Are You a Wise Investor?

Definition of 'Investment'

An asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future.

Bible's definition for "Investment"

Matthew 6:19-21(MSG)

^19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

I was thinking about an upcoming trip that my husband and I will be making and to tell the truth I wondered if it was a sound investment. It is going to cost money to travel far away, rent a car, eat some meals, etc. We were visiting a young couple that we were very close to when they lived in the same town with us. I was getting "cold feet" and was asking myself why we were doing this.  I even sent them a message and asked "Are you sure you want us to come?"  Of course, their response was so comforting and assuring. "Yes, we can't wait. We haven't found a replacement for you guys in our life!"  

Immediately, I realized that this was exactly what we wanted to do.  We had invested so much in each other's lives. We wanted to continue make contributions of emotions, time and money in their lives.  We were actually stockpiling our treasure into something that is indeed safe from moth and rust and burglars. The rise and fall of the stock market did not have anything to do with our relationship with this dear couple!  

There are many other people in our lives that we have invested in.  My sons and their families are the first ones that comes to mind.  A wise friend told me that she and her husband take their grown kids on a family vacation each year on their dime.  She said "If you pay, they will come."  Mark and I, that very month, began putting money away for a trip to the beach.  We sacrificed the entire year to make that first trip happen.  We loved treating our boys and their wives to a vacation. We did without some things that we wanted to buy to meet our savings goal.  Last year, we added a grandson to the continuing tradition of spending a week together each summer. Next summer our newest grandson will be there! It continues to be a sacrifice but is the best investment we have made at this point in our grown son's lives. The new outfit I might have bought, bigger payments to an IRA account, even a new truck to replace my husband's 12 year old Toyota, seemed like a bad investment comparing to what we were gaining. 

There are many small investments I can think of.  Trips to Starbucks anytime I see my nephew.  Breakfast with my nieces when they are in town. Sponsoring and writing letters to 4 boys in Ecuador and India and a new girl from Columbia(Compassion International). Driving ten hours several times a year to see my sisters. Easy drive!  My husband is driving:) You get the point.  I could invested every penny I have used in each of these examples into the stock market. However, investing money in the stock market, while good to pay retirement bills, is of no eternal value.  The stock market can be wiped away with a catastrophic event at any point in time. These relationships with family and friends are exempt from a drop in the market. God knows that when put our money into things that really matter, we will gain back a guaranteed investment.  We must keep in mind that the investments must be consistent, over time and that we must be patience as we wait for our investment to grow in the lives of our friends and families. Yes, there is risk and the investor must be a risk taker...no place for a conservative man or woman. You must be all in.  

You don't have to be a millionaire to put treasure into another person's life.  In fact, the rich may not have the stomach for this job.  Involves people and they don't always cooperate.  Just be wise enough to see that you will gain far more than what you put in.