Investors

From the 10/5/16 Weekly Update by Tim Keller

I was in an economics class once where we were given 500 imaginary dollars to invest in a stock that was being traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Over the course of the assignment we were told to monitor the stock to see how well it did. If we made money we received a better grade than if we lost money. My choice was Honeywell computers, an avionics and aerospace company. I bought $500 worth and hoped for the best. As memory serves I made a few pretend dollars and got a decent grade at the end of the semester.

One of the fascinating things that took place as part of the class was how being invested, even pretending to be invested, caused me to look at that stock differently. I found myself checking out the financial section of the newspaper, talking to people about my investment and even occasionally spotting the word “Honeywell” in a magazine article or on the thermostat in our house (different company).

In short, by becoming an investor I started caring about a company that just weeks earlier I would not have cared about at all.

This Sunday you will be given the opportunity to become an investor in the global ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. At the conclusion of the worship service we’ll be receiving pledges to the Great Commission Fund, the pool of finances from which our International Workers draw their salaries and ministry expenses. This step of faith will require us to prayerfully consider what God is calling us to do to advance this worthy mission. Because of our commitments on Sunday lost people will hear the message of the gospel.

The side benefit is the impact it will have on each one who makes a commitment for the very first time. You’ll find yourself listening a bit more carefully when missions is discussed on a Sunday. You might attend a rally where an International Worker is speaking or even plan to go on a short-term missions trip to visit the place where a particular IW is serving. You will find yourself getting a prayer card and praying for an IW who touches your heart in a special way. Perhaps you’ll begin to pray that God would call your son or daughter, or grandson or granddaughter.

Becoming an investor will change your perspective on the advancement of God’s kingdom around the world.

So why not plan on making your commitment to the GCF on Sunday? It will change your outlook forever . . .and many others as well.