Every day you are investing your life in something. Whether it's your yard, your work, your friendships or your favorite video game. You are spending the currency of time and energy all day long. It can't be saved, it is spent consistently as life moves along.
But the scary reality is that most of us give little thought to what we are spending our lives on or what we are investing them in. Wouldn't it be great if we "spent" (or even better, "invested") our lives intentionally rather than haphazardly? What could we invest our lives in that would give us the best return on investment?
Well, since we are accountable to God for how we spend our one and only life, we better be thinking about what He would like us to invest our lives in. Of course, that would mean in some way that I am to invest my life in God or in godly endeavors. Actually, Jesus invited us to invest our lives in His kingdom (Matt. 6:33). But what exactly does that mean?
I think the answer is people. I believe God has called us to invest our lives in people - it is people God loves and people Christ died for. Everything else will fade away but people are eternal.
Here are three ways I try to invest in the people God places in my life:
1. See their potential. Everyone has gifts and potential. If we are going to invest in people, we have to see what could be in and through them.
2. Time and energy. There really are no shortcuts for simply taking the time and offering the energy necessary to be with people. I believe that if we are really going to invest in people we have to think in terms of both quality and quantity time.
3. Entrusting with responsibility. Investing in people means challenging them and giving them responsibilities that they can run with. Each person needs challenges that are appropriate to where they are at and what they can handle.
Take a look at the above three ways to invest and ask yourself how you can apply those with each of the important people in your life. With your spouse, your kids, your friends, your co-workers etc.. I believe the best thing I can invest my life in is people and investing in people has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
But the scary reality is that most of us give little thought to what we are spending our lives on or what we are investing them in. Wouldn't it be great if we "spent" (or even better, "invested") our lives intentionally rather than haphazardly? What could we invest our lives in that would give us the best return on investment?
Well, since we are accountable to God for how we spend our one and only life, we better be thinking about what He would like us to invest our lives in. Of course, that would mean in some way that I am to invest my life in God or in godly endeavors. Actually, Jesus invited us to invest our lives in His kingdom (Matt. 6:33). But what exactly does that mean?
I think the answer is people. I believe God has called us to invest our lives in people - it is people God loves and people Christ died for. Everything else will fade away but people are eternal.
Here are three ways I try to invest in the people God places in my life:
1. See their potential. Everyone has gifts and potential. If we are going to invest in people, we have to see what could be in and through them.
2. Time and energy. There really are no shortcuts for simply taking the time and offering the energy necessary to be with people. I believe that if we are really going to invest in people we have to think in terms of both quality and quantity time.
3. Entrusting with responsibility. Investing in people means challenging them and giving them responsibilities that they can run with. Each person needs challenges that are appropriate to where they are at and what they can handle.
Take a look at the above three ways to invest and ask yourself how you can apply those with each of the important people in your life. With your spouse, your kids, your friends, your co-workers etc.. I believe the best thing I can invest my life in is people and investing in people has been one of the greatest joys of my life.
