Know What You Invest In
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5: 11-14)
Joe came into my office one day for a first-time meeting. Right away, he made it clear that he was impressed with the investments he had picked while managing his own accounts. And still he wanted to get a second opinion. Really, he wanted to know two things: Was he missing anything? And was his investment success due to luck or skill?
Lately, Joe’s portfolio had done very well and this pleased him, of course. He knew that retirement was coming soon for him and he wanted to make sure he was positioned well to handle the inevitable bumps in the road.
As part of the initial meeting I asked him some very basic questions. Why did you pick the investments that you own now? What percentage of your investments are invested internationally? How much do you have in stocks and bonds? What is your attitude towards risk? How much do you spend per month?
Surprisingly, Joe had no idea how to answer any of these questions. He had very little idea into what he was actually invested. He picked funds that seemed good but did not do the work to really understand what he owned and why they performed well. He took a shortcut. Shortcuts can work for a time, but eventually they often end in regret.
As you read Scripture, you are investing your time and making an eternal investment. Do you take time to study the word and meditate on it afterwards? Do you discuss the text with brothers and sisters in Jesus who can help you better understand the original intent? Do you understand the value of your investment in reading Scripture?? I mean, do you REALLY know it?
The word of God is our spiritual food and we should taste it daily. But simply enjoying the food does not provide us the nourishment or energy to carry us throughout the day. To receive the true benefit of the food, we must digest it. This takes time and can be uncomfortable at times, but it is necessary and good.
Know your Scriptural investment. Taste the daily bread. It is good and should be enjoyed, but do not stop there. To receive the full benefit, take the time to study and meditate on it also.
Jesus, give me the desire, patience, and diligence to take the time to understand what You truly want me to know. Your Word is so good. Help me internalize it until it becomes a part of me.
