How do you define “investment”?

Proverbs 20:4

Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look, but find nothing.

Without effort and advance planning there are few results; lack of work leads to lack of benefits (Walvoord et al. 948).

For those who are unfamiliar with the agricultural practice of “plowing,” we may speak of breaking up the ground or digging the ground to prepare it for the planting of crops. One translation says, for example, “The lazy person doesn’t go to break the ground in his garden” (Reyburn and Fry 417).

What ideologies, stereotypes, prejudices, walls of hostilities do we need to break up and uproot to make way for God’s kingdom to grow in our lives?

If any, what other lessons does Proverbs have about investing?

• Proverbs 11:18 The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.

• Proverbs 10:5 A child who gathers in summer is prudent, but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

2. Invest in God’s future

Pastor Marco preached last Sunday about God’s dream for the future:

• Luke 13:29 "People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God."

• John 14 “I go to prepare a place for you”

• Rev 7:9 “People of every tribe, tongue and nation gathered before the Lamb”

• Rev 21:5 “I am making all things new”

Can you retell examples of when the Church has invested in God’s future dream? Have you seen some fruit from that labor? How are you still waiting for fruit to come forth?

What steps can you take this week to invest in God’s future?