Wise Investing in Today's World

There is one thing certain about our economy - it is uncertain. Fifty years ago Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, made a very perceptive statement. It was true then, but it is even truer now. "We are so busy extending ourselves and increasing the size and ornamentation of our personal kingdom that we have hardly considered that no age in history has had so many loose props under it as our own." We are so busy buying that we have failed to realize there are some moral screws loose in our society. The foundation is cracking. We might be just investing our money in the wrong places.

The Bible presents eternal financial principles that make sense. It reveals financial secrets that most of the world does not know. It encourages us to reevaluate our priorities-to seek the eternal rather than the earthly. God's Word leads us to make investments that will pay off in the long run.

01. What does the Bible say regarding God's ownership of the world?
Psalm 50:10–12
10. For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
12. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
Note
God is the owner of this world. Everything in it rightfully belongs to Him.

02. What right does God have to claim the world as His?
Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 43:1
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."
Note
The Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit participated in the process of creation together (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:15, 16). The earth is His simply because He made it all.

03. What other reason does the Bible give that this world belongs to God?
Isaiah 43:1
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."
1 Peter 1:18–19
18. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Note
When our Lord created this world, He entrusted it to Adam. God gave Adam dominion over the entire creation (Genesis 1:26). At the Fall, Adam surrendered his right of dominion. Lucifer, the fallen angel, usurped the dominion and claimed the lordship of the earth. At the cross Satan's fate was sealed, and complete restoration pledged for this planet (Ephesians 1:14; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; John 12:31, 32). God is the true owner of this world, both by creation and redemption. Everything we have is a gift of His grace. We are stewards of goods entrusted to us by God.

​04. Since God is the owner of the entire world and everything in it, what does the Bible state regarding our responsibility with the goods God has entrusted to us?
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Luke 16:1–2, 10
01. He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
02. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
10. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Note
God entrusts each of us with a portion of His goods to manage. Everything we have is a trust from the King of the universe. God is testing us with earthly possessions to see if we can be entrusted with heavenly riches.

05. Where do our earthly possessions come from? Who gives the ability and power to get wealth?
Deuteronomy 8:17–18
17. then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Haggai 2:8
‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.

06. How do we acknowledge that God is the owner of all we have?
Malachi 3:8–10
08. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
09. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

07. What is 'tithe'? How does the Bible describe 'tithe'?
Leviticus 27:30, 32
30. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.
32. And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
Note
Although all our money belongs to God, the tithe is holy. It is an acknowledgment of God's ownership. It reveals that we really believe He owns all we have.

08. What promise did God give the Israelites who made him "first" in their giving? Does this promise apply to us today?
Proverbs 3:9–10
09. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10. So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

09. What Bible character is an outstanding example of faithfulness to God in tithe paying?
Genesis 28:20–22
20. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,
21. so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.
22. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

10. What did Jesus say about tithing?
Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Note
In discussing tithe, Jesus said, "This ye ought to have done" but He condemned the Pharisees for neglecting mercy, justice, and compassion. The tithe is sacred. It is set apart for His work and especially the proclamation of the gospel.

11. How else did God's rebellious people rob Him besides failing to return tithes?
Malachi 3:8
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

12. Did God specify an exact amount for our offerings?
Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

13. What is the most important thing to God - the amount given or the attitude in which it is given?
2 Corinthians 8:12
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Note
God has promised to supply the needs of all who are faithful in returning His tithes and offerings. In Philippians 4:19 we have an eternal pledge: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". The needs of God's children are already underwritten by the bank of heaven. Jesus stated, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' .. or 'What shall we wear?' .. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:31-33).

14. What assurance does God give His people who are faithful in their giving?
Proverbs 11:24–25
24. There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.
25. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Concluding Question
Would you like to consider being faithful to God in returning to Him your tithes and offerings?

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Read the following Bible passages:
- Proverbs 11:28;
- Proverbs 1:19;
- Proverbs 22:7;
- Proverbs 6:6-11;
- Proverbs 22:4, 5,
- Luke 6:38;
- 1 Timothy 5:18;
- 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14;
- Numbers 18:21;
- 2 Chronicles 31:11, 12.