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Investing Your L.I.F.E.

Investments! People 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 Labour, 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 all that will have lasting value.

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

Influence

As I was thinking about investing my influence for eternity, I thought about a poll we conducted of influential leaders. One of the questions we asked was how they were using their influence during the time their 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 that high. 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. (Pointing women to www.journeyofjoy.com is an effective way.)

How are you using your influence?

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?

Ten years ago, the Lord impressed me to begin tithing from my salary. My husband and I had been giving more then 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 LIFE 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.

Related Reading:
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Discover the Spirit-Filled life
Need advice? Ask us.

~ Katherine has been a staff member with  Power to Change Canada for 30 years. She has launched and developed many successful ministries, including  Canadian Prayer Alert, Women In Leadership, Women Today, Women Today Magazine and Women Today Online. Katherine has written and published a book, When Dreams Come True:  Women Today Online. She serves as the director for www.secretsofsuccess.com.