Investing, in simple terms, is using resources, such as money, to make a profit or produce an income. It is the act of allocating said money into various financial assets such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate with the goal of growing wealth over time.
Investing can be a complex and risky process. Because of this, many investors do intensive research to understand the risks involved and make informed decisions.
According to data, Christianity is the world’s largest religion and is practiced by about 2.4 billion people. It is, therefore, wise to assume that a percentage of those Christians are investors. In order to maintain their integrity and hold on to their faith, Christian investors need to invest in a way that is biblical.
Biblical Principles For Wise Investment
Stewardship
Stewardship in Christianity refers to the duty that Christians have to conserve and carefully employ the gifts that God has bestowed upon them.
Christians believe that everything that they have, which includes their time, talents, and resources, is a gift from God. These gifts need to be used wisely and responsibly to honor God and to serve others.
Christian investors can use stewardship to ensure that they make wise and informed investment decisions that align with their values and priorities. This means making investments that are ethical and righteous and making investments that generate a positive return in a positive manner.
Here are a few scriptures that deal with stewardship;
- Proverbs 21:20 – A wise man saves for the future.
- Proverbs 13:11 – Money little by little grows.
- Proverbs 10:4 – All hard work leads to profit.
Diligence And Hard Work
Another important aspect of Christianity is diligence and hard work.
The Bible encourages everyone to put forth effort and care in all aspects of their lives. It is a key characteristic of someone who is responsible, trustworthy, and dedicated.
It is, therefore, wise to deduce that the Bible wants Christians to be diligent in their investing.
Investing requires a lot of careful research and due diligence to make informed decisions. Every investor needs to understand the investments they are considering, the risks involved, and how they align with their financial goals and values.
Investors need to remain diligent and consistent in following their investment plans. In this way, they avoid making impulsive decisions based on the fluctuating market. Investors need to remain diligent with their long-term financial goals and need to always keep their eyes set on the future.
Another way in which investors need to remain diligent is by continuously learning and improving their skills in a consistent manner. By being diligent learners, they are always able to make better investment decisions and achieve greater success.
Here are a few scriptures that relate to diligence and hard work:
- Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage, but everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.”
- Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.”
- Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of the lazy person craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is rich and abundantly supplied.”
Patience And Long-Term Thinking
The Bible often refers to patience as the capacity to tolerate challenges or delays without getting upset. It speaks about perseverance and being able to withstand trials and tribulations.
In investing, patience is an important quality because it can help investors make informed decisions and avoid taking impulsive or emotional actions that could negatively impact their investments.
It is important to recognise that investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Building wealth through investments takes time, and one needs to have vast amounts of patience in order to ensure that one’s investments grow and mature.
One also needs to be able to endure vast fluctuations in the market in order to make investing work. This means that one needs to be able to have a strong mental fortitude and not be swayed by one’s emotions. One needs to be able to look at the information one has gathered and look at it clearly, so that one can make decisions that benefit one’s investments.
Here are a few scriptures that deal with patience:
- Proverbs 16:32 – “Better to be patient than a warrior, and better to have self-control than to capture a city.”
- Ephesians 4:2 – “Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 – “The end of something is better than its beginning. Patience is better than arrogance.”
FAQs
Is investing a form of gambling?
Simply put, no. Investing is not a form of gambling. In order to invest, you need to implement thoughtful research and analysis. You also need to be able to perform an effective risk assessment based on this research and analysis. This is the complete opposite of gambling. Gambling relies on luck and chance. Therefore, investing is not a form of gambling.
Is it OK for Christians to invest?
Whether or not it is okay for you, as a Christian, to invest is a personal matter. The Bible does not specifically forbid Christians from investing, but it also does not expressly urge Christians for invest too. Investing in mentioned in various scriptures, like Proverbs 31:16 and Luke 19: 11 – 27, implying that investing is a normal aspect of life.
What biblical passages can help guide investors in the decision-making process?
Christian investors can use the following biblical passages to guide them in the decision-making process.
Proverbs 21:5 – “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”. This verse emphasises the importance of diligence and careful planning in all aspects of life. This is especially useful advice for investors, as they will need to carefully plan their investment strategy.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 – “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.” This verse is important to take to heart as it suggests that investors should diversify their investments to minimise the impact of potential losses.
