Opinion: Money doesn't grow until it's planted

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Everybody feels good when they have tangible money. It's funny how money makes a person feels secure. Argumentatively, money means more to some people than their health. I understand that every single person is not going to be wealthy financially. However, if we do the right things with the little that we have, we can live comfortably.

We must approach money like a farmer with seeds. The farmer can have hundreds of acres of land, but until he tills the ground and puts the seed in the right soil, he will never see a harvest. The farmer must evaluate the historical climate, his soil type and the average rainfall to determine what plants will grow in his fields. Likewise with money, your money doesn't grow just anywhere. Regardless of how much or how little money you start with, you must study the ground. If you only have $200, you can grow it to $200,000 if you spread and sow it effectively. The problem with growing money is that most people refuse to plant it. In order to increase, you must decrease. Let's look at this example. The shrubs that beautify a yard often never mature because we are afraid to trim or prune them. Pruning forces growth in other areas of the branch! Initially it looks like a loss to the shrub; patience, however, will prove us wrong almost every time.

When we plant, sow or invest our money, it looks like a loss initially because a certain amount of money becomes off limits to us for a period of time. If you sit down with wealthy people, they will tell you that it was tough initially but patience paid off. They studied the ground (market), spoke with professional investors, prayed over their investments and waited. A fruit tree seed doesn't produce fruits overnight. Sometimes it takes years to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We must, however, be able to retain a little from every revenue stream to get started.

In order to plant money, one must first be able to put something aside. If your goal is to keep up with every fad, get every gadget update or be the best dresser in town, it will become virtually impossible to grow your money. Here are some commonsense practices to grow money:

- Make purchases on things that appreciate (grow in value);

- Keep an emergency fund;

- Give to the poor and needy (charitable causes);

- Invest in your education;

- Buy quality, and take care of what you purchase;

- Give to Caesar (pay your taxes) and give to God (pay your tithes/offerings); and

- Always evaluate the possible returns on your purchases.

Saving money equates to money that can be used for planting in good investments to grow your net worth.

If you are only living for the now, it is impossible to grow your money. Money has never been the root of evil; the love of it is. There is a simple truth about money, and that is, you don't need it until you don't have it.

Matthew 25:14-15. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Upon reading verses 16-30 we find out that two of the three persons planted their talent of value and grew from the original amount. The final person who was only given one talent of money held his one and ended up losing it. If we do not try to grow our money, what we have will eventually dissolve. God has given each of us a measure of faith; use it to perform an increase in every area of your life.

Sam Livingston is pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Manning.