INVEST IN YOUR KIDS

The educated man is the one who refuses to view the world from the steeple of his own church. -Missionary Tidings

It is never too early to start training our children. Some studies say, reading to children while they are in the mother's womb makes them smarter. But what are we teaching them? Are we instructing them in righteousness or are we teaching them the way of the world?

Fast forward a few years from the womb. We might be taking the kids to church every time the doors are opened but are we living Christ before them? How about the places we go? How about the things we watch? How about how we conduct business? How about the way we treat our spouse? How about the way we talk about the church? How about the way we talk about fellow believers? How about the way we take criticism? How about how we treat the policeman that just pulled us over for speeding? How about how we act when driving? How about the way we treat the pastor? How about where we spending our money? Yes, we could continue on but I think you get the point.

Do you truly teach your kids from the view point of the Word of God? Do you not only teach them with your mouth but with your life as well? Hypocritical Christian living is one of the things that is killing families all over. Dads, will you take the lead in your home? Moms, will you be there to be their help meet?

Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 29:17, Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Colossians 3:21, Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

BE DEVOTED

The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration.  A saint is not a man without faults, but a man who has given himself without reserve to God.

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. Joshua 14:8

We are all devoted to something; our family, our pets, our job, our leisure time, we spend time on so much but how much do we invest in? There is a difference between spending time and investing time. Spending time is when we give of our time in things that have no lasting goals. However, investing time is when we give of our time in things that will have eternal purposes. We invest time with the kids going to church. We spend time with the kids on the ball field. Sure you can take that time on the field and turn it into things that are eternal but for most it’s just time on the field!

Do we, like Joshua, have a devoted heart that we would say, “I wholly followed the Lord my God.”? If we do, we will be investing time with our loved ones, a lost, dying, and hurting world, and most importantly we will be investing time with our Saviour!

DO WHAT YOU’RE GONNA DO WHILE YOU’VE GOT TIME TO DO IT!

            I expect to pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. –Anonymous

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

            There is 86,400 seconds in every single day, how are we investing them in something that will make a difference in our life and the lives of others? What are we doing that means anything in the light of eternity? Who are you impacting with the Gospel? In your area of influence, how is your testimony shining through?

            Child of God, we don’t have as much time as we may think, so share the Good News of the Gospel while you have time! Make a difference by being the example God wants you to be to this lost, dying, and hurting generation!

GETTER UP!

Going to church is more important than your investment portfolio!

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Mathew 18:20

            Will your investment portfolio matter to you when you’re gone? Will it matter how many digits you have in your account when you take your last breath? Will it live forever—no, but your soul will! What’s more valuable than your soul—nothing! So, don’t worry about your investment portfolio more than you invest in your own life.

            I am reminded of Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” So, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH investing in your life for all of eternity!

ARE YOUR FRIENDS PUSHING OR PULLING YOU?

Those you run with will pull you down or push you forward!

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

When you hang with your friends, are they helping your walk with Jesus or are they hindering your walk? There is no in between. Either your friends are pushing you toward your Saviour or they are pulling you away from Him. If they are pulling you down, sooner or later you will be just as they are fleshly, sensual, and carnal. If they are pushing you forward, you will become compassionate, graceful, and spiritual.

If your friends aren’t pushing you toward your Saviour, maybe you need to get some new friends!

WASTING TIME

Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.—C.T Studd

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

Life is fleeting away before us. We sleep it away, play it away, and work it away. People are lost and dying, slipping off into an eternity without Christ. What did you do for Jesus yesterday? What will you do for Jesus today? What will you invest for Him tomorrow? Tomorrow is no guarantee so you better get bust today!

Tick-Toc, Tick-Toc

Do not believe that you are standing still; you are not. Your pulses each moment beat the funeral marches to the tomb. You are chained to the chariot of rolling time. There is no bridling of the steeds or leaping from the chariot. –Spurgeon

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Many sit and watch their life tick away second by second, minute by minute, and some even hour by hour. They gaze looking at a phone, a tablet, a computer screen, or even the TV as their fleeting life passes by. Why is this done? What good comes out of this waste of time? Is it for pleasure? Is it for education? Why? Why? Why?

I don’t know if you can really nail down one reason. However, what we can agree on is we are wasting a lot of time! Time we could be investing in those nearest to hell. Time we can be invest in our Christian walk. Time we can be investing in the weary of heart.

Where will you invest the next 86,400 seconds?