Wherever we find ourselves financially, we are all called to be risk managers on God’s behalf. Investing is a means of multiplying our resources to give more, to meet future family needs, to further the Gospel, and to fund special needs.
Some people want to know if investing is scripturally legitimate. I’d like to show you 3 scripturally sound reasons to invest and then I’ll caution you against an unsound reason for investing.
- Multiply to give more. Jesus’ parable of the talents (see Luke 19:12-26) tells us that God entrusts wealth to some of His stewards so that it will be available to Him at a later date. Wealth management requires that it be invested or multiplied.
- Meet future family needs. God’s Word indicates that the heads of families should provide for their own. 1 Timothy 5:8 “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”Good planning requires laying aside some surplus for future needs.
- Further the Gospel and fund special needs. The increase from wise investing creates more capacity for giving, which is necessary to maintain and promote the gospel.
One of the greatest dangers of investing is success. That may sound strange, but because gains can be made and multiplied so quickly in a strong market, the potential exists for the get-rich-quick attitude to seep into a person’s heart. If you’ve ever seen the 1987 film Wall Street, you likely remember the famous scene, where fictional corporate raider Gordon Gekko announces, “Greed is good.” Sadly, this has been regarded as sound wisdom by many investors, whether or not they fully acknowledge the sentiment. Our motive should be to please God.
