Great investment advice

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Galatians 6:9-10 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

You may not excel at the stock market, but you are a terrific investor. It turns out whatever we invest our time, passion, skills, finances in will bring a return. Possibly not to our super fund, but certainly within our character and eternal destiny. Paul reminds Christians in Galatians 6:7-10 what is true in nature is also true in us. You reap what you sow. If you sow to please the ‘flesh’, you reap destruction. Whoever sows to please the Spirit of God, reaps life.

Living according to the ‘flesh’ has a double meaning for the Galatians. It firstly speaks to the false belief that becoming a faithful Israelite through such practices as circumcision is how we belong to God. Paul is clear, faith in the work of Jesus is enough to make us right with God and each other. The second meaning is detailed in Galatians 5:17-26. There is quite a list of self-interested, self-satisfying, self-promoting acts. The two meanings come together in this way – that our hopes, efforts, passions, time, resources are invested in ourselves.

To live by the Spirit is to instead restrain ourselves, in obedience to God and for the good of others (5:17). The secret to a life giving, spirit filled life is simple – “serve one another humbly in love” (5:13). When we live by the Spirit the centre of our attention is not ourselves, it is God. God then turns our attention towards others, because this is the nature of God as love.

Take mental stock now, where do you invest your time, passion, skills, finances? Who or what gets your primary attention? Invest in serving others humbly in love and the promise is your investment will grow. You will reap a harvest, you will reap a fruitful life (5:22), you will reap eternal life.

Enjoy,

Jason