INVESTMENT 2

12 HE said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.
13 BEFORE he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them TEN POUNDS OF SILVER, saying, ‘INVEST THIS FOR ME WHILE I AM GONE.’
14 BUT his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
15 “AFTER he was crowned king, he returned and called in the SERVANTS to whom he had GIVEN the MONEY. HE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR PROFITS WERE.
16 THE first servant reported, ‘Master, I INVESTED YOUR MONEY AND MADE TEN TIMES THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT!’
17 “‘WELL DONE!’ the king exclaimed. ‘YOU ARE A GOOD SERVANT. You have been FAITHFUL with the LITTLE I entrusted to you, so you will be GOVERNOR of TEN cities as your REWARD.’
18 “THE next servant reported, ‘Master, I INVESTED YOUR MONEY AND MADE FIVE TIMES THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT.’
19 “‘WELL done!’ the king said. ‘You will be GOVERNOR over FIVE cities.’
20 “BUT the third servant brought back only the ORIGINAL amount of MONEY and said, ‘Master, I HID your MONEY and kept it SAFE.
21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, TAKING what isn’t yours and HARVESTING crops you didn’t plant.’
22 “‘YOU wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant,
23 WHY didn’t you DEPOSIT my MONEY in the BANK? AT LEAST I COULD HAVE GOTTEN SOME INTEREST ON IT.'
24 “THEN, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the MONEY from this servant, and GIVE it to the one who has TEN POUNDS.’ ”
Luke 19:12-24 (NLT)

• A wise farmer would retain some seeds for replanting, not only hold back some for replanting, but he also would sort out the best seeds to be sure of a greater Harvest in the next planting season.

• By so doing, he exercises self discipline to achieve greater prosperity.
• God is not against prosperity! One of the ways God blesses those who are loyal to Him, love Him dearly, and obey His instructions is, the Blessing or multiplying of whatever they are doing—material blessings:
  "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO throughout the whole EARTH, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM. In this you have done foolishly...." (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV).

1 THEN Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.
2 ABRAM WAS VERY RICH IN LIVESTOCK, IN SILVER, AND IN GOLD."
Genesis 13:1,2 (NKJV)

• If investment and financial Blessings are prohibited, why would Jesus use it as an example and reward for the most diligent Servants in His parable (Matthew 25:14-30).
• Investment is another part of A stewardship, though not more important than Giving.

• Factors for Investments.

• What propels God to reveal or show the secret of profit making, or investments, to a Believer:
  (i) Good Attitudes. If a Christian wants God to entrust greater riches to him or her, such must be found faithful in smaller amounts committed to their hands (Luke 16:10,11).
  (ii) To protect against greed and pride, because wealth comes with greed and pride, the best weapon is, having a specific plan for returning the excess to God's Kingdom—sowing it to God's work.
  (iii) The danger of greed and self indulgence is drastically reduced, once a commitment has been made to a disciplined lifestyle—regardless of the raise or the available income (I Timothy 6:6).
  (iv) There should be a plan to dispose the profit, which is important as the plan to invest the surplus. Many Believers could not handle abundance, except only few!

• What are the legitimate reasons for Investments?
(i) To further God's work. Investments in landed properties are the ways to preserve and multiply the surplus that has been provided for a later time (Exodus 11:2,3; 35:20-24).
(ii) Family responsibility. We are to provide for those within our
households (1 Timothy 5:8).
PROVISION was never limited to the life span of a father, it extended even after his death, Thus Investment is of paramount importance to leave a legacy for succeeding descendants—generations (Proverbs 6:6-8; 13:22).

• What are the wrong reasons for Investments?
(i) Greed. It is a desire to continually having more and demanding only the best (1 Timothy 6:9). Greediness or covetousness is considered an idolatry. Having it could affect your relationship with God negatively:
"SO put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. DON'T BE GREEDY, FOR A GREEDY PERSON IS AN IDOLATER, WORSHIPING THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD" (Colossians 3:5 NLT).
(ii) Envy. It is a desire to achieve, based on observation of other people's success (Psalm 73:3).
a. When you are not comfortable with the progress of another person, It means you are envious.
b. And when you wanted to outdo others, you wanted to prove that you are Richer or more comfortable than others—you are being competitive. This also is not in line with the Word of God, and it is one of the fleshly manifestations (2 Corinthians 10:12).
(iii) Pride. This is the desire to be elevated because of material achievements (1 Timothy 6:17). You wanted people to SING your Praises because of what you are having. This also would not help your walking with God—it would affect your relationship with God negatively.
(iv) Ignorance. This is the following of, or when you begin to follow, the counsel of other misguided people, because of your lacking in discernment (Proverbs 14:7).

• The results of any of the wrong motives for Investment are; anxieties, frustrations, and deadening of spiritual values (Luke 16:13).

• Invest to serve God better.

• Once a believer has accepted the purpose of the Investments, which is to serve God better; Then the crucial decision is how much to Invest.
• The decision is based on each individual, which should be made after much prayers.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever would not glorify God, afflicting your body, is cursed and rooted up in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• As from now on, you live in divine health, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!