What comes to mind when you hear the word “investment”?

A 401(k)? A business venture? The New York Stock Exchange?

If you associate investments with money, you’re tracking with the traditional definition of the word, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s so much more to investing than just money.

So, this is not a blog about the finest retirement plans or the hottest stocks. You can get that information from a number of other sources. This is just a quick attempt to remind you of the importance of other, more precious investments.

Biblical Investment

Jesus famously told a story about investing. Known as the Parable of the Talents (or sometimes the Parable of the Bags of Gold or Silver).


The story focuses on three servants whose master was going out of town for a while. Before he left, he entrusted his servants with some of his money, giving each of them a different amount based on their abilities.


While their master was gone, two of the servants invested the money and doubled the original amount they were given. But the third servant hid the money under the mattress, so to speak. He failed to take advantage of even the most basic investment opportunity, and his master was furious. But the ones who had wisely invested the money and doubled it—regardless of the original amount—were praised and rewarded.

On the surface, the Parable of the Talents is all about money, but if we go a little deeper we see that there’s much more. We must remember that Jesus was always more interested in people’s hearts than He was in their wallets.

We’ve all been given different amounts of time, money and talent, and those who follow Christ have at least one spiritual gift. In other words, Jesus has entrusted us with some precious things until He returns.

A Look Inward

Now, a few investment questions. They aren’t meant to be condemning. They’re simply meant to provoke some thought and prayer.

How are you investing your money? Are you using it to make a difference in people’s lives—in this world and the next?

What about your time? Are you consistently making time to walk with God and study His Word? Are you doing what Jesus did—stopping to reach out to people, even when it’s not on your schedule or your to-do list?

How are you investing your God-given talents? Are you using them for the Kingdom or just for your own enjoyment?

What have you done with your spiritual gift(s)? Do others benefit from your gift? Are you honing it and using it regularly for God’s purposes?

The Master is coming back soon. He’s left us, His servants, with some precious gifts. When we use them to their fullest potential, we’re truly making the best investments.