If you are having trouble finding Christian investment options, you’re not alone. Sometimes it seems like the hardest thing in the world to find businesses not associated in any way with what you consider immoral choices like abortion, pornography, anti-family entertainment, non-married lifestyles, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling.
Year: 2010
King Solomon – the Short Version
The Biblical King Solomon was known for his wisdom, wealth, and writing. He is generally given credit for having authored Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Solomon’s rise to power was not without incident. As the son of King David and Bathsheba, Solomon was promised the throne even though he wasn’t the eldest son. This irked Adonijah, who was the eldest son and had expected the keys to the Kingdom to be handed to him.
King Solomon’s Wisdom Via Christian Podcast
The Biblical business and investing wisdom of the ages is coming to an iPod near you, thanks to the efforts of Jason Hartman, founder of Empowered Investor Network, and host of The Creating Wealth Show. The remarkable success of his original show inspired Jason to take the wisdom of the author of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, and combine it with probing interviews of leading Biblical thinkers and investors. The result is a Christian podcast like no other.
In the Bible, Money Should be Invested
Recent entries have focused on finding Bible entries that portray God as a pro-investment kind of deity. Perhaps nowhere is the sentiment more clearly expressed that, by the Bible, money is meant for investing than the Book of Luke, Chapters 11-26. Do you remember this one, commonly referred to as the Parable of the Ten Minas? Let’s recap.
Proverbs Commentary Illustrates How to Choose Investments
Proverbs 23:4 – “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.â€
Alrighty then. It looks to us what King Solomon is conveying to us through this Proverbs commentary is that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are essential elements to success in business or investing. We have to look no further back into history than the so-called dot.com boom and bust of the late 1990’s to understand the basic truth in this advice.
Solomon Investing – All in the Attitude
Solomon investing is a phrase we use to refer to the idea of investing by principles that can be supported by Biblical scripture. There are all kinds of reasons people invest but they all don’t meet the litmus test of the Lord. Is investing even scriptural? At Solomon Success, we say yes but, like in the title, it all depends upon your attitude going in. Luke 12:15 cautions against greed, while Proverbs 23:4-5 warns against get-rich-quick schemes, and Proverbs 29:3 tells us ego-based investing is a bad thing.
Wealth Strategies for Christian Investors
Think diversification is only for heathens? Christian investors should take a look at Ecclesiastes 11:2, where King Solomon wrote to “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on earth.†This basic market truth should be ignored at your own peril. It wasn’t by accident that the Queen of Sheba noted that everything Solomon’s hands touched turned to gold, or that the Lord told Solomon he would endow him with riches, honor, and wisdom.
The Bible Reminds Us to “Serve Wholeheartedly”
Perhaps the tendency to be lazy and distracted at work has never been more evident than today. A prime contributor to this lack-of-work ethic is probably the internet but work avoidance tactics have been around since the first man went to work for another man. In case anyone is unclear about whether there is a directive to Christians towards hard work, check out Ephesians 6 v. 7 & 8, which states the following:
Strangers and risk-takers
It’s no secret that King Solomon put a great deal of stock in wisdom and was not a big fan of financial risk and foolhardy haste, especially when it came to business decisions regarding partnerships. Proverb 20:16 says in part, “Take his garment that is surety for a stranger…â€
Can you save as well as the ants do?
Proverbs 30:25 gives credit to ants for saving when they should. In other words, work hard to harvest in times of plenty so there will be something to eat when times are lean. Ants stay extraordinarily busy during the summer gathering food and packing it away to eat during the spring and fall (winters are for hibernation).