Memory verse 1: Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything.  1 Chronicles 29:11

Memory verse 2: “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender” Proverbs 22:7

Memory verse 3: “the way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” Proverbs 12:15

Memory verse 4: “you shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another” Leviticus 19:11

Memory verse 5: “whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” Colossians 3:23

Memory verse 6: “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”   Matthew 6:21

Memory verse 7: ““steady plodding brings prosperity, hasty speculation brings poverty”  Proverbs 21:5

Investing principles, continued

Good morning, sorry i missed yesterday. The week has been a little hectic. Last time we started looking at investing principles, and just to review we talked about being a steady plodder, and let compounding work for you. The two really go hand in hand if you think about it. Now let continue this list

3. Avoid risky investments

“there is another serious problem i have seen everywhere-savings are put into risky investments that turn sour, and soon there is nothing left to pass on to one’s son. The man who speculates is soon back to where he began-with nothing” Ecclesiastes 5:13-14

We’ve all been tempted by high risk for high reward. We see that all the time with investment funds or with investing in the next great invention or stock market tip. While there is definitely potential for great gain, there is equally or maybe more  risk of losing everything. High risk, high reward or high loss. This circles us back to the first two principles, steady plodding over time. You may not get rich fast, but it is far more likely that it will all be there when you need it. Gambling could fall into the same catagory. We must remember that the money we have is God’s, and we are the stewards of it. Do you think He’s happy with us risking losing it on an impulse?

4. Diversify

“Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth” Ecclesiates 11:2

Any investment has some element of risk, even if it’s low, but potential for total loss to some unforeseen event. Basically the bible is saying don’t but all your eggs in one basket. If one basket breaks, at least there are others to fall back on.

5. Save and invest only when we are also giving

“Luke 12:16-21

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Even though God has told us to be steady plodders and diligent in our saving, this verse also shows us that we should be generous at the same time. Storing everything up for ourselves is not what God had in mind. We are to love our neighbors, help others when needs arise. If we have more than we need (not more than we want), we should share. And at the same time, being wise and putting away for rainy days. It’s a balancing act. This is also why I said before that learning to save money is the second most important skill. first is tithing

 

tomorrow we will look exclusively at the second step in the 7 steps to finanacial freedom

Lord, thank you for who You are! Continue to guide and direct us as we look at our finances. God search our hearts and help us to see places where we need changes. Thank you for your incredible blessings today. In Jesus name, amen