Even in the so-called secular business and professional world, the Bible has much to teach us. For example, Matthew 14 talks about Jesus walking on water while His disciples were in a boat during a storm. One of them, Peter, an enthusiast by nature, wanted to join Him. So Jesus invited him to “come.” The first few steps went well for Peter. But then, when he focused on the storm, he became afraid, began to drown and cried out to Jesus for salvation. The Lord helped, but reproached Peter for his lack of faith.
This story is a powerful call to all followers of Christ to leave their “comfort zones” and live boldly. However, from a financial investing perspective, boldness is not always the best approach. Here are some reasons why it is usually better for stewards of God's resources to stay on board.
Stewardship that regulates God's wealth according to His priorities and purposes is the task given to every follower of Christ. Just as this story begins with Jesus giving His disciples an assignment (“And immediately Jesus caused His disciples to get into a boat and go before Him to the other side”), God gives us instructions related to managing wealth. We are on a journey during which we are warned that we will encounter our share of troubles. “I have spoken these things to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but take heart: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). To be a good steward of God's resources requires obedience and faith.
We need an investment boat that will carry us safely through economic storms. From a management perspective, our boat represents a biblically sound, embodied strategy for how to manage money. Онa направляет наши расходы, сбережения, инвестиции и жертвенность. Every financial decision should flow from our plan, designed to ensure a safe arrival at the end of the financial journey.
Unlike Peter, we need to stay in the boat. Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus don't even take the time to build their financial boat. Or, if they have it, they don't always stay in it. Being in a boat is usually much safer than being in a stormy sea.
Expect wind and storms. The disciples of Jesus knew in advance that a strong headwind at sea, if not real, was certainly possible. Likewise, you know that there will be difficulties along your financial path. These difficulties can take many forms: unemployment, unexpected expenses, health problems, a bad economy, weak financial markets. We must anticipate and plan for them.
Ignore the wind and focus on Christ. The wind can make us afraid and react inappropriately. We must stay in our boat and trust in the One who said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event. The financial environment does not always offer positive reinforcement. In the short term, we may lose money by following our plan, or make money by deviating from it. When this happens, we may view “good” behavior as failure and “bad” behavior as reward. The judgment we make about any financial “failure” must be understood in the context of an individual plan. Decisions that are consistent with our plan are “victories,” regardless of the immediate outcome. In the long run, maintaining a disciplined, dispassionate strategy for making investment decisions will benefit us greatly. If we trust God to guide us, then we have already achieved success.
Austin Pryor has more than 40 years of experience advising investors. He is the founder of the newsletter and website Sound Mind Investing, and the author of The Mindful Investing Guide, which has been endorsed by many respected Christian teachers and has sold more than 100,000 copies. Austin lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife Susie.
Questions for reflection/discussion
NOTE. If you have a Bible and want to read more, consider the following passages: Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Proverbs 15:16, 22:7, 26–27, 30:8–9; Luke 6:38
Difficult task
Have you ever studied what the Bible teaches, how we use our financial and material resources, and what God gives us as stewards? If you have not done so, pray this week that God will direct you to someone who can help you understand biblical principles of financial management, including charitable giving. You'll probably be amazed at what you learn.
