The Bible says that we are to be good financial stewards of the resources God has given us. For some, good financial stewardship may mean investing in the stock market. In layman’s terms, investing is putting money into assets and hoping that it will grow. If you choose to invest in the stock market, then you are also choosing to take part-ownership in the company or companies that you’ve invested in. Therefore, it is important to pray about what your “boundaries” or “limits” are before investing in a specific company. Publicly traded companies are not compelled to follow specific standards or morals; some companies choose to invest in tobacco, alcohol, gambling and other principles that may conflict with your morals and beliefs. That’s where biblical based investing comes into play. Biblical based investing is when an investor seeks to solely invest in companies that abide by Biblical principles. Choosing to invest in Biblical based funds does not mean you’re forfeiting wealth, rather it means you’ve selected to invest in companies that have a strong focus on where their wealth is acquired.

Now the question we, as Christian’s, must ask is ourselves is this: Are we solely to invest in companies where we know what the funds are being used for? In essence, is it sinful to invest in a company that may go against our morals and Biblical principles? Although there may not be a right or wrong answer, the concept is thought provoking and should be brought before God in prayer. Regardless of Christian beliefs, it is the duty of the individual to decipher whether it is right for them to invest and it is wise to conduct research on a company before investing financial resources.

Below are steps I would encourage any investor, present or future, to consider before investing:

1. Pray
   1. Hand control of your investments over to God. Pray for wisdom and discretion on what companies you should invest in.  
2. Research
   1. Complete research on a company that piques your interest. That research may consist of learning what the company represents or simply knowing the company’s financial positioning. Knowledge is power and both areas of research can and should factor into your investment decisions.
3. Commit
   1. Once you purchase the stock, know you are in for the long haul, unless you have made a return that you cannot turn down. This decision to commit will take patience and prayer. Gaining discernment from God on what you should do is always wise as well.
4. Glorify
   1. Yes, the end goal of investing is to grow your wealth.  However, how you use that money once you have it earned it is another significant factor. Lean into God’s calling and do what you think best glorifies Him.

The cornerstone of biblical based investing is rooted from trust and faith in God. God provides us with information and I challenge you to do the work in order to honor and glorify Him.

Citations

10 best biblically responsible stocks to invest in today. The Impact Investor | ESG Investing Blog. (2022, November 1). Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://theimpactinvestor.com/biblically-responsible-stocks/

What is biblically responsible investing? what you need to know. The Impact Investor | ESG Investing Blog. (2022, March 24). Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://theimpactinvestor.com/biblically-responsible-investing/