The major investment firms are frequent visitors in your home. No, they aren’t invited guests. They attach themselves to the popular television shows and sporting events. So, just after your team scores, the President of one of these companies shows up on the screen encouraging you to make wise investments using his brokerage firm. Just after he says goodbye, the owner of another firm flies by in his helicopter to let you know how his firm makes investing affordable. These visits are then followed by a commercial for a luxury sports sedan. The message is clear: security and peace of mind come from making wise investments and making your money grow. These things provide access to comfort and stability. While it is good to save and plan for the future, your security lies elsewhere.
Here are some thoughts of the Holy Spirit on investing;
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Proverbs 23:4-5
The above passage from Proverbs gives very different advice than your friendly investment broker —Solomon reminds you that the future is not as secure as you are led to believe. Luke 12:13-34 also talks about making wise investments. Christ urges his hearers to invest in things that will not wear out.
This warning from Proverbs is a reality check The vivid language evokes startling mental images—imagine your 401K account suddenly sprouting wings and flying off into
the sunset! (It has happened more than once!) These Proverbs are not warning against wise saving and investments (see Proverbs 13:11); what they are warning against is trusting in savings or investments to be your security. Many folks have strong portfolios but are relationally and spiritually bankrupt.
These proverbs say don’t spend your energy to become rich!!! Or, don’t wear yourself out for financial security. The balance here is to identify what you are investing yourself in. Men often think in the long-term. So we justify not investing time with our wives and children because we are building for the future—for their future. The warning is that all of our efforts can fly off in a heartbeat. The greatest and most secure gift that you can give your wife and your children is taking the time to show them the love of Christ in the middle of your busy, hectic life.
Jesus said to invest in things that will never wear out. What are you wearing yourself out for?