INTRODUCTION:
S&P Dow Jones Indices published a list in 2019 of the 25 stocks in Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index that generated the best returns over the past 50 years. By price appreciation alone, many of these stocks delivered underwhelming annualized returns.
On a total-return basis (price appreciation plus dividends), however, these stocks blew away the broader market. Over the last 50 years, the S&P 500 generated an annualized return including dividends of 9.5%. That’s peanuts compared to the returns generated by the best stocks of the past half-century.
According to a kiplinger.com report from 2019, among those top companies, Berkshire Hathaway had the best annualized return (plus dividends) of 19.84%. If you had invested $1000 in Berkshire Hathaway in December 1972, your investment would be worth nearly $63 million dollars! ($62,841,899.58). That number was of March 9, 2023 (benzinga.com).
We can’t know the future. But we know who holds the future. When we invest in Christ wisely, we see great dividends. When we invest in people’s souls, we see great dividends. One of the best ways to invest in the future is through prayer. We never lose when we pray, as long as we pray “if it is the Lord’s will” (James 4:15).
These thoughts are part of a monthly series on the “Prayer Life of Jesus” with a special focus on men praying for our wife’s future, although the principles are the same regardless of who we are praying for. Let’s set our discussion on prayer within the context of Jesus’ prayer life. Let’s turn to Luke 9:18-22…
For what was Jesus praying? Because of this context, I presume He was praying for the future… For the future of the establishment of the church / the kingdom. For the future of His apostles’ faith and conviction relative to that establishment. Jesus had an idea of what He was going to endure between then and Acts 2 – the crucifixion, which He’ll predict for the first time in verse 22. Let’s pray for our spouse’s future…
Our wives can be fearful relative to the future. There are many things that weigh on their hearts and disturb them. We need to pray that they’ll trust God; they’ll understand His love for them and that He wants what is best for them; He will work all things together for their good.
Pray that she’ll have wisdom (James 1:5) in the decisions she makes. Pray that she will understand that things can get better. When you pray for your spouse, you also pray for yourself because you are a team, “one flesh,” serving the Lord together.
Pray for your spouse’s future: for his/her wisdom, knowledge, patience, and determination in service to Christ.
Paul Holland
