Invest in Your Character, Not Your Comfort
By Rick Warren
“Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 (TLB)
God wants you to grow spiritually and become more like Jesus Christ. One way you can do that is by taking some of your money and investing it in your personal growth.
The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:18, “Grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (TLB).
Your money can help you grow in spiritual strength. You can use it to develop skills, to educate yourself, to become a better leader, a better speaker, a better intercessor, or just a better person.
The truth is, you’re not taking your car to heaven with you. You’re not taking your home, your phone, or your clothes to heaven either.
But you are taking your character. It may be tempting to use your money to invest in comfort, but God wants you to use your money to invest in things that will last for eternity—like your character.
Any time you use your money to buy a Christian book that will help you grow, you’ve invested in what I call God’s Growth Fund. Any time you use some of your money to pay for a retreat or a conference that improves your life, you’ve invested in the Growth Fund. Any time you spend money on a class or seminar that helps mature toward who God wants you to be, that’s a good use of your money.
I’ll never forget when I bought my first Bible. I was a teenager and thought, “This is the most important book to me, so I’m going to get the best one I can find.” I did a little research and found one I like called the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible. Then I said, “I want a binding that lasts, so I’m going to get it in the nicest leather I can find.” It cost me 60 dollars to buy that Bible—two months of my allowance. I gave up two months’ worth of snacks and movies, but I got a really good Bible I could use for the rest of my life.
I still have that Bible. It’s my most treasured possession because I’ve read through it so many times, so it’s underlined and marked up.
The Bible says, “Why spend your money on something that is not real food? . . . Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies” (Isaiah 55:2 NCV).
Why spend your money on junk food when you instead can invest in food for your soul? It will nourish you and satisfy you—for eternity.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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