October 1, 2013: Volume 2, Number 23
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MORE WITH
30 60 100 MINISTRIES |
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|  In the midst of the worldwide economy's volativity, how is your investment portfolio?
If you're like many of us, you regularly check your holdings to see what kind of return you're getting. A low ROI -- return on investment -- might be a signal to move some resources around.
God has some surprising expectations when it comes to His ROI (return on investment.) See how your standards compare with His when you read this issue's feature, Do You Expect a Return When Giving to God?
We look forward to hearing from you about how this article impacts your giving and investing. Keep growing!
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EL CULTIVADOR: Introduce Us to Your Spanish-Speaking Friends
| We would love to send our Spanish edition of El Cultivador to Spanish-speaking friends you know who are looking for practical help in their walk with Jesus in ministry, the workplace, or at home. There is no cost.
Please invite Spanish speakers you know to send us their email address and we will subscribe them to this publication in their mother tongue!
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Spiritually Healthy Leader� Crosses Cultures
| The Spiritually Healthy Leader� series reaches across cultural barriers to equip Christians to live in power of Christ. Right now, Christians in remote areas of Guatemala and Ukraine are seeking support to have this powerful, encouraging training. (Read about partnering with us in that or email us for details.)
Our stateside Spiritually Healthy Leader� workshop series continues in our fifth workshop on October 2 with "Clearing the Hurdles," equipping you to successfully overcome leadership challenges. Learn more about this exciting series here.
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 Feature: GOD's ROI (RETURN ON INVESTMENT), PART 1
DO YOU EXPECT A RETURN WHEN GIVING TO GOD? | Andrew studied the print out comparing two investments. One had an excellent ROI. The other - not so much, at least on paper. How much would ROI factor into his decision to proceed with one, the other, or both?
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Image: OMG Top Tens
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ROI - the acronym for return on investment - reveals profitability and efficiency. It is a tool used to make financial decisions. The formula to calculate ROI is simple: an investment's net gain divided by its cost. Is the investment making money? How efficient is it compared with similar opportunities?
Like Andrew, we expect a solid return when it comes to investing our resources. But we unwittingly may apply those same kinds of ROI benchmarks when giving to God, too.
God's ROI: A Sure thing
A look at the Parable of Talents (Matthew 25) reveals that God's resources, when invested in obedience, always produce the return He expects. Talk about a sure thing! "(My Word) will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11, NIV). The Master's ROI is a certainty.
Yet we evaluate the outcome of our giving based on our own human standards. Is our giving profitable in numbers we can measure? Is it efficient? Therein lays a problem. We have a set of expectations in mind. But God has His own. And they're different than ours.
Two servants in the parable invested what the Master had entrusted to them and were praised. One did nothing and the Master rebuked him. The Master placed high value on the first two servants' desire to please Him, their willingness to do what He asked, and their choice to trust the outcome to Him.
Our Human Expectations
Let's take a look at Andrew's two investments, which were in actual fact, giving opportunities. At the start, he had considered each one carefully and felt led by God to proceed with both. One investment was in a stateside church; the second was in a missionary who had poured out his life and heart serving in a remote overseas village.
After several years, the church had grown significantly and reached many who normally were not Christ-followers. During the same time period, the missionary had just one convert. At first glance, the ROI for giving to the missionary appeared unnaturally low to human eyes - perhaps not even worth the bother.
Yet was it? Andrew could not see the ultimate outcome now, but fortunately he sensed a strong leading from God to continue giving and proceeded to do so. He might never know why this side of heaven.
Two decades later, the missionary had passed away but the entire village had embraced Christ.
You Can Have Great Expectations
Andrew's motivation to give did not rest in achieving his personal, predetermined goals. The rate of return was God's to determine, not his. Andrew gave out of obedience to God's leading, not knowing if he'd see a return or not. He trusted the outcome to God.
What kind of expectations do you have when giving to God?
You can have great ones. Giving to God guarantees an outstanding return.
The better question about giving to God is this: can you give as He leads and leave the specific ROI - return on your investment - to Him?
Part 2 addresses how to give as God leads
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Image: Palm Partners
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Growth Point
Give as God leads and let Him determine the ROI.
Scripture
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)
Prayer Points - Think of an investment you have made (whether financial, personal, or spiritual) that produced a return that was different than what you expected.
- Consider your motives as you give to God. What expectations do you have?
- Why does God value our willingness to give as He leads?
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| What People Are Saying ... |
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Carmen and Mardoqueo
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"Thank you for the articles. They help me very much in my goal. I am determined to fulfill the purpose of God - to mentor others - that they know the love of God and encourage and develop the talent that He has given them. Many blessings to you all." Carmen, Guatemala City
Hear more testimonies from Christians in remote areas served by 30 60 100 MINISTRIES staff here.
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