Investments: by Jesus.
- Christine DiGiacomo
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
People are looking at their investment portfolios... 'just wondering, have you considered what Jesus thinks about your investment strategy?
~Peter Thiel made an investment of $500,000 in Facebook in 2005. In 2012, he sold 80% of the shares he owned for $400 million, a return of 800x his original investment.
~Asa Candler scooped up Coke for $2,300 in 1891 and sold it for $25 million in 1923. Bringing a return of 833x his original investment.
Then there’s Microsoft and Apple, right? If only we had known.
Hmmm, have you heard of the Parable of the Minas? Turns out it is a Return on Investment story by Jesus, not be confused with what Jesus taught his disciples, the Parable of the Talents, where different levels of gifting were to be invested in a few.
Teaching the ‘Bring it Home’/Saturday night message at a retreat a few years ago, I felt God led me to teach this difficult passage from Luke’s gospel. Initially, I didn’t quite get how it fit with a women's retreat, and Jesus’ teaching was somewhat difficult, but I trudged ahead nonetheless. Forward looking to Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem--yes, Palm Sunday next Sunday, this is indeed timely.
Luke writes, "The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said [notice, this parable was spoken to a crowd of people]. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, Jesus told them a story to correct their mistaken impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away. (This is a little long, but Jesus' teaching is invaluable.)
He said, “ A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
“After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’
“‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’
“The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’
“‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’
“But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’
“‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
“‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’” Luke 19.11-27, NLT
Let’s talk about what we have here – Jesus is using financial investment as a metaphor for ALL that God has given us and the return that he is looking for. hmmm... what if all of life is an investment?
Jesus clearly articulates that the coming King calls for a return on his investment. Think, think: What has God invested in you? What has He given you to work with?
•Take note: in the story, each of these servants was given the same amount and the King made sure they understood that he was going to return, and an accounting would be required. This wasn’t their money or their profit--it all belonged to him.
•Every Christian has been entrusted with what he is meant to invest in the kingdom of God until Jesus returns. JESUS IS COMING BACK!
So if all of us has been given the same mina (gift) – what does that look like for us today? (At the time of Jesus' teaching, a mina was a gift of three months’ wages.) For you and me--what are the things we have been given to invest? Because, like the king in Jesus’ story, Jesus, our King is coming back, and when he does, he will take stock of how we have invested what he has given us. Like what?
Hmmm...what are the riches entrusted to us? (what Jesus called minas in the parable)
>The beautiful gift of life
>twenty-four hours each day
>access to God the Father
>a way for sins to be forgiven and a path to be with God forever
>the Bible to hold and read and study
>God's promises, which are many
>the Holy Spirit of God to live inside us - to lead, guide, comfort and even pray for us! >the community of Christ followers. . . the Church!
>Prayer . . . an invitation to communicate with God daily
and all of these are just for starters!
How are you investing the simple gifts you have been given to love people?
For certainly God has blessed us with the ability to love and be loved by others.
Oh, and do you share your gifts/resources/talents to honor God and tell others about him? What an adventure it is!
The king is coming and he will be doing some stock taking--let's make sure he sees some Return on Investment in our lives. Definitely something to ponder.
"In a Little While," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI70E6SVmBQ
lots of love,
Christine
Luke, 56
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