Making Wise Investments

Introduction

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We are reminded that laying up one’s treasure in heaven is a “Wise Investment.” Putting our treasure in heaven is not just the religious thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Our treasure loses value the longer it remains out of the kingdom!

In this passage we are reminded us that laying up one’s treasure in heaven is a “Wise Investment.” Putting our treasure in heaven is not just the religious thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Our treasure loses its value the longer it remains out of the kingdom!

We are reminded that laying up one’s treasure in heaven is a “Wise Investment.” Putting our treasure in heaven is not just the religious thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. Our treasure loses value the longer it remains out of the kingdom!

I find it interesting that Jesus doesn’t specifically say money. He did not say, “But, lay up your money in heaven.” Instead, He says, “But, lay up your treasure in heaven.” Treasure is anything that holds great value. For some that may mean money. However, for others it may mean time.

I find it interesting that Jesus doesn’t specifically say money. He did not say, “But, lay up your money in heaven.” Instead, He says, “But, lay up your treasure in heaven.” Treasure is anything that holds great value. For some that may mean money. However, for others it may mean time.

Time is slowly becoming as valuable, if not more valuable, than money! In fact, industries are driven more by a desire to save people time than they are by a desire to save people money. This is because people are willing to pay more if it saves them more time.

Time is slowly becoming as valuable, if not more valuable, than money! In fact, industries are driven more by a desire to save people time than they are by a desire to save people money. This is because people are willing to pay more if it saves them more time.

I find it interesting that Jesus doesn’t specifically say money. He did not say, “But, lay up your money in heaven.” Instead, He says, “But, lay up your treasure in heaven.” Treasure is anything that holds great value. For some that may mean money. However, for others it may mean time.

As pastors we must understand this trend. It used to be that when it came to stewardship, pastors spend the bulk of their time challenging people to commit more money to God. There is a growing belief that time, and not money, is the new commitment.

Time is slowly becoming as valuable, if not more valuable, than money! In fact, industries are driven more by a desire to save people time than they are by a desire to save people money. This is because people are willing to pay more if it saves them more time.

As pastors we must understand this trend. It used to be that when it came to stewardship, pastors spend the bulk of their time challenging people to commit more money to God. There is a growing belief that time, and not money, is the new commitment.

People are earning less money today than they have in previous generations. This is the first generation in American history where children (on average) are making less than their parents did at the same age. And because money is slow coming in, it’s slow going out! However, most churches are more interested in donors than in volunteers. We want givers, not workers.

As pastors we must understand this trend. It used to be that when it came to stewardship, pastors spend the bulk of their time challenging people to commit more money to God. There is a growing belief that time, and not money, is the new commitment.

Today, industries are driven more by a desire to save people time than they are by a desire to save people money. This is because people are willing to pay more if it saves them more time. As pastors we must understand this new trend. It used to be that when we challenged our people to be better stewards we focused on them committing more money to God. But, there is a growing belief that time, and not just money, should be the new church commitment.

People are earning less money today than they have in previous generations. This is the first generation in American history where children (on average) are making less than their parents did at the same age. And because money is slow coming in, it’s slow going out! However, most churches are more interested in donors than in volunteers. We want givers, not workers. How do we adjust and challenge people to commit their time, and not just money?

How do we adjust and challenge people to commit their time, and not just money?

People are earning less money today than they have in previous generations. This is the first generation in American history where children (on average) are making less than their parents did at the same age. And because money is slow coming in, it’s slow going out! However, most churches are more interested in donors than in volunteers. We want givers, not workers.

But, we must make an adjustment and challenge people to commit their time, and not just their money, to God. How do we do this?

As pastors, we have to begin to make the transition of challenging people to commit their time, not just their money, to God. How do we do this?

Fewer Committees and More Teams

Volunteers typically don’t like to work for committee who are uninvolved because they tend to stand in judgment over what they are doing with their own time and money!

Give Better Value For Their Time

If you want people to commit more time, you must learn to value time by…

If you want people to commit more time, you must learn to value time by…Start on time

If you want people to commit more time, you must learn to value time by…

Start on time

Starting on Time

Coming Prepared

Come prepared

Ending When Promised

Churches that don’t value time will lose the hard-working and highly-motived workers, because they are people who value time!

End when promised

Churches that don’t value time will lose the hard-working and highly-motived workers, because they are people who value time!

Give Them Something They Can’t Get At Home

People don’t just go to the Pistons’ game to watch the game. They go for an experience they can’t get at home.

People don’t just go to the Pistons’ game to watch the game. They go for an experience they can’t get at home.

People don’t just go to the Pistons’ game to watch the game. They go for an experience they can’t get at home.Challenge People to Commit Time, Not Just Money

Challenge People to Commit Time, Not Just Money

We must offer more opportunities for people to give their time, and not just their money. Challenge people by reminding them that generous people don’t just give their money. They also give their time!

And remember, the opportunities for people to commit their time shouldn’t just benefit the church’s bottom line! Too often we’re deciding to do ministry based on how it will benefit the church financially OR on what we can afford. But, stewardship is not just about knowing where to put your treasure. It’s also about knowing who we’re called to serve!

To often we decide to do ministry based on how much it will benefit the church financially OR on what we can afford. We must understand that stewardship is not just about where we put our treasure, it’s also about knowing who we are called to serve!

We must offer more opportunities for people to give their time, and not just their money. Challenge people by reminding them that generous people don’t just give their money. They also give their time!

And remember, the opportunities for people to commit their time shouldn’t just benefit the church’s bottom line! Too often we’re deciding to do ministry based on how it will benefit the church financially OR on what we can afford. But, stewardship is not just about knowing where to put your treasure. It’s also about knowing who we’re called to serve!

This passages is ultimately about stewardship. Part of being a good steward is knowing who you have been called to serve. In this passage we are reminded that being a good steward involves putting our treasure in heaven. Putting one’s treasure in heaven is not only our duty, but it is smart!

The whole point of reminding men to lay up their treasure in heaven is so they will avoid the mistake of putting all their energy and time on material things rather than spiritual things. There is an inherent danger in riches, and it’s that they have a way of demanding and controlling our time and focus. Before long you will end up serving riches.

The whole point of reminding men to lay up their treasure in heaven is so they will avoid the mistake of putting all their energy and time on material things rather than spiritual things. There is an inherent danger in riches, and it’s that they have a way of demanding and controlling our time and focus. Before long you will end up serving riches.

Ministries can fall prey to this same problem. It’s very easy for a ministry to begin to serve riches rather than Christ. We serve riches whenever we choose to do ministry based on if we have enough money. We can’t let money or the lack of money call the shots!

Ministries can fall prey to this same problem. It’s very easy for a ministry to begin to serve riches rather than Christ. We serve riches whenever we choose to do ministry based on if we have enough money. We can’t let money or the lack of money call the shots!

I recognize that debt can quickly put mammon in charge. However, we can’t let money decide whether or not we do ministry. We must learn to let the mission lead, and not the money!

How do we let mission lead and not money?

Start with the part that doesn’t require money (prayer, research, organize, use of time, seek out partners).

Start small. (Meet in someone’s home or once a month. If you can’t be a blessing to everyone, be a blessing to 1 or 2.)

Let money determine HOW you do ministry, not IF. (Money belongs in the category of other factors like: skill of your volunteers, size of the need, availability) that determines how ministry is to be done, not IF it’s to be done.

By doing this we just might discover that we can sometimes do ministry without money, or that money can come later on in the process!