Invest Wisely

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. (Matthew 25:27 ESV)

We ought to invest our time wisely. We have friends who taught us how to invest our money by putting aside of our income. We also learn to invest part of our time daily by putting aside time to read the Bible. This is a very good investment of time. If we increase our Bible knowledge, we will know God better. When we know God better, we can do His will better. If we do His will, we will know Him.

If we know God, we have eternal life.

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him." (John 14:21 HCSB)

What To Know

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Reading books about swimming will increase your knowledge about swimming. But only when you jump into the pool, then you will know how to swim.

Reading books about investing will increase your knowledge about investing. But only when you put money to invest, then you will get rich.

Reading the Bible will increase your knowledge of God. But only when you do God's commandments in the Bible, then you know God.

It is good to know how to swim. It may save you from drowning.

It may even be better to know how to invest. You can become rich.

But it is best to know God. Because you will have eternal life.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

Wealth

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil - this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 NIV)

God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. (Ecclesiastes 6:2 NIV)

Small Regular Deposits

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

There was no big memorable events to mark my relationship with the founding pastor of JSM. However, his impact on me was tremendous, like small little deposits that built up over the years, just like my mother's influence on me.

At my mother's funeral, I could not find words to express this feeling. Thanks to brother Kok Hoong who shared the following by WhatsApp on Thursday 3rd January (the day pastor went to glory), I found the words.

QUOTE
In the winter of 2009, a large passenger plane made an emergency landing in New York's Hudson River. The pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who landed the plane safely with no casualties, was later asked about those moments in the air when he was faced with a life-or-death decision. "One way of looking at this," he said, "might be that for 42 years I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education, and training. And on [that day] the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."
UNQUOTE

Both founding pastor and my mother had made small regular deposits in my bank of experience. It helped to shape my world view and I thank God for their influence in my life.