The Greatest Investment Ever!!

• I want you to be prosperous. Why? You are church members. The more money you make, the more you can give to the church, right? So, I want you to be prosperous!

  • Today, we’re going to be talking about an investment I wish all of you would make. One investment that can make you prosperous beyond your ability to imagine! 

  • I wish I had known this earlier in my life, but I will share it with you and my family now so they may apply the principle and reap more of the benefits by making this investment earlier in their life.

  • Let’s begin by defining investment.

    • Investment: 

The allocation of resources, such as capital, time, or effort, with the expectation of achieving a future benefit or return.

• • • You commit resources now with the hope that they will increase in value over time and yield returns in the form of income, increased value, or other beneficial outcomes.

• • Investment types:

    • Stocks and bonds

    • Mutual funds

    • Real estate

    • Certificates of deposit

    • Precious metals

    • Cryptocurrencies

    • Options and futures

    • Venture capital

    • Art and collectibles 

• • • Which one has the most certainty of giving you a return?

• Listen closely; I will share with you information that will change your life. I’m about to speak with you about the one investment that promises you a guaranteed return that is incomparable to any other investment with no risk of losing your principal.

  • That’s right! An investment with a guaranteed return with no risk of losing your initial investment.

    • Whatever you put in is what you are sure to get out and then more.

    • Are you interested?

The Greatest Investment Ever!

• Have you ever heard the statement, “Practice makes perfect? ”

  • What does it mean?

  • A musician. An athlete, A dancer

    • Practices over and over until it becomes second nature.

    • The possibility of error is diminished. The routine becomes intuitive.

    • You get used to it, and it becomes natural.

    • It is not that you don’t make errors from time to time, but perfection begins to occur increasingly as a routine is repeated again and again the way it should be done.

• • Here’s the simple key to the greatest investment ever!

1 John 3:7 (NKJV): Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

• Discuss the last sentence of 1 John 3:7. 

  • What is righteousness? (Noun)

    • Righteousness is a noun that means being morally right or justifiable before God. It is the quality or state of being righteous.

• • What is righteous? (Adjective)

    • Righteous is an adjective that describes someone or something that exhibits righteousness. This means conforming to God’s commandments and maintaining a life internally and externally of holiness, justice and virtue according to Scripture.

• • What is the result of practicing righteousness?

    • The practice of righteousness makes one righteous. 

• • Practicing righteousness results in a gradual growth in holiness and moral purity. 

    • This happens as one practices living in accordance with God’s will. 

    • As believers continually practice righteousness, they are progressively sanctified, becoming more like Christ. 

No investment on earth can match the guaranteed returns of devoting time to the practice of righteousness!

• • How does one practice righteousness?

    • By daily practicing living in accordance with God’s laws and teachings.

    • This does not mean you will never make mistakes, but it does mean you should practice to be perfect.

      • Remember, Practice Makes Perfect!

    • Therefore, John the Beloved tells us if we practice the word of God, we shall be declared righteous.

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

• What is the return on the investment of practicing righteousness?  

  • A person who practices righteousness is declared righteous. 

A righteous person is entitled to certain benefits according to the Word of God.

Practicing Righteousness guarantees a return of spiritual and material prosperity incomparable to any worldly gain. The time you invest in practicing righteousness is the greatest investment ever!

• • 7 Scriptures proving righteousness has a great return!

Ps 5:12 (ESV) — 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. 

Ps 37:25 (ESV) — 25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 

Pr 12:28 (ESV) — 28 In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. 

Pr 13:21 (ESV) — 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. 

Mt 5:6 (ESV) — 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

Mt 5:10 (ESV) — 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

1 Pe 3:12 (ESV) — 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 

He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

• • Further, understand this: 

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT, YOU JUST HAVE TO PRACTICE BEING PERFECT!

2 Co 8:12 (NKJV) — 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

Mt 6:1 (ESV) — 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  

• • • These things must be done with the right type of heart.

    • 1 Sa 16:7 (ESV) — 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

Remember, Practice Makes Perfect!

• The Emptiness Of Worldly Pursuits - no matter how much guided by human wisdom and effort, worldly investments are marked by uncertainty and the looming threat of loss, including eternal loss.

• • Pr 11:28 (NKJV) — 28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage. 

  • But,

You are going to be a slave to either God or man, and each will give, in exchange for your time, a return.

Whatever we give our time to, we give our life too. 

• • 1 Jn 3:7 (NKJV) —He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 

Therefore, devote your time and your life to the one investment that is guaranteed to give you an unbelievable return: 

The Practice of Righteousness! The Greatest Investment Ever!!