Mentoring Our Boys –

Rule of Compound Return

No doubt, you’ve seen an illustration of the rule of compound return on investment? A simple comparison of money tucked away in a jar verses an interest bearing investment. The example validates the impact of compound return. First, the illustration demonstrates the results of saving, say, $1,000 per year. After ten years, $10,000 is accumulated. After fifty years - $50,000.

Next, the illustration demonstrates the results of growth on an interest bearing investment. The simple interest on an annually invested $1,000 over fifty years, at 10% per year, culminates to become $177,500. But the rule of compound return on an annual interest rate of 10%, adds up to 1.28 million dollars. Not bad.

Investing with an Entrepreneurial Spirit

Let’s take this rule of compound return and add to it a touch of creativity and discipline. An entrepreneurial investor could save his $1,000 per year, invest the money at the long-term average interest rate of 10%, and then add an additional token amount of money. If he added a mere $200 per year (realized by drawing a small income from a hobby, let’s say writing or painting or woodwork or teaching piano or photography or graphics design or - you get the picture), he would accrue a portfolio equal to 1.54 million. That’s an additional $260,000 realized from the proceeds of a hobby. Now, let’s say our investor then saved $10,000 every five years by purchasing a used car instead of a new car (and invested the savings). After fifty years, this creative and disciplined investor could accrue as much as 3.63 million dollars from the same nominal sacrifice of $1,000 per year. That’s almost three times that of the above basic fifty year savings plan with compound return - just by enjoying a hobby and driving a used car.

What Does This Have to Do With Mentoring Boys?

I am so encouraged by how God has moved through Christian ministries in our country and throughout the world. We are seeing His blessings in churches, in communities, in homes, even in politics. Organizations like Focus on the Family, Promise Keepers and Campus Crusade for Christ are glorifying God with the fruit of evangelism and ministry. Every soul saved increases His kingdom and every life changed bears fruit for Him. We are investing in God’s people with a compounded return.

Let me explain how I believe God can move through us with the most effective fruit bearing ministry possible (entrepreneurial, if you will). I believe that no other target group for Christian ministry can have the same compound results (barring the intervening power of the Holy Spirit) than today’s boys. Our next generation of men, raised from today’s boys, can bring about a change that honors God’s plan for families, churches, communities, and our nation. This God honoring ministry has the potential for compound returns just as our creative and disciplined entrepreneurial investor did with his hobby, used cars and his $1,000 per year.

Now, I can hear the grumbling under your breath already. This may give the appearance that I believe we would do this in our own power. This sounds like God’s hand is not needed in this ingenious plan. I even offered the caveat: “barring the intervening power of the Holy Spirit.” But you know what? I believe God is waiting for our obedience to Him and our heart for His plan. This “manhood” ministry would be a total contrast with today’s legacy of men - careerism, materialism, and missing in action at home.

I believe that a movement by today’s men, raising the next generation of men, would be the result of the power of the Holy Spirit. This kind of obedience from men would glorify God and bring compounded blessing as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6, “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” The Holy Spirit would be an invited guest and His power would be manifested through men who mentor today’s boys. And just as is illustrated by the above entrepreneurial investment plan, we can paint a picture of the rule of compound return that exceeds anything we’ve seen through our contemporary Christian ministries.

A tall order and a bold claim - so stay tuned…

Posted on February 26th, 2008 by Jeff Purkiss
Filed under: Compound Return, Fathering/Mentoring