God’s “ROI”

ROI or Return on Investment is a term often heard in business sectors.

Wikipedia explains:  “Return on Investment (ROI) is the concept of an investment of some resource yielding a benefit to the investor.  In purely economic terms, it is one way of considering profits in relation to capital invested.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_on_investment

We all look for a favorable ROI in many aspects of our lives. We check to see if the price and service was equal to or greater than what we paid for a meal at a restaurant.  We determine if the time, energy, resources and commitment we placed in a relationship is worth what we have invested.

 “You can use ROI to help you determine whether an investment will meet or has met expectations on its return. In its most simplistic form, you can think of it as your net gain divided by the cost:   ROI = Gain from Investment - Cost of Investment.

Seeking a good return on investment -- that is, getting a positive reward for what was invested -- is a useful way to think about money and a great way to think about life.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-sanjay-jain-md/return-on-your-investment_b_4682663.html

This has major implications in our spiritual lives.  Questions we should ask ourselves include:

Is God receiving His ROI for creating you?

Is Jesus receiving his ROI for dying on the cross for you?

Are your parents receiving a ROI for combining their DNA to give birth to you?

Are your teachers receiving their ROI for teaching you?

Are your children receiving their ROI of your love and care of them?

Are your elderly parents receiving their ROI for all the years they have sacrifice and been there for you?

Is your employer receiving their ROI in you?

Have your received a ROI from your spouse? Have you given it?

As a society, we are so focused on what we should GET that we fail to focus on what we GAVE. However, the principle of planting and harvest are the same. If you plant seeds, water them and fertilize them, you can realize a huge harvest. Based on the formula for ROI, the gain for your investment far outweighs the cost.

The Bible explains:

Luke 12:48 (NKJV):  ...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NKJV):  6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NKJV): And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

Matthew 17:20 (NKJV): “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV): But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Matthew 25:21 (NKJV): His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Quotes:

“To build wealth, you need to THINK, SPEND, and INVEST wisely. Think wealth is coming to you, spend time living your purpose, and invest in yourself so the return on investment will be tenfold.” – Linda P. Jones

“You get back as much as you put in. Go all in.” – unknown

GOD has invested so much in us. He wakes us up each morning extending us with grace and mercy. He only asks of us obedience and faithfulness.

Will God receive a favorable ROI from you?