I hope you’ve had a good past week! I’ve learned from many books in my life, but never have I learned what I’ve gained from the Bible.

We live in a pretty cynical world today, at times. At least it seems that way to me. People that talk about money and God are often viewed skeptically and sometimes rightfully so. We’ve all witnessed men and women who have used God’s name to seek personal financial gain. Yet, when we see such detestable behavior, finding fault with God or His teachings is not a reasonable conclusion.

The scriptures have much to say about how to view money rightly in the eyes of God. When we view money without a proper lens, we can lose perspective easily. In the Christian life, it is not about being successful, but rather being faithful. There’s a big difference. The New International Version of the Bible says this about personal Christian stewardship in I Corinthians 4:2:

2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

God is not demanding results but rather that we are faithful to manage wisely what we have had entrusted to our care in life, which extends beyond finances. Living with a burden of having to control an outcome; wow, I’m thankful to leave things to His control.

Since I talk about stock investments here, as a Christian, I’m very thankful to have God’s great wisdom given in the Bible to guide my thinking and give me a right perspective toward money management.

We’ve all heard it said from others and have also ourselves said to others most likely something like “just do your best and don’t worry about the rest.” In effect, we are acknowledging that there are things more important than getting a desired outcome. Having to get a desired outcome or else, if applied to investing; well, you can see what kind of weight of worry to carry around that would generate.

Whether investing or gardening or spending family time or on and on, gaining God’s treasured wisdom from the Bible can bring the needed understanding to the occasion at hand from His perspective, a perspective that will never mislead us. Let me share some verses from Proverbs 3 that talk about the incredible value of gaining God’s wisdom:

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.

Next week, my plan is to revisit the oil and gas sector conversation a bit.  Looking further out, I hope to briefly present a few other investment books that offer salient content with regard to the notion of identifying value.

Have a great week, friends.