What does the Bible say about investing money? While the words “stock market” or “NASDAQ” don’t appear in the Bible, there is no specific command in the Bible that says not to invest. What wisdom does the Bible give about how to leverage our financial resources and abundance through investing?
As stewards of God’s blessings, we have a divine responsibility to help optimize our money’s impact to fund God’s Kingdom. This is an everyday calling we strive to lead through Kingdom320. There are several instances in the Bible where God’s people demonstrated how financial investing can be used to accelerate abundance and Kingdom-minded impact.
Today we’re going to take a look at what the Bible does or doesn’t say about investing and five key verses or passages of Scripture that speak to wisely investing your financial resources.
What Does the Bible Say About Investing?
It’s important to note that the Bible does not talk about stocks or retirement plans. However, there are several instances in the Bible where financial investing is celebrated, whether through business operations or real estate transactions. We’ll get into specific examples here in a short while.
The greater question then becomes, “If it’s permissible for Christians to invest, then what is the best way to invest?” At Kingdom320, we strongly believe in the lucrative potential of real estate investing. That said, every investment decision ultimately comes back to how well your investment opportunities align with your faith values. Would investing in a certain opportunity, whatever the investment vehicle, support or contradict the teachings of Scripture? If it goes against Scripture, then it would be better not to pursue that investment opportunity.
What Does the Bible Say About Investing In Stocks?
The Bible does not mention stocks or the stock market by name, nor does it have any instance that implies investing in stocks or the stock market would go against God’s Word. The concept of stock markets was first introduced in the 1600s, long after the canon of Scripture was completed. It allowed investors the opportunity to own a portion or ‘share’ of a company. If anything, investing in a variety of companies follows the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 11:2, “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”
What Does the Bible Say About Investing In Real Estate?
There are multiple passages of Scripture that illustrate the value of investing in real estate. Joseph purchased significant plots of land in Egypt as a long-term investment. (Gen. 47) The wise woman in Proverbs 31 bought a field. Jesus spoke about a man who wanted to buy a house, so the man counted his money before purchasing the house. (Luke 14)
Jesus’ parable about the man who finds buried treasure in a field is an excellent example of real estate investing. The man realized there was tremendous opportunity in the field, implied by the fact he was digging in the first place. He recognized the value, sold his current possessions to purchase that field, and then was able to claim that treasure.
Investing in real estate is a powerful way to leverage properties to further fund God’s Kingdom through abundance. We cover this concept in an eye-opening, faith-igniting training called “Real Estate God’s Way”. There’s no cost to attend, but be prepared, you may see real estate in such an appealing way like never before because of this training.
Divine Investment Principles: 5 Bible Verses About Investing Money
If you know how to interpret the Bible, it’s clear how much the Bible supports the concept of investing. There are several Bible verses that speak to making wise choices with our God-given money, but for now, here are five Bible verses about investing money:
- Proverbs 31:16
- Proverbs 21:20
- Luke 19:11-27 – The Parable of the 10 Minas
- Ecclesiastes 11:2
- Proverbs 11:14
Each of these verses speaks to the practice of investing with patience, humility, and wisdom. Let’s take a closer look at each verse in its context.
Proverbs 31:16 – “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.”
The context of this verse is that Proverbs 31 is all about the wise woman of great value. She is intentional with her time, treasure, and talents: purchasing fields, planting, harvesting, making garments, trading wares in the marketplace, providing for her family, and being a great steward. As a business owner and real estate investor, she leverages her abundance to help create further abundance. The result? She provides for her family. She brings honor to her husband and their home. Her investments yield an abundant reward that is revered.
Proverbs 21:20 – “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”
What do you call someone who consumes every penny they make (or more) and doesn’t invest anything for the future? A fool. God is bringing abundance into your life or business for one reason. He wants you to keep what you need and leverage your abundance for His Kingdom. Stocks, rental properties, investment accounts, and businesses are all types of precious treasures that can be turned into abundance to further fund God’s Kingdom.
Luke 19:11-27 – The Parable of the 10 Minas
Jesus told a story about a noble businessman who left for a faraway country. Before departing, the nobleman gave 10 minas each, approximately three months’ worth of wages, to 10 different servants. His one request: Engage in business until he returned. (Luke 19:13)
The wiser servants traded and conducted business with their minas, doubling the return on investment. A foolish servant, though, did nothing with his 10 minas. When the nobleman returned, he rewarded the faithful servant who invested wisely. The foolish servant was punished, and his minas were all given to the most faithful servant.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 – “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”
This verse speaks to the behavior of the wise man who diversifies his wealth to insulate against life’s uncertainties. What will tomorrow bring? God only knows. What’s clear is that having all of your wealth in one ‘basket’, whether a bank account, a single type of investment account, or even only one rental property is an unwise decision. It’s wiser to diversify your wealth across several types of properties, if at all possible, to protect against ruin due to one tragedy.
Proverbs 11:14 – “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
If the Bible doesn’t expressly forbid investing but instead implies investing is a wise practice, what’s the best way to invest? By finding experts you can trust to guide your decision-making. An abundance of counselors doesn’t mean having as many financial advisors as possible. What it means is you can curate insight from leading financial voices and educate yourself on what may be the best decision for your financial situation.
If you’re going to invest, it’s wise to understand what you’re investing in and why it’s worth your investment before you invest. Read books, listen to podcasts, join our Kingdom320 community to glean from our resources and experts, and invest your time and energy toward understanding opportunities before you take action.
Start Investing Today, God’s Way
Investing is a biblical principle tied to being the best possible steward of your financial abundance. These five Bible verses about investing can give you the confidence and peace you need to move forward as a Christian investor. You may be at a crossroads, though. What is the best place to start investing your money?
You’re invited to see what God’s doing through our training “Real Estate God’s Way”. It’s available at no cost to you right now. Hit the link to start seeing how your investment can create Kingdom-sized impact today!
At Kingdom320, we see real estate investing as a powerful, proven pathway toward generating a lucrative income and impact for God’s Kingdom. It’s one of the oldest investment practices, and there is a wave of momentum around the world to use real estate returns to fund what God’s doing.
