Successful Investing

A Deeper Look at What Matters in the End?

Investing with integrity means your money works to achieve both of these distinct yet highly compatible objectives. Your money can be put to work on achieving your personal financial objectives such as creating a secure and comfortable future for yourself, caring for and educating your family, and all important financial objective you may have while deliberately utilizing only investment products that are in alignment with your beliefs. A Biblically Responsible approach to investing helps your money perform both tasks without compromise.

So if I may, please let me share what I have discovered in my journey with Christ and what matters in the end.

First, as a Christian, I am to be aware, awake, and conscious of what I do with my life and live it on purpose.

1 Cor 15: 34 (NKJV) Awake to righteousness, and do not sin;…

And to care for my neighbor, put others before myself, turn away from sin and separate myself from those that embrace sin including sexual immorality, drunkenness, greed, laziness, gluttony, murder, stealing…

Ephesians 5:11(NKJV) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

I am to be careful not to put myself in a relationship with those who don’t hold the same values God has instilled in me. Especially one where I have little or no control.

2 Cor 6:14 (NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man … Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

His desire is that I embrace the example of His love and put behind me the misguided values of my life before Christ.

1 Pet 1:13 – 16 (NKJV) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

And in everything I do, glorify God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

And that is why the knowledge of Faith Based Investing is important to a Christian. Because in the Bible God commands us:

1 Cor 15:33 – 34 (NKJV)Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin;

The bottom line. By owning stocks that produce, provide, or promote Biblically offensive activities, I am participating in these sins.

• If these activities cause others to sin, I as a stock owner of that company am responsible for causing such stumbling.
• If the company’s value increases because my stock purchase, and that of others, bid the stock up, then we have contributed to the growth of a company that is offending God.
• If such companies give financial donations to organizations involved in Biblically offensive activities, I have participated in funding the enemies of God.

Why is Faith Based Investing important? Because I am commanded by God to sin no more and my stock ownership unequally yokes me to the corporate sin of the company I have purchased ownership in.

If our lives as Christians are to be honoring to God then our actions cannot compromise that objective. I personally have come to a point in my life where I realize every action is either an act of worship or an act of rebellion against the one true God. This includes my actions regarding money, possessions, and investments.