The Investor

Copyright 2005 by Charles G. Pedley

Once there was a man who over his lifetime learned a strategy of investing which made him a multi-billionaire. As he was getting on in age, he wished to pass on this knowledge to his children and all those who would be patient enough to learn the technique. He knew that if he sat them down and told them how he did it, they would forget part of it and give up too soon or remember only part of it, so he decided to write a book called The Investor's Manual.

In this book, he laid out, in specific detail, chapter after chapter the technique he had used to become so rich. It was a long book. He explained a method and then gave examples of how it had worked in his own life over and over again. Knowing that all of his children think differently he explained the same principles in several different ways, hoping that if they did not understand and believe after reading one way, that maybe, just maybe they would finally read a method that they understood. It was not a short book. It took several years to write, but finally it was finished and was published.

That year, at Christmas he gave each of his children a copy of his book, hot off the press. They all thanked their dad very much for the gift as is the custom at Christmas. Some of them started reading it and thought it was too simple; others began and thought, "This is too boring! Maybe I will read it when I get older!" Some would read a chapter, try the idea they thought they had read and when it did not work out right away, gave up in disgust.

A few of them patiently read on. After all, their dad was a multi-billionaire. He must know something! Even though parts of it made no sense, these patient ones kept reading until they had finished the whole book. Some even read parts of it again and again.

A few decided to take a little of their money and try what dad had told them. They didn't became rich overnight, but gradually those who kept studying The Investor's Manual and investing according to the principles that their dad had laid out, came to see that it worked. They discovered the ideas that their dad had discovered over his lifetime and put them into practice. Ever so slowly they became richer and richer. Even though it had taken dad his lifetime to learn, they learned at a younger age and started to accumulate wealth sooner.

Some of the children who had not finished the book thought that dad had given the wealthy ones more money to start with and became jealous and envious. They would stay away from family gatherings because they were angry that dad would be more generous to some than others. The family grew further and further apart.

Finally, one of the children who had become a multi-millionaire at an early age thought that he would try to bring the family back together again like it had been when they were young. He called a meeting and told them that he would tell them exactly how he accumulated so much wealth. They all came even though it had been a long time since they had been together.

He shared with them one of the principles that had made him wealthy. Then he gave each one of his family $10, 000 and told them to go and try it and not to give up too soon.

They all took the money. Some thought they could think of better ways to use the money and decided to spend it on a "good time". Some invested the money like their brother had said and waited.

Results did not always come immediately. But for those who were patient, they began to see their money grow! Dad's ideas did work after all! After seeing that only one idea made money for them, some of them searched and searched until they found their copy of The Investor's Manual and started to read it again. Every time they put a principle into practice, with patience, they discovered that it accumulated more money and gradually their fortunes grew. They became wealthier and wealthier like their dad had been. They discovered that dad's ideas worked after all but not always right away or as soon as you would like. Some of them take time and patience to ride out the storm so to speak and not give up.

You will immediately recognize the name of the man when I tell you. His name is Almighty Father, Creator, Mighty God. And you have probably guessed it by now, that The Investor's Manual is the Bible. Money, I suppose represents how we spend our time. Do we invest it wisely or will we look back on a life of regrets, unfulfilled promises and broken relationships?

And now you know the rest of the story! And if you look back you will see various ways that we react to the Bible, God's method to us. In fact, some may have put this article down and decided to read it later just the way we often do with the Bible! And of course The Investor's Manual was a great Christmas gift! And the son who put his father's method into practice was of course, Jesus, our greatest Christmas gift ever!

Do you see how we let preconceived ideas influence our thoughts and actions? Do you see that it is our attitude toward things that happen to us that determines how we think and feel and ultimately, act? Do you see how changing our attitude and giving a new attitude a chance can change your life? It has changed mine many times! Sometimes I am just downright stupid! It takes God allowing things to happen in my life again and again to finally get the message through this thick skull of mine!