Hello ICC Family!
When we moved here almost two years ago and found our new home close to the church, one of the issues we brought up with the sellers was the cracked and sunken driveway. It was pretty bad! However, they weren’t interested in doing anything about it, and we moved in anyway. For the past year, I’ve seen almost daily ads on Facebook for foundation and driveway repair services. Their videos show crews drilling holes into the concrete and injecting foam into the ground, raising and leveling the concrete slabs. The finished product looks amazing, so after months of wondering if it would be worth it, I scheduled an appointment to get a quote for repairing our driveway.
The person who came out was great—on time, professional, knowledgeable, and a good communicator. He explained exactly how they could fix our driveway and made the timetable clear. He was also personable. He seemed genuinely interested in me - even our church! In other words… he was a great salesman! There was only one problem - the price. It was over three times what I had in mind! Needless to say, we have not scheduled the work. So be careful not to trip when you visit us!
Laurel and I have found ourselves in similar situations numerous times since returning from overseas. We want to be good stewards of our home, cars, savings, and health, but maintaining them often requires significant investments of time and money. And the investments are almost always more expensive than we can comfortably afford. Sound familiar? What makes the decisions especially difficult is that there’s often no guarantee the investment will be worth it.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
However, there is one area of life where we have a guaranteed return on our investment: our relationship with God. Every moment spent studying the written word of God, knowing the living Word of God, and praying in the Spirit of God will bear incredible fruit in our lives. None of these moments are wasted. In fact, they are integral to experiencing the joy and peace we might seek through all of those other investments!
Often, we’re unsure whether it’s the right time to upgrade, add on, or splurge. My point is not to say we shouldn’t bite the bullet when it’s time to pay for a new roof or splurge once in a while to take a more expensive vacation. Pray about it, count the cost, and make a decision in faith. However, it’s always the right decision to invest time with God—reading His Word, sitting in silence and prayer with Him, and walking in the Spirit. You don’t need to wrestle with the decision about whether to take the time to do those things, because we are promised that this will always bear fruit. Given the uncertainty of all other investments, this should bring us great security and comfort - even a feeling of relief. Because it is one decision that is not going to take hours of prayer, internet research, and discussion with your spouse. Just remain in Christ and allow him to remain in you. That will always bear much fruit!
Blessings to you all. And know that I am praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
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