Jesus Loves Investing — KEVIN BENEJAM

Jesus loves investing because he loves stewardship. He loves what you can do with the little. Because if you do good with little, you can do good with much.

I am writing this is because of the following reasons: I have been convicted of how I view money, what money actually is, what money can actually do for my life and in the life of others for the glory of God.

According to scholars, God talks about money much more in the Bible than many of the topics we hear about. What I have learned is that if we use money strategically, we can advance our life in a faster way and can also bless others. But what we know sometimes isn’t always what we do and that isn’t wise. The definition of wisdom is the right application of knowledge. Money is energy and time is money. How much money you make is equivalent to the value to add to the marketplace.

To be honest, this season and towards the end of the pandemic, I almost lost sight of the value of the dollar. I started spending over my budget and started taking my paycheck for granted until I hit a hiccup on the road and I was wow wait. “I’m gonna wait on you!” Lol. I’m kidding, I actually needed to take action and not wait. I told myself, “What have I been doing this whole time?” How have I been living blind? How come I didn’t invest the money in places where it could have been doubled? But I don’t live in regret, I use mistakes as learning experiences. As Michael Jordan said in an interview recently “you can’t win if you don’t lose”.

Through this year I have been investing in my talents, creativity, and my education but not investing in my financial education. I had to remind myself that our finances are the lifeblood of our business and quality of life. There is a saying that being rich won't make you happy but being broke is a passport to misery and that’s so true! With more money, you can bless others, live a better quality of life, do things you have always wanted to do, and help your church. And let’s be honest when you have more money in your account, there is less anxiety. Studies show that after 60k a year money doesn’t increase your happiness, so let’s just say that money doesn’t buy you happiness but the lack of money won’t buy you happiness either. And most of the people and millionaires I have met said that money did increase their happiness because they have more freedom, so let’s not regurgitate sayings that culture loves to pass around.

This takes me to the parables of the talents. The master gives 3 men talents according to their ability. Two of the men doubled their talents and the third man hid his talent. The master said ” the least thing you could have done was give it to the bank so they can double my investment” Plot twist moment here. God is investing in you! He is giving you talents, abilities, resources, and finances so you can steward them in the most efficient and constructive way. And what happens if we don’t steward these things correctly then we will get it taken away. He wants us to invest in our health, education, talents, investments, real estate, stock market, and others.

As Jesus says “ for whoever has will be given more and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” Let’s strive to not be the have nots. Let’s show God what we can do with what we have right in front of us and inside of us right now. Like it says in the word he gave us what we need according to our ability and level. I know at the end of my life I want a “ Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness”! Matthew 25: 2

Do you?

Even if you squandered all your money and talents, today is a new day just like the Parable of the Prodigal son how he spent his whole inheritance on prostitutes and wild living. He then became so hungry, he was going to eat with pigs. But then he became sober and was like “yo what am I doing, I’m about to eat pigs meal but my father back home has everything, let me just go back!” And that is what he did. His father welcomed him with open arms and didn’t bring up his past, the father gave him everything he needed and more. It was a new day and life for the prodigal son and that is how it can be for you. I always say, “Every day he fills our cup with a new cup of grace.” Let’s be open to receiving that refill.

Amen

The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’