It’s The Investment

 When making a financial investment, one considers many factors but the main component is to make more money. The intention on the investment has been planned for there to be a greater return whether it be financially, intellectually, or for the sake of a brighter future. One who invests has done enough homework to be confident in knowing that he/she is secure in allowing that substantial amount of money to no longer be as liquid as it once was. Because of their due diligence, there is no anxiety and no checking every 30 minutes to see if it’s matured or not. It’s a long termed investment; therefore, he/she can relax in knowing that the plan will be manifested and the capitol will be accessible soon enough (Proverbs 29:18 AMP).

This entry came out of a short clip from the Steve Harvey Show. He has moments in the program where he allows the audience to ask life questions. Most of the questions are about relationships. This particular audience member asked about her 6 year relationship she has had with her boyfriend. She was getting exasperated with him not making a more long termed commitment. His excuse, according to her, was that he wanted to be more financially stable before getting married. Steve Harvey asked the woman what did she want. She answered that she would like to be married. He asked her if she was happy. She responded, no. He asked then what was she doing? Her expression seemed to be saying that she knows the answer; she said, I know but I made this 6 year investment and I don’t want to start all over with someone new. Steve Harvey said he understood, but if she decides to stay with this guy, does she want 6 more years of what she has been getting (Proverbs 12:15 AMP)?

There was a young Christian woman with her Christian boyfriend. It was their first relationship and both 

had talked about marriage. The young woman loved the man that would soon be her fiancé only, she had issues with him not knowing to hold the door open for her whether it’s a building, car, or the front door of the closet. She had a talk with him. His response was not knowing what the big deal was. She reconciled with the matter believing he hadn’t been raised with certain manners and it would take time or she could just let it go. But every time she saw her father be a gentleman with her mother, she didn’t want to have the special detail in their relationship overlooked. It was important to her. Why didn’t he see it as being important too? After 2 short years in the relationship, she saw that he had not picked up on her cues no more than he did when they were first dating. She considered taking a break from the relationship but the thought came, what if he finds someone else and does for her what she has been trying to teach him all of this time? He could be on the brink of getting it! The young woman did not want to discard her investment, so she waited until it was no longer a concern. You see, he invested too.

This blog is for those believers that never consider those small foxes spoiling the vine. There are naysayers that make comment of being too picky; yet if you ask those same naysayers, they would tell you how they choose a car, a house, and any other major investment. They scrutinize, they ask questions, they watch, and even test because they wish to get their money's worth. So how are you going to be cavalier with something that is as life altering as marriage? Will you be accepting red flags, bumps, glitches, wrinkles, and spots along the journey of dating? When you know the bottom is falling out, are you just going to watch it fall? Are you looking for a project or do you like one of those turn  keys and it's perfect? What was the vision? What have you been planning?

There was an episode of a sitcom from the 90's, F*r*i*e*n*d*s. In it, the character Ross Geller, finds a woman he is interested in dating. He tells his friends that she is perfect for him because they have so many interests in common. One evening, she invited him to her apartment for a "nightcap". He told his friends that finally they will be an exclusive couple, yet when he entered his love interest's apartment, garbage was everywhere. He couldn't understand how a woman so beautiful and perfect for him could be so icky. He went back to tell his friends. His guy friends advised for Ross to stop being so picky. She's gorgeous! What's a little garbage when it comes to love? Ross agreed. His friends were right, he said to himself. The next time Ross and his beautiful companion were out on a date and she invites him to her apartment, he's going to over look the mess and put his full concentration on her. Only when they started to make out, his hand clung to a slice of bologna found in the couch. His other hand under the throw pillow got what looked like chocolate syrup on it, but Ross's expression would have the viewer to believe it wasn't chocolate. Still Ross persisted with making out with his love interest until the crumpled potato chip bag started to move on it's own. Ross picked up something to kill what was underneath. The woman gasped until Ross looked inside it to see an injured rat. His date screamed calling the name of her pet. Ross allowed for that reaction to make his mind up for him.

How much of your time are you willing to invest in a relationship? When do you say when? Are you afraid to let it go even when your peace is compromised? Is it more important that friends and family are pleased that you finally have someone in your life too? Does a relationship need to be worked on even before vows have been exchanged? If you have worked on yourself and the significant other has done the same, should two people considerate of the other, still have a hardship and struggle in a marriage (Amos 3:3 KJV)? Have you spent the due diligence in the relationship as you would in purchasing land, a business, a car, a diamond ring, a house (Luke 6:46-49 AMP)? Where are your priorities and when did you fit God into any of them?