The keywords in this article are value, investment, life and most importantly, God. As the Lord teaches my heart, I intend to teach everyone on how to add value or maximize God’s huge investments on their lives.
According to the book of Genesis chapter 1 to 3, we understand that God is the Author of life, and by His Spirit; He sustains it. We also understand the various “events” that took place before the emergence of the first living person (Adam) – how God created the earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, the vegetations and the animals. If I may be very expressive, “what so many people call ‘events of creation’ were not mere “events; rather, they were series of investments committed by God for the sake of man!” If you could consider very carefully, the most important thing to God was not just the sea, animals, sun, vegetations and the likes; rather, the emergence of man. Therefore, man was not a product of an accidental occurrence; but divine purpose, which is guided by divine thoughts. (Jeremiah 29:11)
For instance, the ultimate purpose of an average business is to make profit by satisfying the need of the customers. From that purpose, they begin on investment process, which could begin with registration or incorporation of the business (name); purchasing (or renting) of properties such as land or building; then, to the acquisition of requisite production equipment or machineries; and the employment of hands and minds to drive the business towards its purpose. If I may ask, "is an average business established for the sake of its staff or even its customers?" Probably not! The point is this; the entire creation process was the necessary investment for the life His soul yearns to see on the earth.
Today, the world population has grown from the one (1) person at Genesis 1-2, to over seven (7) billion persons on the earth; however, not one of this enormous statistic (numbers) is living without prior investment of God on his or her living. Frankly, an iPhone S5 mobile device may be ignorant of the investment that brought it out into the market; however, its ignorance does not in any way reduce or cancel the reality of the huge investment of Apple to its production.
Usually, what consumers see and enjoy is not the investment, but the product; hence, quick and easy denial of investment efforts is possible. It usually said in my “village” that the river that forgets (denies) its source will soon dry up.
Since ignorance is not a good excuse in life; it is therefore important for us to both know and appreciate the tremendous divine investment on us as individuals and as a people. Africa is perhaps the less developed and the most impoverished continent in the world; but do you also know that Africa is the most “endowed” continent in the world? What a contradiction!
Before the emergence of people in Africa, God took His time, creativity and power to create the entity called Africa and handed it over to us (from past generations to present); but instead of adding value to God’s investment on us as a people; we continually disregarded what we possessed and depended on what others possessed. Indeed, a man in honour, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish (waste away). (Psalms 49:20). May we never waste away in Jesus name!
Luke chapter 19 verse 11 to 26 provides a clear picture of this whole article. If we may consider a verse from the Scripture for the sake of space, it will surely help. “…Why then did you not put my money (investment) in the bank (some projects), that at my coming I might have collected it with interest (value)? (Luke 19:23). Actually, no one celebrates wastefulness, mediocrity or folly; not God!
God has invested His grace (strength), peace, love, provision (riches), guidance (wisdom), glory (awesome presence), blessing (endowment) and honour on each one of us. But how many of us are deploying them for His will? How many are engaging their workplaces, families, organizations, schools, marriages and communities with their invested resources?
Let us examine the word invest again. Invest is a compound word of in-vest. To vest is to give somebody the legal right (authority) or power to do something. Therefore, God’s investment on your life is the summary of the authority and power of God in you. Adding value to God’s investment on your life is therefore, putting the authority and power of God in you to great use for the glory and praise of the name of the LORD (the Owner of all things and people).
Can you sing sonorously? If yes, sing for His praise among men! Can you design and build with great dexterity? If yes do it for His glory on the earth. Can you serve? If yes, do it diligently and gloriously as onto the Lord! Can you preach and teach the word of God as inspired? If yes, do it for His glory! Can you write prolifically? If yes, do it for His honour and praise!
In short, do all things within the authority and power of God in your life for His glory and praise on the earth!
Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Gboyega ADEDEJI!
Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!