Guest blogger… Steve Lay:Opportunities to Invest
Background: Steve is one of my first friends on FB who has been loyal, faithful, and an encouragement out-of-the-blue for me when the Father knows I need it. Every time I see I have an email from him, I always open it first because of his ‘priestly’ and Barnabas gifts of authenticity. I share this gift, kindness, and brother in Christ with you and know that you will be as blessed as I am.
Derek,
I put an article together for your blog in reference to a discussion we had last week. I will eventually upload this to my blog, but I have several articles to post before that will build up to such a topic. So if you can, or want, to use this and it fits the theme or flow of your blog, please feel free. I have proof read it…hopefully nothing TOO glaring LOL
Thanks Steve
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Derek R Iannelli-Smith “ I regularly hear from folks that they don’t have opportunities to invest in someone… I usually ask them… when was the last time you got fast food, gas, or went to the supermarket, … why not give those things over to God and redeem them at the same time.”
Opportunities to Invest
When one thinks of investing, typically the mind moves into the place of finance. We have investments because we divest worth on a particular object – stocks, bonds etc hoping that they may grow over time. There is another sort of investment, whereupon we can divert interest into people who do not yet know the eternal worth of Jesus…and His payment for them. We can perhaps call this a Kingdom investment where the dividend may be the building up of OUR own character and a guidepost for those who do NOT yet know our God and Father. Therefore we are throwing ourselves into the wild world of chance and possibilities not knowing where God may take us.
Our opportunities to invest in others may start (or even continue) as small deposits of the economy of Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus says “You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next…” (Peterson, The Message)
The first tier of opportunity one has to invest is in the public at large. Peter reminds us to go about our business with meekness and respect. This is our starting point whether in a grocery store, gas station or fast food outlet. Be a shining light. Let someone in line. Smile. Extract a grocery cart that is jammed together for someone who is already struggling to extricate one. Offer a kind word to the person working hard at a check-out. Offer additional plastic bags at check-out to someone else. Say “thank-you” when a clerk has gone out of their way to find an item you are looking for. Let them know you appreciate their time. Tip well. Be courteous. Talk to the homeless guy as you would anyone else. Give others space or the opportunity to enter your lane on the highway. You may be thinking “how does this relate to witnessing about Jesus?” It has everything to do with it. You are building your character by living out the fruit of the Spirit. As Jesus prayed that “the Father’s Kingdom be one on earth as it is in heaven” you are helping to realize this in minute ways. In addition you are giving Jesus a good reputation. Finally your actions just may be contagious.
The second tier of opportunity is of a more personal nature. This is not about an agenda, but rather simply carrying out once again Peter’s admonition in this paraphrase “set apart God and be ready to explain your faith to everyone who asks in humility and high opinion of others” Jesus reminds us too to LOVE our neighbor.
What does this look like?
Hang out with your colleagues – go to lunch, supper, pub, coffee, ball games etc. Go for beer and wings. Laugh hard. Be helpful at work. Build relationships – and be a solid friend. Take time out for them, show them you honestly care. Make mixed CD’s, let them know what you like about them, go to the movies, get into some great conversations. By building honest friendships you open the lines of communication and trust. Your friends will reciprocate. Interesting conversations always develop when you invest in other people. Rather than offer them three points on “how to be saved” show them what it is like to follow Jesus so that they will want to KNOW Jesus. They will see your character; they get to a point where they feel comfortable enough to ask you about your faith. When the opportunity arises your faith can be shared in such a way that it is fitting to the person you have invested in.
Ultimately your character gives you the legs to witness to your faith. Take opportunities whether in the public or personal sphere to invest in others. We do not know where the Spirit of God may take us or others we are relating too. We do know that God is faithful to act in ways that we cannot conceive. We may be the one who plants, or the one who waters. Let us trust that God will produce an outcome that He sees fit…and we will simply be conduits of His grace to the lost.
Peace
Steve’s blog is called The Groundworks. Thank you Steve for investing in the Oasis and it’s readers/fans.
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