I wrote a post back in October titled “Faith, Money and Investing in Stocks.”In that piece, I expressed that sometimes it seems that money can be an uncomfortable topic among Christians. We have all witnessed times when men and women have used God’s name to further personal worldly financial agendas. Also, we hear of some who profess faith in Christ today and preach that God wants everyone to be prosperous financially.
However, we read these words from Jesus Christ in Luke 9:58:
“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (New International Version, Bible).
I’ve written a book on how to invest in stocks wisely. While my balance sheet approach to investing in stocks is not a “Christian” approach, it is a sensible approach to investing. Being sensible about money management is important because Christians are to be good stewards over God’s resources, including money. Wanting to be a faithful steward of God’s resources on earth serves to motivate me to manage financial resources wisely and to share the importance of doing so with others.
Whether I possess or lack earthly riches, as a Christian, I am already rich beyond measure because I possess what cannot be lost or taken away. Jesus Christ died for my sins and has granted me forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus was not held by the grave and lives today giving my life purpose and meaning. To have Christ in your heart is to have prosperity forever. Managing earthly financial resources has an altogether different meaning because of Christ.
Paul,
Thank you for this reminder. I must admit when i first read your book i thought “here we go again so one else using the Bible to promote their own personal wealth.” Jesus was quite clear in the New Testament on what happens when you try and mix profit and worship together when he threw over the tables in the temple of the money changers. That was one of the few times i recall He was angry even throughout the horrific suffering from the Romans and Jews not to mention the betrayal from Peter and the other apostles. You are a breadth of fresh air and it is clear your motivations are not all about you but about seeking the Kingdom of God first.
Thank you for sharing the priorities. And while we are contending with one of the most sly markets ever, thank you for helping us navigate. Everything we have is temporary- 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Joe
Joe,
Thank you, Joe, for the comments and encouraging words. I hope you won’t mind if I quote the wonderful verse you refer to from 2 Corinthians 4:18 (New International Version, Bible) below:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
I also agree that this is a very unusual market we are witnessing today.
Thanks again,
Paul
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”
from Jim Elliot’s journal
Hi Paul, There is little I could add to the stated benefits of having Faith. I am still reviewing and studying your book so my observation may be premature. I feel that reviewing the trend of the past years of the balance sheet may help to determine the possible trend of the future balance sheet. Any TA may be better than the PR junk published. Admittedly I’m still a momentum junkie after 50 years of investing. I’m having difficulty in changing my unprofitable past investing approach but I am reducing my emotional decisions. Thus your book is like a gift from Heaven. Thanks Paul.
Max, thanks for the comments. Actually, reviewing the progress of equity, in amount and composition, by looking over past balance sheets is indeed a worthy exercise when considering where the balance sheet can head in the future. Of course, future performance outlook will be a driver of how equity changes (grows), but, aside from the outlook for future performance, evaluating the transition of the balance sheet position over past reports can certainly reveal how effectively the CFO, for example is managing the balance sheet. It builds confidence when you see a pattern of sound balance sheet management. My book is surely no gift from heaven, but I do appreciate, again, your remarks and hope the balance sheet discussion proves very helpful.
1 tim 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.