The verse highlighted in this post is from the first section of our Investing Challenge.

I have been thinking about the meaning of true Love. What does it really mean? How can I demonstrate it from day to day?

Jesus told us that the two greatest commandments were to love God with all our being and then to love others just as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27)! That’s a big job to say the least! How can you and I carry that out? Does this even relate to investing in the Kingdom? I hope to tie all these thoughts together and encourage you in your walk with Jesus through this post!

This past month, I was listening to Mr. Gothard share about the importance of winning souls for the Lord. He was really exhorting young people to have a greater zeal and passion for evangelism. As I meditated on what I heard, I wondered why I didn’t have as great a passion as I knew I should have for investing in the Kingdom in this way? What was I missing? What was the key behind it all?
A few weeks later, I was listening to a father share in front of a few families about the importance of soul winning! But this father said a key word that caught my attention. He used the word “GIVER” as he shared. He said that a soul winner was a GIVER. In my heart, I knew that’s what I wanted to be! But I realized that part of the reason that I don’t have a zeal for seeing others come to Jesus is because I am not a giver…I am selfish! It takes time and effort to invest in the Kingdom in this way and be a giver! It isn’t easy! It seems easier to just not worry about handing out tracks or stopping to share with someone about the Good News of Jesus. But there is a blessing for all who are givers. Acts 20:35 is the verse for this post. It states the following:

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said,  It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Though everyone loves receiving gifts and is blessed by them, Jesus says that the greater blessing is upon the giver. Our giving, as Christians, should extend to our fellow Believers as well as non-Christians.
At the beginning of this year, the Lord gave me a really powerful verse from Luke 6 to be my theme verse for this year. I was really encouraged to see how it fits right in to what we are studying.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” ~ Luke 6:38

 Ever heard the phrase, “You can’t out-give God”? It is true! He promises to give back to you abundantly! It may not be in the same “form” as you gave, but He will always bless you for investing in His Kingdom with the right heart! This is a promise that you and I can claim…if we give!

How does this all tie into true Love? =) It’s real simple; and the answer is found in one of the most well-known verse in our Bible…John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Giving is a demonstration of genuine love, and you cannot have true love without GIVING. We invest in the Kingdom by GIVING! We give our time and efforts to share Christ with others because we love others, but ultimately, because we Love the Lord!

God has given you and me SO MUCH! Now, let us GIVE to others and invest in the Kingdom!

~Chad P.