4. Matthew 6:19-21: Jesus on money teaches us to invest wisely

This is the fourth post that I will be undertaking over the next 2 weeks in which we will be looking at everything (pretty much!) Jesus said about money in the gospels. In order to do this I will be putting up two posts each day. This is coinciding with a 2-week preaching series that we going through at Community Church Putney- Jesus On Giving.

Our news is often filled with people who have used the financial systems to invest dishonestly and irresponsibly to make huge amounts of money.

In May of 2015 a news headline read,

'Tom Hayes, 35, is accused of doing "everything in his power" and "behaving in a thoroughly dishonest manner" to manipulate the lending rates, known as Libor.'

Many people are investing but their goals are purely selfish. Jesus taught,  

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus on money teaches us that there is a two-fold problem with selfish hoarding and investing: firstly, our ‘store’ is constantly under threat and so such a person often has no rest and joy; secondly, such an investors’ ‘heart' will become increasingly addicted, with the more they give themselves to this kind of investing the more narrow minded they become; wealth becomes their treasure to the detriment of all other relationships and even their health. 

Steven Covey, in his fantastic book, 'The seven Practices of highly effective people’ speaks of the lack of balance that many feel, 

'I’ve set and met my career goals and I’m having tremendous professional success. But it’s cost me my personal and family life. I don’t know my wife and children any more. I’m not even sure I know myself and what’s really important to me. I’ve had to ask myself— is it worth it?'

We are all investing our wealth in something: maybe you’re someone who buys things that you don’t truly need, the ‘return' for your investment is the thrill of the spend or the image the thing gives to you; maybe you’re someone who saves all their money in some kind of scheme, the return for your investment may be greater financial security; maybe you’re investing in your children- clothing, education, clubs… the return is a better future for them. 

Jesus on money teaches us to invest what He gives us wisely- to invest eternally. This means that we invest our money in the things that are important to God and His purposes; it means to obey Him as He leads us in giving it away. Only this kind of investing leads to true joy and acquiring true treasure, and you are creating a ‘return’ when you get to heaven. 

Take a moment to ask God to search you: Where are you ‘investing’ your money, what do you give it to? Is it investing in eternity?