What Have You Invested?

I have been talking to a few folks who have been going through “stuff”. Some say that they desire holiness.. Some say they just want some peace.. Some have told me that they want some joy.. Others want to feel love. My response has been “I see what you desire, but what have you invested?” I spend a lot of time working on my girls. Trying to help them become better people and better representatives of Christ. One of the things among many things that I stress is “You get out of something, what you put into it.” School work, your walk with Christ, relationships, your sports.” I tell them that no one is going to give you anything. Don’t expect others to respect you if you don’t show respect. Love isn’t love until you give it away. My sister Tricia has invested a lot of years into becoming a nurse.. A lot of school.. Sacrificed her time. Now she is not only a nurse, but a very good one with a very impressive resume. She recently walked into a new job with great respect and expectations from her superiors and peers. The work that she has put in has produced that. My daughter Alicia has made a great turn this year in her walk with Christ. I see evidence of it so many times. Don’t get it twisted, just like all of us, she is still on the potter’s wheel. She is more in her word. Our workouts are different. Her disposition on the basketball court is different this year. She tends to speak of Gods’ influence in the many aspects of her life more. Even when things don’t appear to be going on her favor. It was so cool to see that the vision that she has for her year, which is posted on the wall in her room, has God all in it. She is a strong student. She works hard at it. The honors that she has received comes from the work she has invested. She is a great big sister, who has the respect of her little sis. She has invested a lot of personal time in her sister. The result is a crazy, close bond unlike I have never seen. Some may question her basketball skill and abilities but I have a 50 pound vest in my car, 20 pound jump rope and many other training aids that she has spent many hours working with… I bet that I won’t find many, if any who have worked harder. Look, this is what I am saying. If you want great results, there are things that you can invest that produce great returns. Stuff like, prayer, love, hard work, patience, meekness, commitment and study. They all produce great returns. Things to not invest are laziness, back biting, pride, envy, rage, hate, going with the flow of the world and sin. I recall a time talking to one of my kids who was bent on the fact that they believed that they were right. So much to the point that they would act out in the wrong way. They were struggling with their pride and because of that they were struggling to make it from day to day. Thank God for scripture. Once they saw how God looked at pride in the Bible, they saw the importance of letting go and letting God handle things. Look… If you want Peace, be peaceful… If you want joy, be pleasant.. If you want holiness, spend more time with God and in his WORD.. Pray more.. If you want real friends, be friendly. You desire love… Love someone first.. You want to succeed.. Put in the work… You will get out of things, exactly what you put into it. How about me putting in a familiar scripture. If you want to debate, debate with it.

Galatians 6:7-9 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

3 comments