Where to Invest Your Money

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know two things:

My goal is to encourage your walk with Christ.
You should not come to me for financial advice.

So why, then, am I writing about financial investments? I’m glad you asked.

1. The Bible talks about it.

The Book of Proverbs is full of more nuggets of truth about our finances than Jim Cramer, the weird dude on CNBC, has stock advice. (And, Jim, if you’re reading this, I’m sure I mean weird is the nicest way possible.) The Book of Ecclesiastes, in its wonderfully poetic form, offers this:

Send your bread on the surface of the water, for after many days you may find it. Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or the north, the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so also you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don’t know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or if both of them will be equally good” (Eccl. 11:1-6).

Let me put these verses in my own words:

Don’t put all your financial eggs in one basket (vv. 1-2). Diversify your investments.
Misfortune may arise but keep working (vv. 3-4). Bad things happen and we experience unforeseen circumstances and problems. We should not use that possibility as an excuse for doing nothing. In other words, some people will not do anything with their finances and assets until they are absolutely certain it is safe. We have no guarantees, so it’s good to go ahead and act—provided we do so with wisdom.
Life is uncertain, so leave it all in God’s hands (vv. 5-6). Because the circumstances of life can be uncertain, it is wise to be diligent in our work and diversify our assets. We are to act, but undergirding our action is an ultimate trust in God.

2. Use your investments for the kingdom of God.

This life is over before we know it, so let’s not spend all our money on ourselves. Or on widgets and do-dads that will end up in next year’s garage sale. Investing in the lives of others—using your money to meet needs and minister—is an eternal investment.

most-expensive-socks — $1,188 a pair. Must be nice socks. Gives a whole new meaning to the old idea of keeping your money in your socks.

I’m not an advocate for the prosperity gospel or these pseudo-preachers who want you to think God’s one goal in life is to bless your socks off and flood your life with money so that every time He blesses your socks off, you can purchase another pair of $1,188 socks. But if God has blessed you financially, great—but use that blessing to be a blessing to others.

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone” (2 Cor. 9:12-13

Invest in God’s kingdom. Make a difference.

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This post supports the study “The Joy of Giving” in Bible Studies for Life and YOU.