“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

“Do you have investments?” a businessman asked me, “and what do you invest in?” I explained that I had some rather large investments, but they were not subject to the whims of markets and a capricious economy. I told them that I had invested my life in the kingdom of God–in people around the world, which included my children and family. From the look that I got as I explained what was important in my life, I recognized that we were on different pages when it came to what we consider important.

One of my heroes is Jim Elliott, who with four companions laid down his life on a sandy landing strip by a jungle river in Ecuador. Jim, who was martyred by the Aucas in 1956, wrote these words in his diary a few weeks before he was speared to death. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”  The fact that there were firearms in the airplane which could have been used to bring down the attackers made it crystal clear: those five willingly died for the cause of Christ.

OK, you say, what’s the point?  It’s this: you are investing your life in something. What is it?  Every day you use your resources, your talents and your time for something. You’re working to make money and you invest it so you can have more money. You spend your time either working, surviving or for leisure; your talents, which are generally used for making money, can also be used to alleviate the suffering of the sick, for helping educate kids, for making a difference in your community or for touching the lives of people around the world.

Hey, you may be thinking, this is my life and I can do with it as I please.  That’s true, but one thing you are forgetting is that at the end, you will give an account to God of what you have done.

Jesus told the story of a businessman who was going on a journey.  Before he left, he turned over his property and resources to his servants. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to a third only one.  How much was a talent?  At the time, a talent represented about $1,000 USD or the equivalent of fifteen years of a working man’s wages.  That represented a lot of money.

The one who had received five talents doubled his money. The one with two gained a 100% increase, so he had four talents.  And the third? He was afraid that he might invest poorly and lose his money, so he dug a hole and buried his money.  No, he didn’t lose it, but through fear he gained nothing.

When the master returned, he commended the first two, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.”  But the third was sternly rebuked.

Here’s how this applies to you.  First, what you have is a gift from God. What you do with it is your gift back to Him.  Second, what you have is a loan which can be recalled at any time. Your life is in His hands. Don’t forget it. Third, you are to invest your resources, your talents and your time wisely for God. What you do not use, you waste. Consider investing in others–not just yourself. Fourth, someday you will be held accountable for how you have invested your time, talents, and resources.  Invest wisely, friend. God expects it of you. Your time, talents, and resources are all tangibles that can be invested in eternity.

Resource reading: Matthew 25:14-30