Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Investments

The very word, “investments” evokes the idea of money. And naturally so, for that is how the word is most often used, in reference to financial investment. Those who speculator in the financial markets of the world do so by placing their money (a thing of value) with a group that will (hopefully) give them a healthy return on the investment. But there are other kinds of investments that ought to be considered.

What good is a healthy bank account if we neglect our primary relationships with God, others and creation? To invest our “selves”: our hearts, minds, bodies and souls (all things of value) with God will reap a large harvest too, perhaps even 90, 60 or 30 fold.

The most common attitude I encounter is the idea that our “selves” are not valuable enough to invest in the Church (God, others and creation). We think that we have lots to invest in work and extra-curricular distractions, but maybe not so much of value for the Church. Nothing could be further from the truth. The whole point of the mercy and grace that is given by God is that our “selves” matter to God and is loved by God.

Our hearts, minds, bodies and souls are a great investment to place in the hands of God. But how do we make this investment? By prayer; prayer helps center our “selves” on God’s values: By staying in the Church; staying keeps us in relationship with the wisdom of the community: By caring for God’s creation; because God cares.

In the song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” Mick Jagger complained, “When I'm watching my TV/ and a man comes on that tells me how white my shirts can be…” We can’t let society indiscriminately tell us what is of value. A white shirt is no substitute for a wise investment with God, others and creation (the Church).

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