Investing in Growth During Life's Uncertain Times

 

Summary

In this time of uncertainty and change, we are presented with a unique opportunity to invest in ourselves, our families, and our faith. Reflecting on my past experiences in the financial sector, I learned that the best time to invest is often when circumstances seem the most challenging. This principle applies not only to financial investments but also to our personal and spiritual lives. When life slows down, it becomes a chance to focus on things we often neglect due to our busy schedules.

Consider this period as a dip in life, a moment to pause and invest in activities that nurture your soul and relationships. Whether it's cleaning out a closet, playing games with your children, or diving deeper into the Word, these are investments that yield significant returns. Many of us have longed for more time to engage in meaningful devotions, prayer, or worship. Now, with fewer distractions, we have the opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and grow in the areas He desires for us.

Creating a bucket list can be a practical way to prioritize these investments. List the activities you've always wanted to do but never found the time for, and include God in these plans. Even if you are still working, the current situation offers more discretionary time than before. Use this time wisely to prepare for the future God has planned for you.

Reflecting on my past, I realize the importance of investing wisely, not just financially but in every aspect of life. I don't want to look back and regret not using this time to prepare for what God has in store. Now is the time to invest in becoming the person God wants you to be and to gain the knowledge and wisdom He wants you to have for the future. Don't let this opportunity pass by without making the most of it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Invest in the Dip: Just as financial experts advise investing during market downturns, we should invest in our personal and spiritual lives during challenging times. This is when growth can be most profound, as we have the opportunity to focus on what truly matters. [00:12]

2. Create a Bucket List: Identify activities and goals you've always wanted to pursue but never had the time for. This list should include both personal interests and spiritual growth opportunities, ensuring that God remains at the center of your plans. [01:30]

3. Maximize Discretionary Time: Even if you're still working, the current situation provides more free time than usual. Use this time to deepen your relationship with God and invest in personal development, preparing for the future He has planned for you. [02:07]

4. Avoid Future Regrets: Reflect on past experiences where you missed opportunities to invest wisely. Learn from these moments and commit to using your time now to prepare for the opportunities God will bring into your life. [02:35]

5. Prepare for God's Future Plans: Now is the time to invest in who God wants you to be and what He wants you to know. This preparation will ensure that when opportunities arise, you are ready to embrace them fully. [03:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Investing in Challenging Times
- [00:25] - Opportunities in Life's Dips
- [00:39] - Investing in Relationships
- [00:54] - Time for Devotion and Prayer
- [01:06] - Growth in Faith
- [01:17] - Creating a Bucket List
- [01:30] - Prioritizing Time
- [01:42] - Fun and Family Activities
- [01:55] - Including God in Plans
- [02:07] - Maximizing Free Time
- [02:19] - Commitment to Growth
- [02:35] - Learning from Past Mistakes
- [02:51] - Preparing for the Future
- [03:06] - Embracing God's Plans

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."
2. Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
3. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the speaker suggest is the best time to invest in our personal and spiritual lives? [00:12]
2. How does the speaker describe the current period in our lives, and what opportunities does it present? [00:25]
3. What are some activities the speaker mentions that can help nurture our soul and relationships? [00:39]
4. According to the speaker, why is it important to include God in our plans during this time? [01:55]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Ecclesiastes 3:1 relate to the idea of investing during challenging times as mentioned in the sermon? [00:12]
2. In what ways does Proverbs 16:3 encourage us to involve God in our planning and decision-making, as suggested by the speaker? [01:55]
3. How does the concept of seeking God's kingdom first, as stated in Matthew 6:33, align with the speaker's encouragement to prioritize spiritual growth during this time? [01:06]
4. What lessons can be drawn from the speaker's reflection on past financial decisions in relation to our current spiritual investments? [02:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current schedule. What specific changes can you make to invest more time in your relationship with God? [01:06]
2. Create a personal bucket list that includes both fun activities and spiritual goals. What is one item you can start working on this week? [01:30]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to grow. What steps can you take to nurture this growth during this period? [01:06]
4. Think about a past opportunity you missed due to lack of preparation. How can you ensure you are ready for future opportunities God may present? [02:35]
5. How can you involve your family in your spiritual growth journey during this time? Consider activities that can be done together to strengthen both your faith and family bonds. [01:42]
6. What distractions can you minimize to make the most of your discretionary time for spiritual development? [02:07]
7. Reflect on the speaker's message about avoiding future regrets. What is one action you can take today to invest in becoming the person God wants you to be? [03:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Invest in Life's Challenges
In times of uncertainty and change, there is a profound opportunity to invest in personal and spiritual growth. Just as financial experts suggest investing during market downturns, challenging times in life can be seen as a chance to focus on what truly matters. When life slows down, it becomes a moment to pause and invest in activities that nurture the soul and strengthen relationships. This is a time to engage in meaningful devotions, prayer, and worship, deepening one's relationship with God and growing in the areas He desires. [00:12]

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." (Hebrews 10:36, ESV)

Reflection: What challenging situation in your life can you view as an opportunity for spiritual growth today? How can you actively invest in your relationship with God during this time?


Day 2: Prioritize with a Purposeful Bucket List
Creating a bucket list can be a practical way to prioritize investments in personal and spiritual growth. This list should include activities and goals that have been long desired but never pursued due to time constraints. By including God in these plans, individuals can ensure that their pursuits are aligned with His will. This is a time to explore personal interests and spiritual growth opportunities, making sure that God remains at the center of all plans. [01:30]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one activity or goal you've always wanted to pursue but haven't? How can you include God in this pursuit and ensure it aligns with His will?


Day 3: Maximize Your Discretionary Time
Even if one is still working, the current situation often provides more free time than usual. This discretionary time should be used wisely to deepen one's relationship with God and invest in personal development. By preparing for the future God has planned, individuals can ensure they are ready to embrace the opportunities He will bring. This is a time to focus on personal growth and spiritual development, making the most of the time available. [02:07]

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you restructure your daily routine to include more time for spiritual growth and personal development? What specific steps can you take today to make the most of your discretionary time?


Day 4: Learn from Past Mistakes
Reflecting on past experiences where opportunities to invest wisely were missed can provide valuable lessons. By learning from these moments, individuals can commit to using their time now to prepare for the opportunities God will bring into their lives. This is a time to avoid future regrets by making intentional choices that align with God's plans and purposes. [02:35]

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: What past mistake or missed opportunity can you learn from today? How can you apply this lesson to your current situation to avoid future regrets?


Day 5: Prepare for God's Future Plans
Now is the time to invest in becoming the person God wants you to be and to gain the knowledge and wisdom He desires for you. This preparation will ensure that when opportunities arise, you are ready to embrace them fully. By focusing on personal and spiritual growth, individuals can align themselves with God's future plans and be prepared for the opportunities He will bring. [03:06]

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you feel God is calling you to prepare for future opportunities? How can you begin investing in this area today to align with His plans?

Quotes


In my 20s I worked for a mutual fund company and then after that I worked for institutional money management and the message was always the same: When the times are the worst, that's the opportunity. That's the time to invest. And I've been thinking a lot about how with this opportunity, what it feels like to be a dip in our lives, where everything is slowing down, it's an opportunity to invest: invest in me, invest in my family, invest in my friends. [00:00:02]

And I'm encouraging myself, even though I want to retreat, to not do that, to spend the time thinking about what are the things that I have never had the time to do? Clean out my closet or play games with the kids or, better yet, invest time in the Word. How many times have I had a great devotional and thought, "Ugh, if I only had more time." Or spending time in prayer and thinking, "Ugh, if I only had more time." [00:00:32]

Or worshipping in the car on the way to work or on the way to do something with my kids and thinking "Ugh, that was a good song. I wish I didn't have to turn it off in the middle." Well, now I have the time to invest not just in my relationship with God but in what He wants to grow in me. So I want to encourage you to invest. [00:00:57]

Some of the people who make the most money invested when the stock market was at its worst and I believe that right now some of the people that will have the greatest return on the life that God has given them to live, it will be because they decided to invest in themselves, in their people, in their faith, and so what does that look like? Well create a bucket list. [00:01:20]

What are the things that you've always wanted to do and you always say "We just don't have enough time. I don't have enough time. Enough time to read, enough time to rest, and have time to relax, get those photos on your phone organized, play those games with your kids, watch those movies." Yeah all the fun stuff. Create a bucket list and create mildly a little bit of a schedule like what are you gonna get up every day? [00:01:51]

What are you gonna eat? Meal plan, cook with your kids so come up with those lists of things but don't leave God out of that because now he has the greatest amount of time to talk to you. Even if you still have to go to work because everything's canceled you still have more discretionary time than you had before. [00:02:11]

My goodness most of us because our churches are more than 10 people can't even go to church on Sunday midweek or meet with our small group so even if you're still working trust me you still have time and with 24 hours in a day you can commit a few minutes extra 15-30 minutes to bettering who God wants you to be both for now and in the season to come. [00:02:31]

Listen I don't want to feel like I do honestly about I feel like my money in the 20s in my 20s I wasted a lot of money and I thought I have later to save I have later and it's okay but now when I look back I think man how far ahead would I have been if I would have invested then like I'm investing now if I would have taken opportunity with the money that I really didn't need to spend or waste then to save it for decades forward. [00:02:52]

Well I don't want ten years from now ten minutes from now to say man that's ten minutes or ten days that I had that I didn't spend wisely now is your time to prepare for whatever God is going to bring into your future and the worst thing in the world is for opportunity to come and you not be prepared to meet that opportunity. [00:03:12]

Now is your time to invest in who God wants you to be now and in what God wants you to know about Him for your tomorrow don't waste the time invest. [00:03:21]

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Transcript
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