For example, if a person starts a new business selling a product, then he must begin advertising. If the individual decides he doesn’t want to spend the extra money on marketing, then he probably won’t sell much product; but without marketing, sales won’t be strong enough to sustain the business, and so the initial investment in start-up costs will be lost as the business fails and has to close up shop. However, if the person had invested in advertising, then the product would have been sold and he would have made a profit and been able to keep the doors open.
In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus shared a parable about investing. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money” (vv. 14-18).
To make a long story short, the two servants who invested the master’s money were rewarded; however, the one who hid it was severely punished (vv. 19-30). Notice the excuse of the servant who hid his single talent of money: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (vv. 24-25). This man was afraid of doing the wrong thing, and his fear led to financial inactivity; and he wound up burying his talent, and thus losing all he had in the end (vv. 26-29).
Plautus’ expression “you have to spend money to make money,” or at least the basic concept, can be applied to the work of the church. I’m not saying we should invest in order to see a return in “cash flow.” The church should never be in the business of making money. However, we do need to be investing our financial resources in order to see a return in “lost souls” won for the Lord. We need to be investing in things that will reach the lost for Jesus Christ and grow the kingdom of God.
God doesn’t bless a church financially so it can just sit on the money and earn cash interest. In fact, these days the interest rates are so low that this strategy won’t do any good! The Lord blesses a church with money so it can be invested in people; and the type of investments we need to be making are those that lead to the greatest return in lost souls saved from the consequences of sin.
Some churches believe that investing in people is giving away lots of money in benevolence; but the kind of investing the New Testament teaches is meeting people’s spiritual needs. For example, in Acts 3:6, the Apostle Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” We need to be investing in things that provide an opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ; and that lead people to getting saved.
If a church is struggling with low attendance, and as a side-effect low income, then perhaps that church somewhere along the way decided it was better to grow its bank account than to invest in programs, outreaches, and even personnel that would better minister to the spiritual needs of others. Just as the business that refused to invest in marketing and advertising for its new product had to close up shop, a church that fails to invest in people will eventually have to close its doors.
(I have a question for you): “In what ways has our church, out of fear, failed to invest financially in effective programs, outreaches, and personnel – or, perhaps something else – and our church is now experiencing the consequences?” This is some good food for thought. (Here’s one more question): “If we discover that we’ve been hoarding money instead of investing it, then how can we turn things around; especially if we’re feeling a financial crunch?” Keep in mind that making an attempt to do what’s right is a sure sign of a sincere heart.