I just heard a story of a Northerner doing business in the South, when the Civil War started.  His assets were then tied up in Confederate dollars.  When it became clear that the North would win the war, . . .

 

So, how is it with your investments?

—worth a lot where you have your money right now?

—potential to earn more if the economy recovers?

—safe, because you have smart advisors?

—safe, because you’re smart enough?

—safe, because you have a lot?

—safe, because it’s insured?

—guaranteed, because . . .

 

Guaranteed investments—is there such a thing?  Read on.

Guaranteed investments, because you know who is going to win – – –

– – – and Who would that be?

– – – and what do those investments look like?

– – – NOT retirement accounts

– – – NOT pension funds

– – – NOT insurance

– – – GIVE IT AWAY

You’ve got to be kidding—who is giving that advice today?—who is going to follow that advice today?

 

“DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal.”

“DO lay up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

“FOR, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

“You cannot serve God and materialism.”

Yes, Jesus said that.  Yes, Jesus says that today.  It doesn’t matter how smart we are with our investments.  It doesn’t matter how rich we are with our investments.  What matters is how many dollars we send up to heaven right now by giving away real dollars, to help real people we know, in real need.

 

Can you have both?  (little question—big question—“heart” question)

Answer:

“DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT lay up treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal.”

“DO lay up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

“FOR, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

“You cannot serve God and materialism.”

DIVIDED INVESTMENTS  =  DIVIDED HEART

The Bible says pick one:

“Choose you this day whom you will serve, . . . For me, and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In the lottery I think they say “Pick Two.”

(“SOMETHING IS MISSING”   as promised a few days ago.)

In the 2008 economic crisis, I actually heard a couple times from church finance leaders that maybe we should reconsider where we have our money laid up.  Maybe it’s not so secure in the world’s system and the American dream where everybody automatically saves and invests for retirement.  Maybe it’s not smart.  Maybe it’s not Biblical.

But then, the entire system did not collapse, and we started working through the crisis.  Almost overnight we started hearing modified strategy to invest smarter, with promises that recovery will come and our money will be safe in the long run.  Christians should be able to invest in the world, and even do it better.

It’s very much like 9-11-01.  Congress sang “God Bless America,” churches were filled, people prayed, soul-searching returned—momentarily.

But now, has America changed?  Has America repented?  Have American leaders issued calls to fasting and prayer and turning from our national sins, like our leaders did hundreds of times in the past?

So, we kick the can down the road, as a country, from Washington on down.

Also, we kick the can down the road, as the church, from the leadership on down, with no hint of changing where our treasures are laid up.  Because professing Christians have so much money tied up for their future on earth, their hearts follow the money, and they lose their spiritual influence.

To show how real it is—the church kicking the can down the road—try sharing the following among Christians who have financial investments here:

“Do not lay up treasures on earth.”

“Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”

“You cannot serve God and materialism.”

Jesus said that, and today’s “rich” Christians don’t.