What Does the Bible Say About Investing?

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. - (3 John 1:2 World English Bible) \

Is it biblically permissible for a Christian to invest—not speculate or gamble—but to invest wisely?

Check out one of my favorite stories from The Book of Matthew (25:14-30 English Standard Version):

 The Parable of the Talents

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.” His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Notice the key points Jesus is making in these verses. The two servants who received the five and two talents (a talent is worth approximately 1.4 million dollars based on current values—big bucks) went out and ‘traded’ immediately and doubled their master’s money.

The wicked and slothful servant, on the other hand, was condemned by his master for not properly investing the talent that was entrusted to him. In fact, the Contemporary English Version of verse 27 says, “You could have at least put my money in the bank, so I could have earned interest on it.” If the least he could have done was open a bank account, then the implication is he should have invested (traded) in more profitable vehicles. The message is pretty much accepted around the world, except in Cuba and North Korea, where people continue to live in poverty.

Read Matthew 13:44, The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and 13:45, The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price for additional examples of trading and investing.

I cite numerous examples of God’s multiplication power throughout my latest book How to Be a Great Investor: Investment Techniques for Christians. You can get it on Amazon in paperback or on Kindle.

Please share and like the Great Investor Facebook page—help us get the word out!

Thanks and Blessings!

Listening to good advice is worth much more than jewelry made of gold. (Proverbs 25:12 CEV)