Make A Difference - Invest Intentionally

Monday, February 3, 2020 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’   Matthew 25:35-40

A couple of weeks ago, we had a guest speaker at our Mission Banquet, Jason Talent.  People are hungry and thirsty for something to make their lives different – better.  Continually searching for that in what the world offers leads to a dead end every time. Jason said that there will only be two things that remain in this life, the kingdom of God and the souls of people. We need to spend our lives working for something greater than ourselves - the souls of people. This week we will look at five things Jason gave us that we can do to make a difference.

Make a Difference – Invest in People Intentionally
businessdictionary.com says this about investing in people: In an investment context, one of the primary skills of successful venture capital investors involves the ability to discern how to invest in people to produce future profits. What investing in people means to such venture capitalists is identifying a talented and motivated individual or team that has the strong potential to take their company to new heights of success. Such people are generally inwardly driven to pursue excellence, and that special quality gives them a higher chance of having a positive impact on their firm's bottom line. – www.businessdictionary.com

That is pretty much the world’s view of investing in people as well - and let’s be honest – even some Christians are looking for what people can give them instead of what we can offer in Jesus Christ.  This is the exact opposite of what Jesus meant when He talked about how we should treat other Christdians and the world.  The definition above says to invest in people with potential, people who have it all together and have something really good to offer you in return.  It says to invest in people who make you (your company) succeed - to give you the image or clout you want.  And for business that’s all good.  But in ministry and in terms of God’s purpose for us, that is backward.  

Our purpose is to serve believers in the Body of Christ, while also witnessing to unbelievers in the world. God created us for both, and It is our responsibility to intentionally invest in the lives of the unsaved, with the goal of them becoming a part of the Kingdom and family of God. Building a relationship – investing in them – is the very best way to do this. Call someone, go get coffee, go to dinner, or just talk to them, especially the ones you know are not Christians.  Jesus did not minister to only the saved, and He didn’t only invest in the ones who could make His ministry look good. He ministered to the demon possessed, the unclean, and the outcasts.  His bottom line was and is salvation, and it is all about what He did for us.  A venture capitalist makes an investment when there is a substantial element of risk.  Jesus invested in us when we were still sinners.  He gave us the gift of salvation even when He knew that some of us would turn it away and the rest of us will fail repeatedly and run back to Him asking for forgiveness again. He wants us to invest in lost people, even if we end up giving away all our free time and a little money spent on coffee. It is a risk, but it is worth the risk to save one life. He wants us to let the world know how merciful and great He is. He wants us to let them know about His sacrifice for them and the salvation that is theirs, if only they will accept His offer.  

Find someone to intentionally invest in today.  Chances are high that you already have several people on your radar that you could invest in.  If the Lord lays them on your heart – or on your mind – don’t ignore the tugging.