Investing 101

Recently, there has been a lot of volatility in the financial world. The stock market goes up and down, interest rate vary, and people get happy or sad as a result.
Retirement planning.
401K.
Stocks.
Bonds.
Treasury notes.
Oy vey. What a confusing, stress-filled merry-go-round!

While it IS very important to consider our retirement plans, and to be good stewards of what God has given to us, it's even more important to consider what we are investing our TIME into . . .

Lord, I want to be an Andrew!!

What?? Let me explain . . .

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. (John 1:35-42a)

There are a couple of things to notice about Andrew - let's dive in!

The greatest investment we can make in our lives is not what we place our money in. Which fund, which stock we purchase, those are not the greatest, the most important.
The most important investment we can make is to introduce someone to our Lord and Savior, and to have them accept Him as Lord of their lives!
Hmmm....you may be thinking there are some other achievements that rank pretty close; there may be one or two that eclipse the significance.
Nope.
Nada.
Not even one.
The absolute greatest achievement we can have, and the best investment we can make, is to help the Spirit bring a person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In the verses above, John points out Jesus to John and Andrew - and he says, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
What did Andrew do, after spending some time with Jesus?
He went and found Simon, his brother, and brought him to Jesus.

This is not unusual in Andrew's life. Who was it that found the boy with the loaves and fishes, and brought him to Christ so that the five thousand could be fed?
Yup.
Andrew.
When the Greeks came and wanted to see Jesus, who introduced them? Andrew and Philip.
It seems that if we had a biography of Andrew, it would be filled with instances where he was bringing people to Christ!
Why is this so important? There are some simple reasons why this is so significant, and I'd like to talk about them this week.

First, when we introduce a person to our Savior, we are introducing Christ to someone that He died to save. Let's look at Jesus' own words:

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Wow! Now let's apply that -- when was the last time that we invested ourselves and our time into someone else, so that their eternal destiny was changed? We can invest in "things" any time. We can amass a small (or large) fortune in stocks and bonds and money. All of those will go up in a puff of smoke when Jesus' returns. Well, at least they will have no value, anyway. (Grin) But the souls of people who we've been instrumental in bringing to Christ will last FOREVER!

Another thing: remember what Andrew did after spending time with Jesus? He immediately went and got his brother and brought him to Christ. Talk about eternal consequences! This Simon would be Simon Peter, a rock of the New Testament church. Peter, whose two letters are so valuable to us today! Peter, who was the catalyst for the gospel being spread among the Gentiles -- not just among the Jewish people! Eternal consequences, indeed!
When we invest in introducing someone to Jesus Christ, we can eternally rejoice along with them that they are saved from sin and death!
I think it's important, too, that Andrew ran to Simon immediately after leaving the presence of Christ. I believe he was motivated to obey God, and to please God. When we introduce someone to Jesus, we have pleased our Father God. Remember in II Peter? God doesn't want anyone to perish!

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

It's God's desire that all would hear the gospel and repent. He doesn't want them to perish. When we invest in someone else to introduce them to Jesus, we are pleasing Him.