God provides financial surplus so that we can save for the future, give to the needy around you, and invest. The purpose of investing money is to grow your money or to produce an income. Where should we invest our money?
Invest in the Kingdom of God
We are told by Jesus to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and that where our treasure is reveals is where our heart is too (Matthew 6:31). So, we should not serve money as a master or seek to grow rich (I Timothy 6:10), but we can use money to serve the Lord by investing in the Kingdom of God. Supporting missionaries, tithing to our local church, giving to the poor in Jesus' Name, supporting Christian ministries, and blessing Crisis Pregnancy Centers are all ways we can invest in the Kingdom of God.
When my husband, Mike was a young man planning to go to seminary to answer the call of God on his life, an older man invested in the Kingdom of God by investing in Mike. He gave him a sales job with a generous base pay and commission. This money paid tuition at seminary, the beginning of a lifetime of ministry. Not only was this man investing in the Kingdom of God, he was investing in my husband's dreams.
Invest in Your Dreams
We invested in my husband's dreams too. Before we had children, we both worked. But, Mike and I lived off of his income and saved mine. We put the money in savings, along with the extra money Mike earned, to use during our seminary years. We could have lived extravagantly during those early years of marriage, but instead we were very frugal so that we could invest in Mike's dream, the call on his life.
God puts dreams into our hearts. Invest in making those dreams come true. Do you have a dream to paint? Invest in painting lessons. Is it your ambition to write a book? Invest in software to help with the layout. Is your dream to fly a plane. Flying lessons are expensive, but you can put a little aside each month until you have the money to invest in your aviation dream.
Invest in Other People
Invest in the Kingdom of God
We are told by Jesus to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and that where our treasure is reveals is where our heart is too (Matthew 6:31). So, we should not serve money as a master or seek to grow rich (I Timothy 6:10), but we can use money to serve the Lord by investing in the Kingdom of God. Supporting missionaries, tithing to our local church, giving to the poor in Jesus' Name, supporting Christian ministries, and blessing Crisis Pregnancy Centers are all ways we can invest in the Kingdom of God.
When my husband, Mike was a young man planning to go to seminary to answer the call of God on his life, an older man invested in the Kingdom of God by investing in Mike. He gave him a sales job with a generous base pay and commission. This money paid tuition at seminary, the beginning of a lifetime of ministry. Not only was this man investing in the Kingdom of God, he was investing in my husband's dreams.
Invest in Your Dreams
We invested in my husband's dreams too. Before we had children, we both worked. But, Mike and I lived off of his income and saved mine. We put the money in savings, along with the extra money Mike earned, to use during our seminary years. We could have lived extravagantly during those early years of marriage, but instead we were very frugal so that we could invest in Mike's dream, the call on his life.
God puts dreams into our hearts. Invest in making those dreams come true. Do you have a dream to paint? Invest in painting lessons. Is it your ambition to write a book? Invest in software to help with the layout. Is your dream to fly a plane. Flying lessons are expensive, but you can put a little aside each month until you have the money to invest in your aviation dream.
Invest in Other People
Other people have dreams too. Parents have sent their children to universities since the Middle Ages to pursue their dreams of education and career. Some parents help their children start their own business so they can pay their own way through college.
Dave had some extra money in his bank account so he help a younger brother in the church start a business of his own. Dave gave him start-up money to get the business going. In return, Dave received a portion of the profits.
Sarah also wanted to start her own business, a hair salon. Maggie didn't have money to invest, but she did have expertise and past experience that she could share. Maggie took Sarah out to lunch once a week and shared her wisdom. The cost of this investment? Only the price of lunch for two each week.
Invest in Home Business
Leah homeschools and works part-time as a respiratory therapist to help make ends meet. She would love to stay home and run a business online, so she is investing money in building her internet business. She has a few hours each week that she puts into her bouncing baby business. She has had to purchase software, domain name, storage, and a monthly fee for a shopping cart. To find the extra money to invest, Leah is an avid coupon clipper and user. The money she saves can be invested in her online business.
Gene and Alice wanted to own a business so that Gene could work from his home, spending more time with his family. His son graduated from high school, but wasn't ready for college. He offered to start and build a business with his dad while his dad continued to work his day job. Gene Jr. did most of the leg work and build the client base. Little by little the business grew bigger and bigger. Gene Jr. took only a small salary, so the profits could be invested back in the company. After two years, Gene Sr. could come home and run the business. Now Gene Jr. works part-time and is heading to college. What a wonderful way to invest in someone else's dream and start a home business at the same time.
The best way to financial independence is to start, own, and operate your own business. For more info on starting your own business, review Starting Your Own Business I and Starting Your Own Business II.
Next time, we will talk about investing in stocks, bonds, gold, land, and property. Until then, remember the only way to set aside money for investing is Living Below Your Means.You might want to read The Secret to Financial Success.
Happy Investing!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
Dave had some extra money in his bank account so he help a younger brother in the church start a business of his own. Dave gave him start-up money to get the business going. In return, Dave received a portion of the profits.
Sarah also wanted to start her own business, a hair salon. Maggie didn't have money to invest, but she did have expertise and past experience that she could share. Maggie took Sarah out to lunch once a week and shared her wisdom. The cost of this investment? Only the price of lunch for two each week.
Invest in Home Business
Leah homeschools and works part-time as a respiratory therapist to help make ends meet. She would love to stay home and run a business online, so she is investing money in building her internet business. She has a few hours each week that she puts into her bouncing baby business. She has had to purchase software, domain name, storage, and a monthly fee for a shopping cart. To find the extra money to invest, Leah is an avid coupon clipper and user. The money she saves can be invested in her online business.
Gene and Alice wanted to own a business so that Gene could work from his home, spending more time with his family. His son graduated from high school, but wasn't ready for college. He offered to start and build a business with his dad while his dad continued to work his day job. Gene Jr. did most of the leg work and build the client base. Little by little the business grew bigger and bigger. Gene Jr. took only a small salary, so the profits could be invested back in the company. After two years, Gene Sr. could come home and run the business. Now Gene Jr. works part-time and is heading to college. What a wonderful way to invest in someone else's dream and start a home business at the same time.
The best way to financial independence is to start, own, and operate your own business. For more info on starting your own business, review Starting Your Own Business I and Starting Your Own Business II.
Next time, we will talk about investing in stocks, bonds, gold, land, and property. Until then, remember the only way to set aside money for investing is Living Below Your Means.You might want to read The Secret to Financial Success.
Happy Investing!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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