Investing: Balancing God’s Control and Our Responsibility – Part I

Part I

We often talk about how our financial lives and our faith are connected to each other.  When we think about biblical finances, most of us think about how we spend our money or whether or not we take on debt.  However, one of the biggest areas where we see our faith exposed is in the area of saving and investing.  

The following recording is from “Mornings with Kelli and Steve” on Moody Radio Indiana (97.9 FM).  For more information on Moody Radio, go to moodyradio.org/indiana. 

 

Is there a core truth that can serve as a foundation in this area of saving and investing?

The core belief we all need to understand is that God is sovereign and absolutely nothing in this world happens apart from His will.

Lamentations 3:37-38 – “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?

This may not sound all that ground-breaking, but in our financial lives, we often live as if God isn’t in control.  We need to be able to completely trust in God whether things are going our way or everything appears to be in chaos.  The only way we can fully trust God is to have a deep knowledge of Him.

Psalm 9:10 – “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

It is easy to say that God is in control, but then when life happens, we can so quickly forget that truth.  How do you commonly see that playing out in Christian financial lives?

It plays out differently depending on whether we’re experiencing good times or bad.

Good Times

When things are going well, it’s easy for us to become prideful and start to believe that things are great because we did something to deserve it.  We’re the classic example of God’s warning to the Israelites:

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth…”

Whether it’s something like the amount of money we’re earning or even how our investments have performed, we’re quick to take credit and forget that God is the reason for any good thing.  On top of that, we often put trusting in God on the backburner as if we don’t really need Him.

Bad Times

When things are not going so well, we often act as if things are out of control and that God isn’t involved at all.  We can also start to question Him and the circumstances.  Sure, we may pray about it, but we’re still filled with anxiety and fear.  Those two reactions are labeled as sin because it shows a lack of faith in God.  In reality, God is in control just as much as ever. He promises to never leave even though we may feel alone.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 – “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other…”

It’s a good reminder to know that God is in control, whether times are good or difficult.  What are some comforting truths we can hold onto when things aren’t going well? 

Isaiah 55:9 – “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

There is only so much our minds can understand when it comes to all the things that God is working out in our lives.

However, we can trust that God is at work doing two things:

• He’s working all things for His glory, and
• He’s working all things for the good of those who love Him.

The grand purpose for believers is that He is conforming us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus.  Sometimes, we are in need of growth that can only come through adversity.  The only way we are able to give thanks in those circumstances is by knowing that God is doing something great and ultimately it’s in our best interest.

Brad Graber, CFP® has been working with clients on personal financial planning and investment issues since 1996. He invests his time mentoring and educating individuals on ways to be better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them.