5-page paper synthesizing the 3-5 ideas from the readings that made the greatest impact on you, and how those ideas apply to yo

How Christians Should Invest Their Money

The Bible addresses the importance of properly investing one’s money. In the parable of the talents, Jesus gives instructions to the person who refused to invest his master’s money: “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest” (Matt. 25:27). God expects believers to be wise stewards of the resources He places in their hands. Ron Blue identifies the following five biblical principles regarding wise investing.⁰ First, a person must establish written financial goals. Proverbs 21:5 provides great direction: “The plans for the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Therefore, Christians should write down their financial goals and plan the steps to implement them. Second, a person should save and invest before spending. This requires setting aside a designated amount for investment prior to purchasing non-essential items. The wisdom of Solomon declares, “Put your outdoor work in order and get your field ready; after that, build your house” (Prov. 24:27). Third, a person must keep a long-term perspective. Luke provides a great example: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it” (Luke 14:28)? Having noble financial goals encourages a person to put aside some things in order to systematically attain long-term goals. Fourth, a person should diversify his or her portfolio. Ecclesiastes 11:2 illustrates this point: “Divide your portion to seven, or even eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” Fifth, a person should not incur more risk than he or she can afford. This requires that one invest what he or she has rather than borrowing to fund investments. Ecclesiastes 5:13 supports this idea: “I have seen a grievous evil under the sun, wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners.”

Christians should invest their financial resources in venues that bring eternal results. This includes investing into the lives of people—to either bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, disciple believers, or to help people in need. For the Christian, this type of investment lays up treasures in heaven. After Jesus spoke the parable about the rich fool, He instructs His followers with these words:

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:32-34)

When Christians invest in the things God considers important, God makes certain to care for their needs in this life while also storing up treasures in heaven.

Stewardship through the Creation of a Will

The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Tim. 6:6). Jesus, in the Parable of the Rich Fool, tells the story of a person who amassed a great amount of wealth in his lifetime and then died. Jesus concludes by asking, “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). Planning for one’s final act of giving through the creation of a will illustrates wise stewardship and a heart for the things of God. Whether individuals leave a small or large portion of their estate to the work of the Lord will depend on many circumstances. However, Christians can ensure that their final act of giving enriches God’s Kingdom by returning to God through planned giving. If Christians die without a will (intestate), they cannot leave anything to the work of the Lord.

The Bible declares, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Ps. 127:3-5). Truly, children are a parent’s greatest assets and should be protected and provided for in the event that the parents die before the children reach majority age.

Conclusion

God’s Word provides a solid foundation for developing a healthy perspective toward money, wealth, and possessions. Adhering to these guidelines will benefit an individual because obedience to God’s ways always results in supernatural provision. Systematic and intelligent giving allows believers to give generously, yet wisely. As one’s earnings increase, a person should learn wise investment principles. Prayerful consideration, accompanied by trustworthy counsel, can help an individual determine the best course of action. Finally, believers can exercise good stewardship by creating a will. In so doing, the person will protect his or her family, name an executor/trustee, and have the privilege of blessing God’s Kingdom by designating a portion of his or her wealth to God’s work.

No subject in the Bible or in life generates greater interest than money. Thus, Christians should lead the way in teaching and demonstrating how to manage money in a godly fashion. Each day, believers encounter new opportunities to use the money God has entrusted to them. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance and wisdom, people can learn to live by God’s principles of wealth while also helping people in need. A good prayer when considering how best to use the money that God has placed into one’s care is: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10).

Chapter 3: GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

This chapter will review key contemporary literature regarding closing the back door ((facilitating the retention of first-time guests and assimilating new attendees into the local church) and methods of church growth. Most church growth methods focus on implementing new programs within the local church, such as developing a particular ministry or encouraging servant evangelism. The church must continuously find effective means by which to make the local community aware of its presence. This chapter will further review literature that seeks to identify biblically-based business principles that will stimulate church growth.

Most churches in America are not growing. Gary McIntosh observes: “It is estimated that in the United States between three thousand and four thousand churches close their doors each year. An additional thirty thousand to forty thousand are on the pathway to closure within the next decade if they do not establish a new direction in ministry.”⁰ The literature reviewed in this chapter focuses primarily on assisting plateaued or declining churches in order to make the necessary changes to recapture growth. McIntosh states: “We actually know very little about change and what we know is changing, and we can be sure that the future is going to be different from the past.”⁰ Churches that choose not to change the way they conduct God’s business generally continue to decline both in attendance and every other means by which one measures growth within the church. If declining churches do not embrace change, they will join the ranks of churches that close their doors.

Intentional action steps can interrupt the life cycle of a church from commencement, growth, maturity, decline, and closure. A wide variety of actions can intervene and reverse the downward slide of a church, but if a church does not desire to change the current way of doing business, the church has little hope. The goal of this literature review is to show the local church how to foster the necessary changes in order to become vibrant once again.