Return on God's Investment in You
Return on God’s Investment in You
Sound market wisdom says when the stock market is crashing it is not time to withdraw your money. Rather, smart investors actually use the opportunity to buy more stocks that will mature in the future and yield great gains. Today, Jesus, using a parable teaches us how to make the best on Return on God’s Investment (RGI) in His word. A parable, ‘parabole’ (in Greek), means “a placing besides”. In understanding Jesus’ parables, keep in mind that, “ordinarily they had a single main point, and not every detail was meant to have significance”. Jesus usually did not interpret his parables, but in this one on RGI, he did.
Luke 8: 4-15
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
" 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'[a]
11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Here are some observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. So what is the main point? We have faith in God by hearing God’s Word which we must believe and be saved. When we understand, retain the Word and persevere through thick and thin, we produce return on God’s investment. We are not saved by perseverance but by believing in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. Perseverance is the means of producing crop for God’s glory.
2. What does Jesus mean “by persevering produce a crop? The dictionary says “persevere” means, “To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement”. Apostle Paul’s writings also point us to the necessity of perseverance in our Christian living. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”. We are to persevere with joy because it is a life-long process.
3. James points us to the same perseverance with joy in James 1: 2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Perseverance is faith in action and we are to do it with joy. Are you persevering or perspiring in the face of trials? Two different things but be encouraged.
4. Hebrew 12 says the same thing. 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
5. From the parable, many things line up to stop us from persevering in the Word of God that will produce crop – the devil, testing or hard times, worries/cares, deceitfulness of riches and pleasures. The devil will fight the Word of God we have received with the purpose of stopping our understanding. We must resist the devil by God’s Word. We must deal with worries if we are to do anything for God. Worrying bluntly says, “God, I do not trust you in this matter and I know you cannot take care of me”. Worrying is a ticket to early grave. Listen to Jesus regarding worries. “O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34). When we put God first in everything we stop worrying about anything.
Jesus is concerned about the Return on God’s Investment (RGI) in our lives. We must bear fruit that lasts forever in the lives of people around us at home, school, work or church. RGI = (W+B+F+A)P meaning believing (B)in the Word of God (W) that results in faith (F) in action (A) and multiplied by perseverance (P). Jesus means business. Listen as he concludes in Luke 8:18 ”Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." Are you producing for God through kindness, forgiveness and grace in the lives of others? Every good return on investment involves taking risk. Take a risk at someone today and love them for Christ. What is stopping you? What is God’s RGI in you? When a stock proves no return on investment for a long time, the owner cashes it and buys other stocks. May God not cash us in Jesus, name. Amen.
Sound market wisdom says when the stock market is crashing it is not time to withdraw your money. Rather, smart investors actually use the opportunity to buy more stocks that will mature in the future and yield great gains. Today, Jesus, using a parable teaches us how to make the best on Return on God’s Investment (RGI) in His word. A parable, ‘parabole’ (in Greek), means “a placing besides”. In understanding Jesus’ parables, keep in mind that, “ordinarily they had a single main point, and not every detail was meant to have significance”. Jesus usually did not interpret his parables, but in this one on RGI, he did.
Luke 8: 4-15
4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
" 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.'[a]
11"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Here are some observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. So what is the main point? We have faith in God by hearing God’s Word which we must believe and be saved. When we understand, retain the Word and persevere through thick and thin, we produce return on God’s investment. We are not saved by perseverance but by believing in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross. Perseverance is the means of producing crop for God’s glory.
2. What does Jesus mean “by persevering produce a crop? The dictionary says “persevere” means, “To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement”. Apostle Paul’s writings also point us to the necessity of perseverance in our Christian living. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us”. We are to persevere with joy because it is a life-long process.
3. James points us to the same perseverance with joy in James 1: 2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Perseverance is faith in action and we are to do it with joy. Are you persevering or perspiring in the face of trials? Two different things but be encouraged.
4. Hebrew 12 says the same thing. 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
5. From the parable, many things line up to stop us from persevering in the Word of God that will produce crop – the devil, testing or hard times, worries/cares, deceitfulness of riches and pleasures. The devil will fight the Word of God we have received with the purpose of stopping our understanding. We must resist the devil by God’s Word. We must deal with worries if we are to do anything for God. Worrying bluntly says, “God, I do not trust you in this matter and I know you cannot take care of me”. Worrying is a ticket to early grave. Listen to Jesus regarding worries. “O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34). When we put God first in everything we stop worrying about anything.
Jesus is concerned about the Return on God’s Investment (RGI) in our lives. We must bear fruit that lasts forever in the lives of people around us at home, school, work or church. RGI = (W+B+F+A)P meaning believing (B)in the Word of God (W) that results in faith (F) in action (A) and multiplied by perseverance (P). Jesus means business. Listen as he concludes in Luke 8:18 ”Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him." Are you producing for God through kindness, forgiveness and grace in the lives of others? Every good return on investment involves taking risk. Take a risk at someone today and love them for Christ. What is stopping you? What is God’s RGI in you? When a stock proves no return on investment for a long time, the owner cashes it and buys other stocks. May God not cash us in Jesus, name. Amen.
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