Spend:to pay out, disburse, or expend; dispose of, use up, consume, or exhaust; to spend money, energy, time, etc.
Invest:to use money, as in accumulating something; to use, give, or devote time, talent, etc.
, as for a purpose or to achieve something.
These are two common words, but I wanted to give you the dictionary meanings for the sake of clarity.
We all spend money every day.
We pay bills, buy food and necessities for living, buy clothes, buy things for pleasure, etc.
The way we live in this world is to spend our money in exchange for something we want or need.
The problem with spending money is that sometimes the amount you paid was more than the worth of the item.
Many times we spend money without a thought as to whether we will really receive any benefit from it in the future; it just gives us satisfaction for the moment.
However, spending does not apply to just money.
The dictionary also says dispose of, use up, consume, or exhaust.
When we spend our time and talents on the wrong things, we end up exhausted and used up.
It is like having a nice savings account at the bank, but you withdraw small amounts over time without replacing the money you have taken out.
After awhile, all your money is gone and you do not even remember most of the things you used it for.
When you invest money, time, talents, etc.
, you do it for a specific purpose, or to achieve something.
The word invest brings to mind something totally different than the word spend.
An investment is done in the present, but looks toward the future.
It is your desire to do something that will last and be worthwhile to stand the test of time.
An example would be that you might buy real estate intending to hold on to it until sometime in the future.
Then when you decide to retire or need the money, the property is yours to sell.
You bought it with just this in mind because you knew that it would appreciate and be worth more than what you paid for it.
Since I am a Christian, I want to write this article from a perspective other than just secular.
When you spend all your time doing things to keep busy, or just because they are good, you deplete everything in your savings account and eventually wear yourself out from frustration.
You feel that you are just spinning your wheels and not accomplishing much.
The Holy Spirit is in the life of every Christian to give wisdom and guidance.
He is waiting for you to ask Him to show you the truth.
When you follow his direction, you will always be able to invest your life in doing things that will have meaning for others and yourself, and each one will have a lasting effect for good.
Another example would be to raise your children to follow God.
This could pass down for several generations because you chose to act in the present.
God is in the investment business.
He wants your life to count for something eternal.
You might be tired when you go to sleep at night but you will feel fulfilled, and not frustrated or bitter.
He wants to do great and mighty things in your life and is very relevant for today, but you have to give Him the freedom to work.
He wants to use a vessel that is clean and pure, and will meet you exactly where you are at this very moment.
Every area that you surrender to Him will be one where He can make a great investment for good.
There is no greater feeling than to know that your life is available to God to be used as he desires.
It is the most exciting life that you could ever have.