Today is Christmas day. But my blogging schedule today is financial management and investments. I’ve been thinking lately about what to write on Christmas day, I don’t want to go about the traditional route focusing on Christmas topics (like the Corruption of Christmas or Should Christians celebrate christmas.) I finally found my topic by reconciling my blogging schedule and today’s special holiday.
When talking about investments we always want to consider the rate of return. We want to know how much we will be earning per annum. We then compare it with other investments, weigh the risk versus the rewards and make a decision on the matter based on whether the risk involved is compensated by the reward that can be obtained.
But what do you think do you think is the best investment in the world? The answer is found in the pages of the Holy Scriptures.
The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 19:7, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
The Living Bible has a wonderful paraphrase for the said verse where it says “When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord–and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!”
So there you have it. The best high yielding investment in the world is to help the poor! According to the Bible, helping the poor is lending to the Lord. Note that the verse does not say “You are “like” lending to the Lord.” But rather it emphatically states that “You are lending to the Lord.” The poor are not the ones that will be paying you back. It is God who will pay you back. Not only will He pay you back, he will pay you a “wonderful interest on your loan.” Isn’t that amazing?
Abraham Lincoln once said “God must love the poor. Why else would he have made so many of them?”
Helping those who have less in this life has always been one of the ministries of Christ when He was here on earth. During the time of Jesus, he spent most of His time with the common people, the sick, the needy, those who are spiritually broken and those whose lives has been shattered not only by emotional and spiritual problems but by physical problems as well. Although the primary focus of His ministry is to “Seek and to save that which was lost,” nevertheless He also spent a substantial amount of His time helping those who are less fortunate in this life.
The weight of the emphasis of His ministry towards the poor is properly laid out by Jesus when He made the following statements in Matthew chapter 25 verse 34 to 40
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME.”
Not only will God repay you with wonderful interest for helping the poor and the needy, whatever have done for them, you have also done it for Christ. That is why helping the poor and the needy is indeed the world’s greatest investment.
So this Christmas, why not invest in the world’s greatest investment ?
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Amen to that, what a fantastic topic for a bend of investment and toadys holiday!
Merry Christmas to you! Here is still it Christmas Eve Day…
I especially appreciate that you pointed out, “that the verse does not say “You are “like” lending to the Lord.” But rather it emphatically states that “You are lending to the Lord.” YOU ARE. Indeed.
In some reverse fashion this leaves me feeling better about myself and my family’s Christmas, for we will be having a “no presents” Christmas, and I as the head of the family have had a lengthy illness so that I have not decorated or done any of the things that are expected of my culture’s notion of celebrating Christmas. I could see it as a failure to them, but I see instead that we are rich in being together, that we want to be together as a family and enjoy it, and my illness is something that can be expected to heal after surgery (soon) so we are not badly off at all — what does it matter what the decorations are or the materials things given when it is the Lord’s view of what we do that counts?
I originally went into law school with the idea of a “poverty law” practice because I *felt* in my heart of hearts, the scripture you quoted at length. You have given me a fine Christmas present by reminding me of my mission. Really, you have no idea. Thank you.
Essie
Nice message, great timing. Merry Christmas. =)