Store Up Treasure in Heaven
Investing in the stock market is complex. In the past few years, Nvidia has been one of the hotter stocks. In February 2024, its shares were selling for around $62. One year later, the shares had more than doubled. But then, just last week, in January 2025, a Chinese Company called DeepSeek released an AI model that appeared to perform as well as OpenAI, the U.S. firm that uses GPU’s made by Nvidia. However, Deep Seek produced its model with far less computing power than OpenAI, which could mean that future AI models of the future might not require as many high-end Nvidia chips as investors have been counting on. Suddenly investors were dumping their Nvidia shares. The price of shares dropped about $30 in one day, selling at about $117 on January 26.
It goes to show how volatile, unpredictable, and tenuous our investments might be. Investors have learned to manage the risk inherent in technology stocks, but there are no long term “sure things” in investing. History has shown that investing in the market produces reward over long periods of time, but there will be ups and downs along the way. If you’re not prepared to endure the short-term roller-coaster rides of the market, you should invest in something less risky.
It's wise to consult with a financial professional and develop a plan for growing wealth over time. As I get older though, I have to consider how much risk I’m willing to take now with more years behind me than in front of me. The wealth we have accrued either in any investment can evaporate overnight given the wrong conditions.
That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The investments we make in God’s Kingdom can never lose value. If God should bless us to use us to lead someone to saving faith in Christ, that person can never lose their salvation. Whenever we show someone the love of Christ, we’re building the kingdom. Many years ago, before I was even a believer, I was out for a walk. A woman I had never seen before stopped me and said, “You look troubled. Do you mind if I pray for you?” She caught me off guard. I stammered, “Sure.” She prayed for me right there. I’ll never forget that. She was storing up treasures for herself and for me that day.
Whenever we use money for God’s purposes, supporting missions, church ministries, or helping the needy, those treasures never fade. We’re not spending money; we’re investing in God’s Kingdom. That money never goes to waste. When we worship God and glorify Him in all we do, we not only give God the praise He is due, but we show others God’s glory. Whenever we tell people that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, we’re storing up treasures in heaven because God promises His Word will not return to Him empty. It accomplishes whatever He desires (Isaiah 55:8-9.)
If I had to guess, I’d say Nvidia will be just fine in the long run. I wouldn’t sell my Nvidia shares just because there’s a new competitor in the AI arena. I’d stay with Nvidia long-term. But we can never really be sure what will happen to our investments. Our investment could “turn to rust.” Remember Lucent Technologies from 30 years ago? In the late 90s, it was a leading player in fiber optics. But after the dot-com crash in the early 2000s, the share price plummeted from $80 to $1.
Invest in God’s Kingdom. In the Parable of the Soils, Jesus promised that good seed sown in good soil will reap 30x, 60x, even 100x in the kingdom (Matthew 13.) That’s an investment worthy of our time, talent, and treasure.