Investing Your L.I.F.E.

world_investing Investments! Women have become much more aware of the importance of taking control of their finances and investing wisely. Lately, however, my thoughts have been directed to investing not only our finances, but our LIFE.

“How are you investing your L.I.F.E.?” someone asked me. “We all have labor, influence, finances, and expertise to invest — have you ever thought about it in those terms?”

As I pondered those statements, I realized I needed to take them seriously.

Labor
On what do I spend my energy? My family? My career? Fitness? Shopping? How much time do I give to God— time that will have eternal significance? After all, that is really what will have lasting value.

Of course, we should have an eternal mindset while doing all of our activities. But how often do we, really?

Always late? Take our time management Life Lesson
Are you struggling in your work life?: Talk to a mentor

Influence
How are you using your influence? As I was thinking about investing my influence for eternity, I thought about a poll we conducted with wives of influential leaders. One of the questions we asked was how they were using their influence during the time their husbands were in leadership. Sadly, not one of them recognized that they were in positions of influence, and that they could use this influence to help change their world.

We each have influence over at least 250 people in our world. With technology, that number is at least 10 times higher. Wherever God has placed us, we must constantly be asking Him to show us people we can influence for His Kingdom. He wants to use us much like He used Queen Esther, who intervened and saved her people from destruction. We do this through prayer and by directing them to Christ.

Finances
How do we spend our money? I know— groceries, mortgage payments, retirement, medical bills, insurance, clothes, furnishings, fitness and on and on. But do you personally give God at least one tenth of your salary? I don’t mean what you give as a couple, if you are married, but YOU!

Ten years ago, the Lord impressed me to begin tithing from my salary. My husband and I had been giving more than 20% from our total income, but I knew now was the time God wanted me to feel the sacrifice and joy of giving. The joy of writing out the cheques and deciding where the money should go. I was amazed to see God stretch the remaining money to be able to pay all my bills and buy necessities. I shouldn’t have been surprised, because God did say in Malachi 3:10:

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

Funny thing— it is so much fun giving, I have been increasing my giving every year since then.

How about you? Are you investing at least ten percent of your income for the Lord’s kingdom? Think about it! Try it!

Expertise
What are you good at? Have you come to the point in your life where you realize that God has given you that talent, profession, expertise to glorify Him? And that you will experience true significance when you yield all that you are and all that you have to the Lord’s direction and control? I made that decision many years ago and I am so glad I did.

That is why, when I now evaluate my L.I.F.E. every six months and set new measurable goals, I always ask God where He wants me to spend my Labour, Influence, Finances and Expertise.

I encourage you to try it for a year — God will pour down His blessings on you.

For all who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior, God has given His Holy Spirit to be a Helper. As we yield to Him in our daily life and surrender ourselves in order to live a Spirit-filled life, God carries out His good and perfect will through us. Why not pray this simple prayer right now, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and direct your life?

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.