Investing in the Kingdom of Heaven
Pastor Tan Thai · Dec 29, 2018
This sermon challenges the congregation to seriously consider investing their resources — money, time, and talents — into God's work rather than earthly wealth. The message emphasizes that earthly treasure will perish, while heavenly rewards are eternal and priceless.
The sermon opens with a familiar financial investment analogy, particularly Apple's stock performance, to introduce the central argument: if people willingly take risks to invest in high-return opportunities, why not invest in the Kingdom of Heaven — where God guarantees eternal rewards? The pastor poses the question 'Who will invest in the Kingdom of Heaven?' and answers that it is those who believe three biblical truths: earthly treasures will perish (Matthew 6:19-21), the value of the soul surpasses all worldly gain (Matthew 6:26-27), and life on earth is as fleeting as vapor (James 4:13-14).
The sermon analyzes biblical characters to illustrate two contrasting choices. Demas, once a fellow worker with Paul, abandoned God's work because he 'loved this present world' (2 Timothy 4:9-11). In contrast, John Mark stumbled initially but returned to invest fully in the Kingdom. The church at Philippi is highlighted as a model of consistent investment over more than ten years through participation, prayer, and financial support for Paul. Paul himself stands as a living testimony, having surrendered all status, education, and security to gain the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).
The pastor emphasizes the importance of 'counting the cost before investing,' drawing from the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war in Luke 14:28-31. He warns honestly that short-term investment in the Kingdom may involve loss, suffering, and trials — not the smooth prosperity some messages promise. Jesus Himself wore a crown of thorns before wearing a crown of gold (John 19:1-5; Revelation 14:14), and this is an honest picture of the path of Kingdom investment.
The rewards for faithfulness are presented through the theme of crowns in the New Testament: the imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8), the crown of life (James 1:12), and the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). These crowns are not mere ornaments but symbols of power, honor, and eternal reward — reserved only for those who courageously invest fully in this life.
The sermon closes with a practical call to invest in the Kingdom through three resources: Money, Time, and Talent. The pastor points out that every person already uses these three daily for relationships, family, and work; the question is whether they are willing to use them for God. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, he affirms that the temporary tent of earthly life will be destroyed, but the eternal house in heaven built by God will endure forever — and that is where one's ultimate investment belongs.