(Part 2)
In part one I gave a brief outline of what happened in 2008 and the fact that people lost real money. A lot of people were planning on retiring and drawling out of their accounts. I also would not be surprised if some who have put money into the stock market and invested said that's it I'm not taking a chance like that again. In early May of this year I had a conversation with a young married man who had been storing up large sums of money in his retirement accounts and he said "what am I suppose to do when I lose almost 40% in one year, I'm thinking about taking all my money out and just holding it as cash in savings accounts." I plan to explore in this part what we are suppose to do with our money as Christians.
In Malachi 3:7 God is speaking about his people and he states that from the days of their fathers they have gone away from His ordinances; He then says "return to Me and I will return to you but you said in what way show we return to You."
Then reading into verse 8
Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
:10 Bring all tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this." Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
It continues on so you can look it up and read the rest. As Christians our first responsibility is tithing, and the word tithe actually means a tenth or 10% so right away before we even think about what we are going to buy or how much we're going to invest we need to set aside 10% for God's kingdom.
Now concerning investing, I have heard it said before that as Christians we are not suppose to invest our money because this means we put our trust in the stock market and money instead of trusting God
"Words of Christ."
Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
:21 For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
As Christians our focus should never be self wealth, or riches. We are called to preach the gospel and spread the good news of Jesus. Our focus should always be to advance to kingdom of God on earth and we should spend our money accordingly. How much better would it be to die with nothing but to have blessed everyone who had needs rather to die with everything neglecting God's call in our life. If we decide to invest we need to follow a strategy if we lose everything it won't hurt us, and if we have great gains we will use some of that money for furthering the kingdom of God. Leave it up to God to show you how to use it and what amounts. Keep in mind God wants to bless his people and it isn't wrong to have money and be successful as long as we are not using this money for evil.
Should we or shouldn't we invest our money?
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
:16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
:17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
:18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money
:19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them
:20 so he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying Lord you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.
:21 His lord said to him well done good and faithful servant you were faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
:24 then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord I knew you had to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
:25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.
:26But his lord answered and said to him you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that i reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
:28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents...
It is God's desire to bless us as we bless others, it we do with our money as the servant with the one talent did we have no room for God's blessing in Ecclesiastes 11:1 it says "Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again." When God blesses us he wants us to take that blessing and have an increase so we can use our money to further his kingdom. Never put your trust in the stock market or your money and never let your money become to valuable to you that you cannot give any of it away. With finance being my profession, and being a God fearing Christian I believe God wants us to invest and invest wisely so we can have an increase and return advance his kingdom.
In part one I gave a brief outline of what happened in 2008 and the fact that people lost real money. A lot of people were planning on retiring and drawling out of their accounts. I also would not be surprised if some who have put money into the stock market and invested said that's it I'm not taking a chance like that again. In early May of this year I had a conversation with a young married man who had been storing up large sums of money in his retirement accounts and he said "what am I suppose to do when I lose almost 40% in one year, I'm thinking about taking all my money out and just holding it as cash in savings accounts." I plan to explore in this part what we are suppose to do with our money as Christians.
In Malachi 3:7 God is speaking about his people and he states that from the days of their fathers they have gone away from His ordinances; He then says "return to Me and I will return to you but you said in what way show we return to You."
Then reading into verse 8
Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.
:10 Bring all tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this." Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
It continues on so you can look it up and read the rest. As Christians our first responsibility is tithing, and the word tithe actually means a tenth or 10% so right away before we even think about what we are going to buy or how much we're going to invest we need to set aside 10% for God's kingdom.
Now concerning investing, I have heard it said before that as Christians we are not suppose to invest our money because this means we put our trust in the stock market and money instead of trusting God
"Words of Christ."
Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
:21 For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
As Christians our focus should never be self wealth, or riches. We are called to preach the gospel and spread the good news of Jesus. Our focus should always be to advance to kingdom of God on earth and we should spend our money accordingly. How much better would it be to die with nothing but to have blessed everyone who had needs rather to die with everything neglecting God's call in our life. If we decide to invest we need to follow a strategy if we lose everything it won't hurt us, and if we have great gains we will use some of that money for furthering the kingdom of God. Leave it up to God to show you how to use it and what amounts. Keep in mind God wants to bless his people and it isn't wrong to have money and be successful as long as we are not using this money for evil.
Should we or shouldn't we invest our money?
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
:16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
:17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
:18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money
:19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them
:20 so he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying Lord you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.
:21 His lord said to him well done good and faithful servant you were faithful over a few things I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.
:24 then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord I knew you had to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
:25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.
:26But his lord answered and said to him you wicked and lazy servant, you knew that i reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
:27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
:28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents...
It is God's desire to bless us as we bless others, it we do with our money as the servant with the one talent did we have no room for God's blessing in Ecclesiastes 11:1 it says "Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again." When God blesses us he wants us to take that blessing and have an increase so we can use our money to further his kingdom. Never put your trust in the stock market or your money and never let your money become to valuable to you that you cannot give any of it away. With finance being my profession, and being a God fearing Christian I believe God wants us to invest and invest wisely so we can have an increase and return advance his kingdom.
No comments:
Post a Comment