Sermons on investing in the kingdom of God does not focus on the monetary aspect(money) alone, though money is very important in the work of the Kingdom, but on a total man with all the wealth God has blessed him with.
In life, everything done by man seems to center around money. Money is seen as the only legal tender for the exchange of goods and services which prompted a wide range of investment strategies by financial institutions.
Everyone is striving to get money to enjoy life on earth which involves people doing all sorts of things. In the kingdom of God, Christ taught us that in the Kingdom of God, our legal currency is LOVE.
Matthew 6:19-20 “ Lay not for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt.”
Sermon On Investing In The Kingdom Of God
Investment is defined as an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. Wikipedia defines it as the commitment of resources to achieve later benefits. English- Cambridge defines investment as something to make a profit or get an advantage.
Biblically, investment is seen as a way of multiplying the wealth God has entrusted to us not only to provide for our current and future needs but also to impact and assist others, and to further the work of God while putting on the physical body.
In the Bible, investment and creating wealth is talked about extensively. The purpose of Christ bringing the Kingdom of God to the earth is to help a man who will accept Him to be more like Him in his conduct, thoughts, feelings and actions. Christianity is a lifestyle. It is not a religion and Jesus Christ ( the word of God) is a life-giver and life-changer.
Before we look at how to invest let us look at what to invest. The kingdom of God demands the totality of man, his body, time, talent, resources and money. All these could be used to support the missionary work, to render help during natural disasters like earthquakes, and fire outbreaks, in raising Godly children and good homes, and the work of hospitality.
We can invest our time and energy by praying and interceding for gospel opportunities ( Colossians 4: 2-4) “ Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Now the question is, how do we invest our talent, time, resources and money in the kingdom of God?
God called us as stewards into His Divine Kingdom. As Stewards, we are expected to exercise our God-given dominion over His creation, reflecting the image of our creator (God) in His care, accountability, maintenance, protection and beautification of His creation.
Thus we are expected to :
Invest Faithfully
The Bible demands that one needs to be trustworthy and disciplined with whatever he/she already has ( Luke 16:10-11) “ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much”( Matthew 25:28-29; Matthew13:12; John 15:2; Luke 8:18; Mark 4:25; Matthew21:41; 1Corinthians 4:2)
Invest Generously
Reach out to the rich, the poor, and the needy with your time, money, talents, and resources without looking at them for a reward ( 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8) “ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work”
Invest Wisely
Anytime you are investing, do it as unto Christ, not following what is trending in society. Know what you are into, not to be seen and applauded by men but with Godly understanding. Seek the right counsel where necessary.
Wealth and riches are the product of wisdom and is God’s way of accomplishing things. ( Colossians 4:5), ( Proverbs 24: 3-4)” Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches”
Have a concrete plan for your investment- Decide how to use your time, money, resources per second, minute, hour, week, month, year, what to use it for and document it for proper references ( Habakkuk 2:2-3) “ And the LORD answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come it will not tarry” ( Luke 14:28-30; Proverbs 21:5-6)
Invest Diligently
Follow your plans diligently. Take time to look back at your plan and if changes need to be carried out make sure it aligns with your goal. ( Proverbs 12:11; 10:4; 21:5), Proverbs 12:27 says “ The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious”
Invest Purposely and Passionately
One of the striking attributes of Jesus Christ’s ministry was that it attracted crowds ( Matthew 9:36; Matthew15:30; Luke 6:17-18; Matthew 13:34; Mark10:1; Mark 12:37). Jesus invested in the lives of people love, He met their needs ( provides food), and taught them in an interesting and practical way. This Christ-like ministry is still effective now.
All the believers need is to adopt this pattern (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus invited us to be a part of bringing people to God’s eternal family. This is an investment.
Invest With Love
Sow The Right Seed
Invest In The Right Season
Invest in the Right foundation
Paul tells us that the key to building something that last is to build it on the right foundation ( 1Corinth 3:10-11) “ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
Invest In a Good Ground
Let your work become breeding ground for the work of the Kingdom. God keep you there to showcase His glory, make it a good ground for the word of God to flourish through your lifestyle, words and actions, observe God’s boundaries and reverence it (Matthew 13:44) “ Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field”
Invest Graciously
What we say about Christ and Christianity should be appetizing to the hearers (Colossians 4:6) “ Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”
Invest patiently- learning to be patient is a good way of being diligent, building a lasting wealth takes time. ( Proverbs 20:4; Ecclesiastes 11:4), ( Proverbs 13:11) “ Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall increase” KJV.
Invest thankfully- Worshipping God is an attitude not a location. Every aspect of our life is important before God and His Kingdom. When we worship, we are expressing our love to God for who He is, what he has said, and what He is doing.
A life of gratitude is an investment. How we value God’s word, how we respond to it and how we follow the biblical principle of investing our life to God can encourage, strengthen as well as change everything around us (John4:23-24)
Importance Of Investing In The Kingdom Of God
Investing is about being a good steward or manager of the blessing God has given to man and it carries its own reward (Ecclesiastes11:1-2) Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth”
- You will receive an inheritance
Christ is not a taskmaster, when you invest in the gospel of the Kingdom, you are bound to enjoy God’s inheritance of favor and honor ( Psalms 47:4) “ He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved” KJV ( Acts 20:32; 26:18; Colossians1:12).
- You will enjoy God’s blessing here on earth even eternal life.
(Luke 18:29-30) And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the Kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting” KJV
- You will know no scarcity but will enjoy abundance
( 1 Kings 17:8-16) And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise get thee to Zerephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee; And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruise of oil fall, according to the word of the Lord which He spake b Elijah” (Job 36:11)
- God will fight every spiritual battle for you
- You will enjoy the covenant right of prosperity
( Psalms 112:1,3), ( 3 John 1:2) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” Kingdom investment brings about eternal reward ( treasure never lose value and can never be destroyed). It pays through all eternity.
- Investing honors God and serves others
God is limitless in all His ways. He is creative and abundance in resources. We were created in His image, thus the same potential to make wealth ( Deuteronomy 8:18)” But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish His covenant which He sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day”
- Giving increases our faith
It is clearly a matter of trust. (Luke 6:38) (Malachi 3:10) “ Bring all your tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”.
Investing in the Kingdom of God acknowledges that God owns everything we have. God keeps to His promises of abundance, He is not a man to lie (Psalm 24:1) “ The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein”
CONCLUSION
Investing in the Kingdom of God does not focus on the monetary aspect(money) alone, though money is very important in the work of the Kingdom, but on a total man with all the wealth God has blessed him with.
Meeting human needs, irrespective of what they are is being the doer of the word (James 2:15-16) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth profit”
