When writing my book, Financially Unbroken for the Golden Years, one question kept resurfacing. Christians care about retirement and estate planning, but often don’t ask what their retirement money is actually doing. These are some of the most popular topics when I work with clients as well. The question is this: If we want to honor God with every area of our lives, does that include our investment choices?
Does God Care How I Manage My Money?
The Bible has a lot to say about money and possessions, showing us that God cares about how we steward the resources He’s entrusted to us. But when it comes to investing, we often find ourselves following the crowd and investing as the world does, without questioning whether this pleases God. God is less concerned with how much money we have than with how faithfully we steward what He has entrusted to us.
Beyond the tithe, we are called to honor God in all we say, do, and think (Colossians 3:17). But we can fall into the habit of honoring God in most areas of our lives while keeping our finances in a separate category. We might have good hearts when it comes to giving our 10% tithe, and even be generous in the offering plate or in supporting missionaries and ministries. But when it comes to our budgets or investments, we can suddenly find ourselves being less diligent. We might not even know to ask whether the dollars in our retirement accounts are funding companies that contradict our values.
Our values mean something. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Paul writes these words as encouragement to look beyond what the world says to live, but to live with an eternal lens. If God wants us to live our lives for His glory, do we consider our money management part of that?
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some people have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10). Paul is warning Timothy about the danger of allowing the pursuit of money to pull us away from faithfulness to God. So if everything we say and do is to honor the Lord, then that includes how we invest as one of the many choices we make with our money.
The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates the concept of stewardship. A master gives three servants money to manage. Two of the servants put what they were given to work and bring back more, while one hides the money away. To the servants who invested, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:21, 23) This parable points us toward the importance of faithfully stewarding what has been entrusted to us rather than simply burying or neglecting it. We can further apply this principle to our modern financial decisions, including investing.
“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:25). In context, this Scripture is Jesus calling his disciples to live a life that honors God by denying themselves, taking up their cross, and following Him. Applying this to our money decisions, we can see how crucial it is to live according to what we claim to live. Do we want our investments to support companies whose practices conflict with the biblical values we seek to live by?
When we make an investment, we are participating in the economic activity of a business and, in some cases, providing capital that directly supports it. It can be easy to overlook that simple action. Maybe because we focus more on making our 10% tithe and the more money we make, the more we can give. But I would challenge you to consider the kinds of businesses that might be in that investment.
The goal of faith-based investing isn’t perfection. In today’s global economy, it’s nearly impossible to avoid every company whose practices fall short of biblical values. Instead, the goal is intentionality. Just as we prayerfully consider how we spend, save, and give, we can also thoughtfully consider where our investments are directed. Stewardship isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about pursuing faithfulness.
What Is Faith-Based Investing?
If we believe our investments should reflect our values, faith-based investing offers a way to put that conviction into practice. It allows you to consider whether you want to invest in companies involved in industries or practices that conflict with your values, such as tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment, predatory lending, or other activities you believe are inconsistent with biblical principles. There are investment options designed to screen out companies involved in these practices. Several mutual fund companies, investment management firms, and financial advisors are working to solve this problem.
Investment managers use specialized screening tools to evaluate how a company makes money, including its involvement in certain industries and business practices. Depending on the strategy, screens may also look at a company’s ownership, acquisitions, mergers or other investments. Each firm has nuanced differences in its filters, but the goal is similar: to avoid investing in companies whose practices conflict with their stated convictions and to direct funds to companies that better align with those convictions.
Faith-based investing provides a way to bring your investment decisions into greater alignment with the convictions and values you hold.
How Do I Align My Investments with My Values?
One challenge is that it can be difficult to know what you’re investing in and what choices you really have. That’s where investment companies and advisors who understand faith-based strategies can help you navigate your options.
A key initial step in aligning your investments with your values is knowing what is actually in your portfolio. Rather than blindly investing, take a step to learn more about the companies you’re investing in.
Then take the time to understand what different faith-based strategies might look like and evaluate whether your current retirement accounts align with the convictions you have.
You can also find an advisor who understands both investing and your values to work with who can help you make those decisions. They can help you balance faith-based screens with diversification and an appropriate investment strategy.
“Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” (Ecclesiastes 11:2) Faithfulness in investing is being intentional with both what you invest and how you invest.
Ask. Seek. Knock.
Maybe you’ve thought, ‘I can live a Christian life, but God doesn’t care about my money decisions.’ But if we believe stewardship encompasses our whole lives, then our investments shouldn’t be the exception.
Matthew 7:7-8 shares Jesus’ words: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Ask – “If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” (James 1:5) Commit time in prayer to ask the Lord to stir your heart and ask for correction or conviction where you need it in your financial journey.
Seek – “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” (Proverbs 11:14) Find a Christian financial planner or advisor who shares your values to help you make wise investment choices that align with your convictions.
Knock – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) Honor God in your next financial steps and invest according to your values. Do more than speak; actually do.
Conclusion
Does God care how I invest my money? Yes. Not because investing is a spiritual discipline, but because stewardship is. These are topics I explore further in Financially Unbroken for the Golden Years, but the first step begins with asking whether every area of our financial lives, including our investments, reflects our desire to honor God as the owner of all. The money isn’t ultimately ours. That’s why how we steward it matters.
All verses are taken from the New International Version
Article by Emily Scott, CFP® ChSNC®, a financial advisor and author passionate about helping Christians connect their financial decisions with their faith. Through her practice, Financially Unbroken, Emily serves clients and families, including those navigating the unique financial considerations of special needs.
She is the author of Financially Unbroken and Financially Unbroken for the Golden Years and writes about biblical stewardship through every season of life. Emily also leads small groups at her church through her Bible studies, encouraging others to approach money with wisdom, intentionality, and a desire to honor God with what He has entrusted to them. Find more from Emily on her Blog at- https://financiallyunbroken.substack.com
