Invest in Forever – August 3, 2025

One key truth: Life feels empty if we live like this world is all there is—but real joy comes when we see everything we have as a gift from God and use it for him.

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Ecclesiastes 1:1,2,14; 2:18-25

Invest in Forever

“A billion dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to.”

That’s what a billionaire once said when someone asked if he felt secure having that kind of money. By the time he died, he had made $2 billion. But guess what? All that money did absolutely nothing for him after he died.

Everywhere we look, people are chasing after stuff—money, fame, popularity, bigger houses, nicer cars, dream vacations. And honestly, we’re tempted to chase after those things too. None of them are wrong by themselves. If God gives us any of those blessings, we can be thankful!

But here’s the truth: that kind of stuff doesn’t last. King Solomon once said that wealth is like a mist—it shows up for a second and then disappears. You’ve probably heard stories about people losing jobs, homes, and money overnight. Everything we work so hard for can vanish in an instant.

Even if you became a billionaire, you wouldn’t be able to take a single dollar with you when you die.

So what does last forever? God’s love. Jesus. Eternity.

That’s where it makes sense to invest your time, energy, and focus—not just in stuff that fades, but in something that never ends. Real satisfaction doesn’t come from what’s in your wallet or your Instagram feed. It comes from knowing this: You belong to Jesus. You are a child of God. You matter to him.

And you get to be part of something incredible—the work of sharing Jesus and changing lives for eternity.

So instead of chasing things that won’t last, let’s live for the One who gave us something that will. God has given you the greatest treasure of all—Jesus. And that treasure will last forever.

A billion dollars might not go as far today, but Jesus will take you all the way into eternity.

That’s where true joy, peace, and purpose come from—Jesus and the mission he’s given you.

When your life is centered on him, death won’t steal anything from you. It’ll just be the doorway to everything God has promised.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Invest in forever.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, sometimes we get so caught up in chasing things that don’t really matter. Remind us that money, popularity, and success can’t beat death—but Jesus already did. Help us focus on what really lasts—your love and your mission. Teach us to live for eternity, and to find our true worth in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.