What if someone offered to give you $864.00 each day every day of your life?  Would you take it?  What you would you do with it?  Generally speaking, you really only have 2 choices.

I think of all the things I could buy; things that my family really needs.  I can think of plenty of frivolous items on which I could spend my per diem as well. I could save the money for several days amassing a large enough sum to warrant a “big ticket” purchase.

In all of these cases I am choosing to spend the daily money. 

But…

What if each day, I used the $864 to generate additional money?  Let’s say I found a way to turn my daily $864 into $950 (10%).  I might not have the items I could buy with the money, but I would have more money stored up.  In this case I am choosing to invest the daily money.

With the first scenario, at the end of a week I have “stuff” but no money.  In the second scenario, I may not have any stuff at the end of the week but, I have over $8800.  This is previously accrued money plus each day’s money plus10%.  Each passing day I can continue to grow my investment as long as I live.

With that kind of investment I am in a position to both continue to invest and spend a little on the things I need and want.

Investing for Eternity

While I can’t promise you 86,400 pennies each day, I can tell you that each day, each 24 hour period, amounts to 86,400 seconds.  Time is our most precious currency; we must choose whether to spend it or invest it.

In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus instructs us to invest our time in things that last for eternity.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man who entrusted his possessions to his servants.  Two of those servants invested the possessions and returned to the man more than he had given them.

In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, Paul teaches us that a day of judgment is coming. In this judgment, our “works” will be tested by fire. The fire will consume those “works” that focused merely on our earthly life.  The same fire not only salvages but also purifies those works that were eternal investments.

In Ephesians 5:16, Paul challenges us to “redeem” the time.  The word translated “time” refers not to the sequence of time, but moments of time; opportunities.  Just to clarify for us, he modifies “time” with a definite article.  Not just any time, but the time.

So there is ample Biblical teaching about how we are to invest rather than spend.  In reality, for a Jesus follower it is not about using what we have to serve ourselves, but Jesus. 

The Application

A popular acronym these days is YOLO; “you only live once.” That slogan implies you better get all you can out of this life, because it is all you have.  Yet Biblical teaching is that we live on this side of eternity to prepare for the other side. 

So, I ask you.  What will you do with the 86,400 seconds in this day?  And tomorrow? The next? And so on? 

Will you spend your days serving yourself and those around you?  Or will you look for ways to invest your daily opportunities in things that matter for eternity?

Feel free to hit the “leave a comment” tab above and suggest some ways you are investing in eternity.  We can all use some good ideas.