The best financial investment one can make is in people and not things, American evangelical Christian pastor and author Rick Warren said.

He encouraged people to use money wisely and bring people closer to God, and he considers it the best financial investment a person can ever make.

In an article on his website, Warren quoted Bible verse Matthew 6:20-21 which said that God's Word instructs people to store all their treasures in Heaven.

He also quoted Luke 16:9 NIV that explains, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

Warren clarified, however, that Jesus did not mean for people to "buy" friends with money. "What he meant was that you should use the money God gives you to bring people to Christ. They will then be friends for eternity who will welcome you when you get to Heaven!" he said.

Self-reflection is important in order to achieve success in this endeavor, and Warren asked people to be completely honest and consider the areas they spend most of their money, and how it compares to an eternal investment. Warren also asked people what motivates them to give money or invest in other people.

The pastor then urged people to think of ways to invest their money rightly in other people, and ways they can invest their money in bringing people to Jesus. "Pray about this, and see who or what God brings to mind. No matter how small, make one investment in eternity this week," he encouraged. "Your actions will affirm your faith."

Warren said that the expression, "You can't take it with you" does not apply in this scenario, because people can "send it on ahead" by investing in people who will also go to heaven in the future. By doing this, he said, they will be storing up real treasures for themselves in heaven, and that this is the only safe investment for eternity.