-serving the Lord & living for the Lord go together
-like numbers in arithmetic
-or, let’s say, honesty in a relationship
-the relationship breaks down without honesty
-& essentially, if you’re not living a godly life
-you’re relationship of serving the Lord breaks down
-you’re not being honest - you’re a fake - a lie - a hypocrite
Let’s make 2010 a great year of investments for the Lord - for heaven & eternity
It would be a terrible shame to become all rich in this world
-but remain poor toward God
-a lot of people have learned that this world’s investments can’t be relied on
-riches in this world are so, “Uncertain!”
-even if you can become rich in this world - more important
-is being rich toward God
What’s it going to take to invest in heaven?
Service
And, developing servants
How will you serve this year & who will you help serve?
I’d like us to really focus this year - on expanding our spiritual investments
-to where we’re really dedicated on helping others in serving the Lord
-in reproducing servers
-maybe, you’re not to the point where you can think of helping others serve
-because you need to find a place of service first
-that’s where you should start
-those of you who have been serving in this church
-hey, let’s all focus more this year
-prayerfully, searching & seeking to find others that we’ll help get started
-on investing for eternity
-& maybe, we should also be looking outside,
-for people not yet coming to this church or any church
-prayerfully, seeking to help them travel the wonderful road & journey
-of God’s will
-which brings them to the fulfilling life of service
This is the best investment we can make - making disciples
-who are disciple makers
Romans 12:9-11
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
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