A Profitable Investment Strategy

​Erwin Wullschleger, Jr. (Mr. W, I'll call him).  You probably don't know him, but hearing the name, it sort of sticks with you.  Speaking of sticking with you, Mr. W continues to stick in my mind even though the last time I saw him was in 1973.

It was a sunny school day in junior high school.  I remember vividly being called out of class that afternoon and asked to take a walk with my English teacher, Mr. W.  I wasn't sure what this was all about, but it was okay with me, because I trusted this teacher.  He proceeded, as we strolled the school grounds, to express his concern that my grades had dropped recently and I didn't seem to be putting forth my usual effort or engagement in class.  All of the teachers had noticed it.  As he shared and asked for my feedback about what I thought was at the heart of the problem, I felt safe and knew that I could be open and honest with Mr. W.  I began to open up and tell him that things were tough at home.  My parents had not been getting along very well and I was upset about how things were going.  I found it hard to concentrate on my homework and classwork because of the sadness and fear that was constantly on my mind.  I wasn't neglected at home and I was provided a safe and supportive environment. Family members knew what was going on and provided support and comfort in ways that they could.  However, the emotional impact of what was happening felt overwhelming.  That day, walking with my junior high English teacher made a difference.  It helped me to know that he and other teachers would be supportive and take measures to help support my functioning at school.  It didn't change what was happening in my life, but it added one more aspect of support to better equip me to cope and keep moving forward.  It is important to note, however, that his gesture was not the beginning of Mr. W's impact upon my life, it was the culmination.  There was a reason that he could have that important conversation with me that day.

Rewind almost two years to the beginning of 7th grade.  Mr. W was a new teacher at our school.  He came to our small southern town from Cleveland, Ohio.  Being from the north, his accent and mannerisms were a little different from that to which I was accustomed.  He was firm with classroom control, but, as I recall, he was creative and liked to provide unique learning opportunities.  Other teachers did this too.  But there was something different about Mr. W.  He was also very open about his interest in impacting kids outside the walls of King Springs School.

It wasn't long into that 7th grade year that Mr. W took notice of me.  He seemed to believe that I had promise beyond the average junior higher.  I'm not sure what he saw in me...and he did not limit this to me...but the way he engaged with me, and the things he told me, sent the message that I had great potential and could achieve significant things in my life.  I won't take the time to detail all of the ways he invested in me, but they were significant and many.  Just let me summarize...he encouraged me to participate in an oratorical competition and coached me two years in a row.  I won district 2nd place and 1st place respectively in that contest.  He asked me to join an effort to create a community service organization we called Group Action Project (GAP) in which we secured an empty house in a poor neighborhood and hosted fun activities, provided snacks and offered tutoring to children of the area each Saturday morning.  He took me to a local youth camp to introduce me to the facility and dream about how it may be used to further the work with the underprivileged youth.  He invited me and a girl from our class to come to his home and have dinner with him and his wife...to help us develop social skills in a more formal setting.  You see, that stroll on the school grounds in 1973 wasn't the first time that Mr. W and I had a serious conversation.  He had spent time intentionally investing in me over months, that had earned him the right to speak into a tough situation.

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It has been a long time since I last saw Mr. W as I lost track of him and he has since passed away.  However, because of his intentional investment in a naïve, simple junior high student, his impact and legacy have been lasting.  I'm quite sure he probably had similar influence in many lives over the years.  I can tell you, however, his investment in me yielded good returns.  Since then, others have made investments as well...an aunt and uncle, Rosella and Oscar Huffman, Pastor Tommy Maines, Theater Professor Joe Jones,  Education Professor Dr. Ken Riggs, Music Professor Vernon Whaley and entrepreneur John Saddington.  Each of these, and others whom space does not allow me to mention, have made investments in my life that have reaped great returns.  For their investments, I am deeply indebted.  Perhaps that is why I have taken seriously the opportunities that God has given me to invest in the lives of others. No matter how I have lived out my purpose of making a difference in the lives of others, through sharing the good news of Jesus, it has been most effective when I am engaging in an incarnational ministry relationship with another person.  This may have been with a student, working with a youth or college-aged person through student/campus ministry, counseling in the local church or agency, life coaching, accountability relationships, or doing therapy with foster kids.  It all involves investment.

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
                                      2 Timothy 2:1-2

Why Personal Investment in People is a Profitable Strategy

We hear much in the media and marketing about investing for our future...for retirement.  There are many options available for anyone to grow their financial wealth in preparation for those later years.  Whether we consider individual stocks, mutual funds, 401k, Roth IRA, employer retirement plans, or even cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, it can all be rather confusing and sometimes risky.  Perhaps risk is always something to consider...some investment instruments offer more risk than others, as we are always concerned about the Return on Investment (ROI).

When it comes to investment in people, considering a few important benefits makes it clear that the returns are worth any risk that may be involved.

• It is Relational

 This may seem obvious, but it bears emphasizing because it is central to God's design for his creation, and particularly, His plan to redeem fallen humanity.  As I have written in a previous post, God is a relational being.  He is one God in three persons...Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God is an example of the perfect harmonious work of relationship in accomplishing a perfect plan of purpose.  Someone has written that Father is the planner and initiator, the Son is the provider and mediator and, the Holy Spirit is the prompter who activates.  All of these roles of the members of the Trinity provide us with an emphasis on the relational work of ministry.  When we talk about incarnational ministry in relationships, we are speaking of allowing the work of God in, and through, us, by the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  I don't mean to get overly theological in this. Suffice it to say, however, that investing in the lives of others is a divinely empowered process that impacts lives eternally...at least that is true when the one investing is fulfilling the call of God upon their lives...living their purpose.  Amazingly enough, God has commissioned his followers to take the good news of Jesus Christ to others through relationships.  That is why the Apostle Paul told his son in the faith, Timothy, "I have taught you, now you pass it along to others."  It is the way God has designed it to be done.  To live out our purpose must incorporate this process in some form...whether it is in a "formal" setting such as counseling/coaching/mentoring, or whether it is a parent investing in their child, a grandparent investing in their grandchild or a teacher taking a student under their wing.  It's all about relationships.

• The ROI is Unmatchable

What is the ROI for investing in people?  For me, in junior high school, it was believing I could do things that I would have never dreamed, discovering and developing talents and skills, seeing the needs of others and learning that I could make a difference, and being encouraged and strengthened during a difficult period of life.  My aunt and uncle mentioned earlier were instrumental in my coming to faith in Jesus.  The investment of these people have had lifelong and eternal dividends in my life.  I would say that is a pretty good ROI.  When you are able to have a part in positively guiding the course of someone's life and changing their eternal destiny for good, there is no comparison that even comes close.  The benefits for that person in whom you have invested can't really be measured in any material or physically measurable way.  We could say that our investment may empower that person to pursue a career path that is more financially rewarding than they might otherwise have achieved.  That is valuable.  However, there are deeper and more significant returns than that, which can only be measured in eternal terms...much of which we won't fully see short of heaven.  "...remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (James 5:20).

There is also a return for the one who is investing.  Jesus has told us that we can live in such a way that we are making heavenly investments.  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).  Where we invest ourselves will determine where our hearts lie. When we invest in the eternal welfare of another, we are making deposits in our heavenly retirement account.  The good thing is, it's not the FDIC that guarantees that investment, it is God Himself!

• It is Impactful

Investment in others is powerful in any situation where a life is impacted.  However, it is more far-reaching when it occurs cross-generationally.  Mentoring most often takes that form...an older person investing in a younger person.  This is actually a very biblical concept as we are instructed in Titus 2:2-8.  In this passage, older men are instructed to teach the younger and the elder women, the younger women.  In a culture where the elderly are more marginalized and disrespected than ever, it would behoove us to foster a renewal of valuing the experience and wisdom of those who have traveled the road before us.  Seeking out their wisdom and guidance will enhance our lives.  As older adults, we must never allow ourselves to believe that we have nothing to offer.  Look for ways to fulfill your purpose through investing in those who would benefit from your wisdom.

What is the Next Step?

If you agree that investing in people is not only biblical, but urgently needed in our world, what will you do about it?  What is your purpose? Generally, as a Christ follower, it is to glorify Him and to point others to Him as you love Him supremely and love others as yourself.  Specifically, however, your purpose...the unique context in which you carry out that general purpose...that is where you can focus to determine what investing in others looks like for your.  Is it your children at home because you're in that season of life, or that coworker or supervision report that needs you to take them under your wing?  Maybe it is that youth of a single parent at church, or a college student you know.  Ask God to show you who may need your investment...praying for awareness and guidance often opens our eyes to the people who are right there before us and we may not have noticed before.  A willing heart is the first step. 

Erwin Wullschleger, Jr. may never know what an impact he had on a junior high student in whom he took the time to invest.  I've often wished I had looked him up and shared my appreciation for what he did for me.  Nevertheless, I think he has some idea now, as he has laid up treasures in heaven.

Who has made significant investments in your life?  Share a story of how they impacted you, in the comments below.  Share this post to spread the love!