The definition of a deposit is “to put (money) in a bank account” or “to put (someone or something) in a particular place.”  That’s it.  It is a one-time act.  But what if you make more than one deposit?  That’s an investment.  You are increasing your deposit by adding principal to it so that your account will have value.  We definitely can’t depend on the interest rates of today to increase our value. But, it depends on what you invest in.

My particular interest of investing is in the lives of others.  There is no greater joy than seeing fruit coming from the time that I have taken to spend with people I love and care about.  Not all of that time is spent reading God’s word or praying.  You sometimes just need to have a good ear; know when it’s time to give advice and know when to keep your mouth shut.

I see right now the need for this in our youth.  But this is also a two way street.  Parents aren’t realizing the benefit of having someone invest in their child, so they are not “making” their child participate in church events.  Yes, I’ll admit it.  I am one of those parents that you don’t have a choice.  I didn’t have a choice.  So now, church is option A, B, or C on the list of events in the household.  It has just become the way of today’s society, and that’s sad.  I hurt deeply because I feel our youth are being slighted.  Not by our church, but by lay leaders that are just too busy.

I’m praying for that person who is going to come alongside Collin and disciple him.  I do not know who this is going to be or when.  I do not know if they will be from Germantown Baptist or another church.  All I know is that I am praying God will send them quickly to invest in a young boy who is facing a turning point in his life that he could make many decisions for the good or for the bad.  He is about to hit the same age Trey was when he was diagnosed.  There are so many things that go on in our household as a fallout from a sibling losing a sibling.  Not to mention, what he is dealing with in his own mind about his own body.  He has appointment after appointment.

There was a special man that invested in Trey.  There were many, MANY, events at church that I would leave early or that the youth would have and because he lived around the corner, he would bring Trey home.  That gave them the chance to bond, and even more, a chance for Trey to talk about his day, or what had gone wrong at school, talk about sports, etc.  Just guy time.  What Trey never knew was there were MANY times that I orchestrated those times so that he would have the time to talk because I knew he needed it.  One summer, Trey’s “ride” had shoulder surgery.  Trey came to Jay and me and asked if he could cut their yard because he knew he would not be able to do it after surgery.  We said absolutely!  That entire summer Trey gave back to the one that had been investing in him.  Trey spent many sweaty days at Keith Cochran’s house cutting his yard that summer.  But he did it for his friend, not his youth Pastor.  That’s an investment.  An investment that led from 6^th grade, to his bedside as he was being told he had cancer, to being by his bedside when he met Jesus.  Keith paid an emotional price too, I know.  That happens when you invest in young people.  Sometimes it hurts.

So who are you investing in? Or maybe you are tired of investing because they are not responding.  I know that feeling.  We feel that with our own children.  That’s called parenting. Or maybe you don’t know how to invest? I am reminded of what Jesus says in John 15:5-11.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

If they do not abide in Christ, they are cast in the fire and burned!  Is that not enough to invest in someone? To share the good news of the Gospel to someone? My prayer is that my heart will continue to burn for young people and their desire to know God.  If that changes, I know that God has other plans for me to share His word.  Right now, my deepest prayer is for one.  Just one.  My Collin.  So that he can benefit from the sweetest investment of “guy time” that Jesus can give and learn what it means to deeply abide.

Who are you going to give a ride home?