It is a strange thing to see your picture in the Wall Street Journal for the first time. It makes you realize how normal the other people you see in the media are, because you know yourself and yourself is nothing special. Also strange is reading an article in the Wall Street Journal that “you wrote”, wondering what it is going to say because you did not actually write it, even though the WSJ makes it seem that you did. So, now that I have actually gotten to read “my” article and seen what I have to say, I have a few thoughts to share as well as some lessons learned. (PS – you can read the Wall Street Journal article here.)
1) I am humbled and thankful that The Wall Street Journal would choose to publish a story about me and my experience with biblically responsible investing. I really am nothing special, but I serve a God who is awesome beyond compare. If there is anything good or praiseworthy in my life and work, it is only by the grace of God and to his glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36) If anyone tries to make a big deal out of me, they are sadly mistaken. Make a big deal about my God. He alone is worthy.
2) I wish The Wall Street Journal would have chosen a different title for the article. The one they chose, “Biblically Responsible Investing: A Lucrative Niche For Advisors”, strongly implies that the reason to pursue biblically responsible investing is because it is a “lucrative niche”. While it may be true that it can be lucrative, that most emphatically is NOT the reason any advisor or investor should practice biblically responsible investing. The only reason Christians should practice biblically responsible investing is because scripture clearly teaches to glorify God in everything that you do. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) If we are commanded to eat and drink in a manner that brings glory to God, surely we must do all we can to invest His money according to His values for His glory — regardless of the “lucrativity” of the outcome. In fact, scripture goes so far as to say that even if it means making less money that we should pursue righteousness in our financial dealings anyway, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8) That is a hard pill to swallow in our flesh, but is a very revealing truth that exposes our hearts for what they are. Would you invest for God’s glory even if it meant you made less money on your investments?
3) It is happening. The biblically responsible investing revolution is really happening. The fact that The Wall Street Journal would write a major piece highlighting biblically responsible investing in a positive light is quite staggering. The time is coming when biblically responsible investing is correctly understood and practiced as a vital component of biblical stewardship throughout the church, just like giving, proper debt management, and other commonly taught biblical financial practices. More investors are investing according to biblical values today than ever before in the history of the world, and the numbers are growing. God is on the move. (As always.)
4) I don’t think I will be letting any reporters write stories for me without any editorial control again. Except for the aforementioned “lucrative” issue, the article came out pretty decent. But it could have been a total train wreck.
Above all else, what this particular experience has made clear to me is the great divide between the perspective of the world, which looks at the motivation behind serving God through the lens of being “lucrative” or other worldly measures of success, contrasted with the Christian’s great joy and preeminent desire to glorify God in all we do, regardless of the outcome. We serve God for He is worthy, not for what He is worth. Is that true for you?
Blessings,
-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.
It is a strange thing to see your picture in the Wall Street Journal for the first time. It makes you realize how normal the other people you see in the media are, because you know yourself and yourself is nothing special. Also strange is reading an article in the Wall Street Journal that “you wrote”, wondering what it is going to say because you did not actually write it, even though the WSJ makes it seem that you did. So, now that I have actually gotten to read “my” article and seen what I have to say, I have a few thoughts to share as well as some lessons learned. (PS – you can read the Wall Street Journal article here.)
1) I am humbled and thankful that The Wall Street Journal would choose to publish a story about me and my experience with biblically responsible investing. I really am nothing special, but I serve a God who is awesome beyond compare. If there is anything good or praiseworthy in my life and work, it is only by the grace of God and to his glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36) If anyone tries to make a big deal out of me, they are sadly mistaken. Make a big deal about my God. He alone is worthy.
2) I wish The Wall Street Journal would have chosen a different title for the article. The one they chose, “Biblically Responsible Investing: A Lucrative Niche For Advisors”, strongly implies that the reason to pursue biblically responsible investing is because it is a “lucrative niche”. While it may be true that it can be lucrative, that most emphatically is NOT the reason any advisor or investor should practice biblically responsible investing. The only reason Christians should practice biblically responsible investing is because scripture clearly teaches to glorify God in everything that you do. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) If we are commanded to eat and drink in a manner that brings glory to God, surely we must do all we can to invest His money according to His values for His glory — regardless of the “lucrativity” of the outcome. In fact, scripture goes so far as to say that even if it means making less money that we should pursue righteousness in our financial dealings anyway, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8) That is a hard pill to swallow in our flesh, but is a very revealing truth that exposes our hearts for what they are. Would you invest for God’s glory even if it meant you made less money on your investments?
3) It is happening. The biblically responsible investing revolution is really happening. The fact that The Wall Street Journal would write a major piece highlighting biblically responsible investing in a positive light is quite staggering. The time is coming when biblically responsible investing is correctly understood and practiced as a vital component of biblical stewardship throughout the church, just like giving, proper debt management, and other commonly taught biblical financial practices. More investors are investing according to biblical values today than ever before in the history of the world, and the numbers are growing. God is on the move. (As always.)
4) I don’t think I will be letting any reporters write stories for me without any editorial control again. Except for the aforementioned “lucrative” issue, the article came out pretty decent. But it could have been a total train wreck.
Above all else, what this particular experience has made clear to me is the great divide between the perspective of the world, which looks at the motivation behind serving God through the lens of being “lucrative” or other worldly measures of success, contrasted with the Christian’s great joy and preeminent desire to glorify God in all we do, regardless of the outcome. We serve God for He is worthy, not for what He is worth. Is that true for you?
Blessings,
-R
