Why do you invest?
This is one of those questions that we tend to breeze by without giving much thought because the answer seems so obvious. But is it? And even if the answer is obvious, is it the right answer? So, what is your answer…to make money? To save for retirement? To provide for your family? To give money to charity? To make a positive impact in the world?
As practical and noble as some of those reasons are, none of them are the right answer. They may be correct insofar as they accurately describe your current motivation for investing; however, there is only one right answer, only one motivator that should be the driving force behind our investing: the glory of God.
“So whatever you do, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
This passage illuminates the clear truth that our every action should be driven by a desire to glorify God. There is no other worthy substitute. But how many of us approach our investments with the glory of God at the forefront of our minds? Too few. Of course the world does not help us in this, as Wall St. sells us every reason to invest except for the glory of God: riches, wealth, prestige, security, responsibility, influence, impact, and the list goes on. God’s glory does not make the world’s list of investment objectives, but it should be the preeminent factor in the Christian’s financial plan.
This is easier to say than do, and certainly there is more to discuss than can be addressed in one short blog post like this one. But consider this: if you can eat and drink to the glory of God, certainly you can invest to the glory of God. In future posts we will explore how we can apply this truth to our lives, but for starters the best place to begin is by searching the scriptures and praying for a desire to glorify God in all that you do. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”(Matthew 5:6)
-R
Robert Netzly is the CEO of Inspire Investing and frequent contributor on FOX, Bloomberg, New York Times and other major media. Read more from Robert in his #1 bestselling book Biblically Responsible Investing, available at Amazon.com and other major retailers.
Why do you invest?
This is one of those questions that we tend to breeze by without giving much thought because the answer seems so obvious. But is it? And even if the answer is obvious, is it the right answer? So, what is your answer…to make money? To save for retirement? To provide for your family? To give money to charity? To make a positive impact in the world?
As practical and noble as some of those reasons are, none of them are the right answer. They may be correct insofar as they accurately describe your current motivation for investing; however, there is only one right answer, only one motivator that should be the driving force behind our investing: the glory of God.
“So whatever you do, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinthians 10:31)
This passage illuminates the clear truth that our every action should be driven by a desire to glorify God. There is no other worthy substitute. But how many of us approach our investments with the glory of God at the forefront of our minds? Too few. Of course the world does not help us in this, as Wall St. sells us every reason to invest except for the glory of God: riches, wealth, prestige, security, responsibility, influence, impact, and the list goes on. God’s glory does not make the world’s list of investment objectives, but it should be the preeminent factor in the Christian’s financial plan.
This is easier to say than do, and certainly there is more to discuss than can be addressed in one short blog post like this one. But consider this: if you can eat and drink to the glory of God, certainly you can invest to the glory of God. In future posts we will explore how we can apply this truth to our lives, but for starters the best place to begin is by searching the scriptures and praying for a desire to glorify God in all that you do. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”(Matthew 5:6)
-R
