Jesus’ Stock Picks of the Day
Rev. Earl Jackson
Luke 19:15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
I was speaking to my oldest son Kenneth. We were discussing the Bible, and I said to him: “you know, the Bible has something to say about just about everything.” His reply was, “yeah but it doesn’t say anything about investing in the New York Stock Exchange!”
Most people would accept Kenneth’s assessment as true. Yes, Wall street is not mentioned in Scripture. The Bible does not say anything about investing in the New York Stock Exchange. But this is really not the case. The Bible does have much to say about money, much to say about the proper use of money, much to say about proper investments, and much to say about “trading” to receive a return on investments.
This study is going to introduce some of the basics of Christian Stock Investing (or any kind of investing) using Luke 19: 12-28 as a guide. This study is expository but it is also Theological. There is within the Bible, in addition to other forms of Theology, a system of doctrine which is called “Practical Theology“. That is where this study fits in. God has revealed all of the practical stuff that we need for daily life. This ranges from, what to do about the oil in your lamps (Matt. 25: 3,4,8) , to sweeping the floor of your house (Lk. 15: 8). So it should not surprise us to find out about “investing” as well. Anything really important for practical Godly living is included in the Bible,
As a quick aside, Christians ought to rejoice in, and be thankful for, the fact that God has shown us even the “details of life”. I’m afraid that our Reformed Theology, with all of its grand conceptions and lofty flights of reason, forgets that believers can have mastery even over the small things in life. This idea of “mastery over the details of life” may well be missing from our teaching and preaching. But, it is not missing from the Bible, which is our guidebook; not just to Theological grandiosity, but also to all minutia in life.
Someone might say that looking to the Bible for Jesus’ Stock Picks, is certainly FANATICAL behavior. I would have to agree. But who says there is anything wrong with being a FANATIC? I’ve been a FANATIC for years. If we truly believe in something, then we should give it our all. Jesus said: "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Lk. 9: 62).And He also said: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl. 9: 10). There is plenty of Biblical basis for fanaticism about the truth. How can you be unconcerned, indifferent, nonchalant or casual about things which affect everything in life? The Christian Worldview, is by it’s very nature, A FANATICAL BELIEF SYSTEM. God tells us what to think, and this is not just limited to what to think about praying, or something like that, but what to think about EVERYTHING (2Cor. 10: 5; Phil. 4: 6; 1Thess. 5: 18; Matt. 28: 20; Rom. 11: 36; 1Cor. 2: 10, 15; 1Cor. 8: 6; 1Cor. 9: 25; Col. 1: 17). “Every thought” is the domain of Theology (3Cor. 10: 5; Heb. 4: 12). I guess that if it involves “every thought”, then that would make everyone who is thinking like that a FANATIC.
Was not the man being fanatical when he left 99 sheep to go looking for one that was lost, no matter how long it would take to find it? (Lk. 15: 4-6). Was he being a fanatic when he had a party over the sheep’s retrieval? (v. 6). How about the woman who in like manner lost a single coin, and then had a party when she found it? (Lk. 15: 8-10). Was she a fanatic? I’d say so. It certainly appears that way.
I find it odd that there is a widespread double standard about fanaticism in our day. If you read your Bible, go to church, pray and follow a Christian worldview…You are a fanatic! But if you purchase tea shirts and hats, spend $80.00 on a ticket, go to the baseball game, come back and spend the next five days talking about the game. If you spend all day Sunday watching football games, or the races, or hockey, or the Olympics; or in general idolizing sports figures or athletics…YOU ARE NOT A FANATIC!
So, in our confused and sick culture, fanaticism is a matter of convenience. If it is convenient to say that you are not a fanatic, because your favorite sports or hobbies are involved, then that’s ok. You are not a fanatic if you worship your Harley Davidson! But if it involves religion, God or anything spiritual; that’s not ok. That’s being a fanatic. You are a fanatic if you worship God!
Luke 19: 12-28
There are those who believe that this account is based on the actual historical account of Herod’s Son. "The Saviour probably derived the details of this parable from the actual history of Archelaus, the son of Herod, who after his father's death went to Rome to receive the sovereignty over part of his father's kingdom in accordance with the intentions of his father's testament. Its confirmation by the Roman emperor was necessary, because Herod's empire in reality formed part of the Roman Empire. A Jewish deputation at that time also went to Rome to dispute Archelaus's claim to kingship, bit the emperor nonetheless appointed him as ruler (though not as a full sovereign king) over half of his father's kingdom" (Geldenhuys). While this is generally believed to be historically accurate, we cannot just automatically assume that Jesus was borrowing from secular history to produce a sacred parable. That may indeed have been the case, but we cannot be dogmatic about it. Albert Barnes points out that this actually and historically happened more than once: “This actually occurred several times. Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great, about the time of the birth of Jesus, went to Rome to obtain a confirmation of the title which his father had left him, and succeeded in doing it. Herod the Great, his father, had done the same thing before to secure the aid and countenance of Antony. Agrippa the younger, grandson of Herod the Great, went to Rome also to obtain the favor of Tiberius, and to be confirmed in his government. Such instances, having frequently occurred, would make this parable perfectly intelligible to those to whom it was addressed.” (Commentary on the New Testament). I agree, Jesus was perfectly skilled at adapting His sermons and parables to the minds of His hearers. After all, He knew what they were thinking at all times. He read their minds the same as He reads our minds (Lk. 5: 22; Lk. 6: 8; Jn. 2: 25; Jn. 21: 7; Heb. 4: 13; Rev. 2: 23). So, of course, He knew how to perfectly relate a parable so His hearers could immediately grasp it. By the same token he also knew how to phrase a parable so that nobody would understand it, or only some would understand it, if that’s the effect He wanted to produce. Jesus’ mastery of language was absolutely perfect because He controlled the results which His words produced. This is a key principle for all preachers and teachers to understand. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10: 17). The Word of God is capable of producing the effect of faith in the hearers. This is always the case…God produces whatever effect He wants His words to have. The effect of disbelief is also produced by God (Jn. 12: 38-40; Mark 4: 15-16; Lk. 4: 28; Lk. 8: 14; Jn. 6: 59-60; Acts 5: 33; Acts 7: 54; Acts 17: 8; Acts 17: 32; Acts 19: 28; Heb. 3: 15-16). When we preach or teach God’s Word it is never up to us to produce the effect that it is to have. He is the cause of His own effects, and not us. Whenever I learned this principle it took a false burden off my shoulders which I thought I was supposed to bare. No longer do I try to persuade men to react a certain way to my preaching or teaching. It is impossible for me to reach anybody anything. That is the domain of God. He controls the thoughts and intents of the hearts of men (Heb. 4: 12).
I am pointing this out, because it is foundational to a proper understanding of all of the Lord’s parables. The parables are stories that He told which were calculated to produce a variety of effects in His hearers. So in this wonderful parable of Luke 19, we should know right up front that not everyone is going to receive it or understand it. It’s not meant for everyone. So what I am expounding here is by no means a hard and fast rule applying to everyone pertaining to investments. What it is, is a wonderful story, which might indeed be profitable to certain individuals who may have “a need to know”, and whose minds may be enlightened because of it.
Now here is the deal in a nutshell. Ten people received an equal sum of money (Lk. 19: 13). They were expected to “occupy”, to “invest” or “trade” until their Lord returned (v.13 see also Matt. 25: 16). When the master returned he immediately wanted to know how much of a return was gained on his monetary trading (Lk. 19: 15). One person was found culpable and judged because he did not even so much as put the money in a bank where it would have earned interest (Lk. 19: 22-24). It is clear that in this parable this constituted an wicked and thus evil use of money (Lk. 19: 22).
So the lesson here is really quite simple. If we were to ask, what would Jesus’ stock pick of the day be? We would have to answer that at a bare bones minimum it would be a pick which would at least net returns equal to that which you would get in a bank. The bank seems to represent the most conservative acceptable investment. Any investment which returns more than mere money in a bank, is considered a “good and profitable” investment (Lk. 19: 17, 19). Such investing is then rewarded even beyond the initial returns. The one who increased his portfolio by ten times (Lk. 19: 16) was given a
governorship over ten cities. The one who multiplied his portfolio by five times was given a governorship over five cities. In both cases the reward accrued from sound investing was multiplied many times over. The man who hoarded his coin in a napkin, who returned no profit and who made no investment, ended up loosing even the coin that remained (Lk. 19: 24, 26). Verse 26 states a unique principle of Christian investments. If you do not multiply your money, it will probably be taken from you and be given to someone who has proven that he can and will make profitable investments. This all seems to boil down to the so-called law of sowing and reaping (1Cor. 9: 6; Gal.6: 7).
Because this is a parable, we understand that it’s primary application is spiritual and not literal. It relates spiritually to people who have received of God grace (Eph. 4: 7), and who multiply their spiritual gifts (1Cor. 12: 7) by investing in the Kingdom of God. “Lay up your treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6: 19-20). Eternal investments carry eternal rewards. This is where the emphasis should really be placed.
Many people are so caught up in achieving a level of worldly success, that they neglect their own soul. The parable in Luke 12 is pertinent to this concept. There a man’s investments had prospered to the point that he said “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry“ (v.19). Notice Jesus’ emphasis. It carries tremendous significance. “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God“ (vs. 20-21).
Being rich toward God is ten thousand times more important than being rich in this worlds “things”. So Jesus’ stock pick would never be made in isolation from the spiritual truths of relationship to the eternal riches. Jesus does not tell you to pick “ABC” stock, or any other stock for that matter, but He does teach the principles of eternal finance. His word says that “We are bought” (1Cor. 6: 20; 1Cor. 7: 23; Acts 20: 28; 1Pet. 1: 18,19). Christ purchased every believer out of the slave market of sin. He paid the price, and made the ultimate heavenly investment. He invested His all to redeem us and bring us into the kingdom of God. This is the ultimate definition of investing, and it returns the ultimate profit by rescuing lost souls from hell and giving them the riches of eternal life. If you want to know Jesus’ stock pick for today, he tells you to use the capital of the blood of Christ, and invest in the “Faith First” blue chip. When you deposit your faith in Him, you will reap the eternal rewards of salvation, and it will be poured out to you “pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Lk. 6: 38). And you will have “life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10: 10).
Before I finish, I’d like to warn you of a phoney baloney spiritual ponzi scheme investment strategy. It is the false investment strategy known as the “prosperity gospel”. This is where some highly paid, spiritual shysters, who pawn themselves off as God’s ministers, promise you freedom from want, and the guarantee of unlimited wealth when you give to their ministries, when you tithe, or when you donate to their causes. To finish the verse that I half quoted in the previous paragraph, “Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Lk. 6: 38). The prosperity gospel takes this whole matter of sowing and reaping, of investing for the Lord, to an unbiblical and immoral level. Do not misunderstand me. I’m not saying that God will not bless you if you honor Him with your substance (Prov. 3: 9-10). He will honor you, and He will greatly bless you. But that is entirely different then telling a disabled widow who lives on Social Security, that if she will give to your television empire, God will meet her every need. He will pay her mortgage. And she will become wealthy. The false prosperity gospel is summed up in three words…GIVE TO GET. That’s what they teach. God does not want you to be poor, so if you give, you shall receive. When the Lord is your shepherd YOU SHALL NOT WANT (Ps. 23: 1).
If this is true, then why did Paul tell us something completely different. 1Ti 6:6-11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness”. This statement seems pretty simple to understand. It is not dark or mysterious. It is wide opened and clear. The Christian is to learn “contentment” which according to Paul is “great gain”. Wanting to be rich is a “temptation and snare”. It leads to “many foolish and hurtful lusts”. It “drowns men in destruction and perdition”. It causes men to “err from the faith”, and to be “pierced through with many sorrows”. This false doctrine is summed up in two simple sentences by Paul. “The love of money is the root of all evil”. And “Thou, O man of God, flee these things”! Paul’s words cannot be misunderstood and made to teach that God wants every believer to be wealthy. Paul’s own experience clearly teaches that the prosperity gospel is a blatant lie. Paul experienced “need”, “want”, “hunger” and “contentment” in abject poverty. Philippians 4:11-12 says: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”.
Paul speaks clearly in Philippians 4 about his “wants“ (v.11), his “affliction” (v. 14), and his personal “abasement” (v.12) which was the result of his great poverty, his “needs” (v.12) and his “hunger” (v.12). This does not sound like any prosperity gospel to me. In fact, one of the great promises is soon given by Paul himself. It is a promise which is used completely out of context by these spiritual capitalists of the prosperity movement. Paul says in verse 19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus“. There you have it, plain, simple and true…God will provide your “NEED”.
You do not “need” a Rolls Royce. You do not “need” a diamond bracelet. You do not “need” a private jet. You do not “need” alligator shoes. You do not “need” a house in the mountains and another at the beach. You do not “need” a swimming pool. You do not “need” designer jeans, or a $300.00 umbrella, or an I-pod, or a flat screen T.V. or a tennis court, or cosmetic surgery, or a golf cart, or two cars, or a hot air balloon, or a private yacht, or a million dollars. You do not “need” most of the things which you may already have. They are things. They are stuff. They are not “needs”. The “needs” are spelled out in in Matthew 6: 25-34. You should look it up, carefully reading and understanding what it says. God spells out clearly “your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (v 32), and the things that he lists are “Food, Drink and Clothing” (v.31). No prosperity gospel in that…Food, Clothes and Drink…The bare bone essentials to sustain life. You don’t even need a house or a pillow for your head. Jesus had neither. You need only what God say’s that you need. Everything else is “Wants”.
This seems like a good place for me to get back to our original premise, and that is that there is a Biblical concept of investing, of trading to make a profit, and that there is nothing at all wrong with it, if it is done correctly, and without the encumbrances of greed and lust. Failure to multiply the money that God gives you is an indication of a deeper spiritual condition. I have not mentioned it, but I will sum it up right here at the end. If you wrap the money, which God has committed to your trust, in a napkin. It indicates that you hate the master (Lk 19: 14) that you do not acknowledge His sovereignty (v. 14b “We will not have this man to reign over us”), and that you are in reality a “wicked servant”. With this in mind we can understand that Jesus taught a form of ethics which is based on honoring God in all things. If he indeed “reigns over you” you will “love” Him and not “hate “Him, and you will show it by the things you do. So in this instance of “What stock would Jesus recommend today?” He would have you to pick one which would yield some sort of return by which his Lordship can be acknowledged and glorified.
This parable also implies that the return is to be given back to the Lord who gave the funds in the first place. It is His. All of it is His. Even the profit which was earned on the initial portfolio is His. And His sovereignty demands that it all be rendered back to Him at least in principle. There is to be no keeping back a part (see Acts 5: 1-11) “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price” (vs.1-2). This factor alone transforms the act of investing (in stocks, or real estate, or any other type of investing) into an act of worship. We are to worship the Lord with all the things that we possess (Lk. 12: 15). This is why the principle of tithing was prescribed from the earliest times of the Old Testament (Genesis 14: 20 cf Heb. 7: 4). The tithe was not the giving of the whole, but it was the symbol of it. When the first fruits (the tenth) was given to God, it symbolized that the whole was His, and that the tither was keeping back nothing.
The principle is clear: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine “ (Prov. 3: 9-10). Whether God blesses you enough to invest, or whether you have little, the principle is the same. God owns everything, so we must acknowledge that, and worship Him completely and freely. In this, all our investments come out right. And in this our souls are blessed beyond a mere bank balance or tally sheet. May God be pleased to help us to love Him with all that we have, and in everything that we are. Invest, as Jesus would.
©2009 Earl Jackson All Rights Reserved
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Rev. Earl Jackson
Luke 19:15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
I was speaking to my oldest son Kenneth. We were discussing the Bible, and I said to him: “you know, the Bible has something to say about just about everything.” His reply was, “yeah but it doesn’t say anything about investing in the New York Stock Exchange!”
Most people would accept Kenneth’s assessment as true. Yes, Wall street is not mentioned in Scripture. The Bible does not say anything about investing in the New York Stock Exchange. But this is really not the case. The Bible does have much to say about money, much to say about the proper use of money, much to say about proper investments, and much to say about “trading” to receive a return on investments.
This study is going to introduce some of the basics of Christian Stock Investing (or any kind of investing) using Luke 19: 12-28 as a guide. This study is expository but it is also Theological. There is within the Bible, in addition to other forms of Theology, a system of doctrine which is called “Practical Theology“. That is where this study fits in. God has revealed all of the practical stuff that we need for daily life. This ranges from, what to do about the oil in your lamps (Matt. 25: 3,4,8) , to sweeping the floor of your house (Lk. 15: 8). So it should not surprise us to find out about “investing” as well. Anything really important for practical Godly living is included in the Bible,
As a quick aside, Christians ought to rejoice in, and be thankful for, the fact that God has shown us even the “details of life”. I’m afraid that our Reformed Theology, with all of its grand conceptions and lofty flights of reason, forgets that believers can have mastery even over the small things in life. This idea of “mastery over the details of life” may well be missing from our teaching and preaching. But, it is not missing from the Bible, which is our guidebook; not just to Theological grandiosity, but also to all minutia in life.
Someone might say that looking to the Bible for Jesus’ Stock Picks, is certainly FANATICAL behavior. I would have to agree. But who says there is anything wrong with being a FANATIC? I’ve been a FANATIC for years. If we truly believe in something, then we should give it our all. Jesus said: "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Lk. 9: 62).And He also said: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl. 9: 10). There is plenty of Biblical basis for fanaticism about the truth. How can you be unconcerned, indifferent, nonchalant or casual about things which affect everything in life? The Christian Worldview, is by it’s very nature, A FANATICAL BELIEF SYSTEM. God tells us what to think, and this is not just limited to what to think about praying, or something like that, but what to think about EVERYTHING (2Cor. 10: 5; Phil. 4: 6; 1Thess. 5: 18; Matt. 28: 20; Rom. 11: 36; 1Cor. 2: 10, 15; 1Cor. 8: 6; 1Cor. 9: 25; Col. 1: 17). “Every thought” is the domain of Theology (3Cor. 10: 5; Heb. 4: 12). I guess that if it involves “every thought”, then that would make everyone who is thinking like that a FANATIC.
Was not the man being fanatical when he left 99 sheep to go looking for one that was lost, no matter how long it would take to find it? (Lk. 15: 4-6). Was he being a fanatic when he had a party over the sheep’s retrieval? (v. 6). How about the woman who in like manner lost a single coin, and then had a party when she found it? (Lk. 15: 8-10). Was she a fanatic? I’d say so. It certainly appears that way.
I find it odd that there is a widespread double standard about fanaticism in our day. If you read your Bible, go to church, pray and follow a Christian worldview…You are a fanatic! But if you purchase tea shirts and hats, spend $80.00 on a ticket, go to the baseball game, come back and spend the next five days talking about the game. If you spend all day Sunday watching football games, or the races, or hockey, or the Olympics; or in general idolizing sports figures or athletics…YOU ARE NOT A FANATIC!
So, in our confused and sick culture, fanaticism is a matter of convenience. If it is convenient to say that you are not a fanatic, because your favorite sports or hobbies are involved, then that’s ok. You are not a fanatic if you worship your Harley Davidson! But if it involves religion, God or anything spiritual; that’s not ok. That’s being a fanatic. You are a fanatic if you worship God!
Luke 19: 12-28
There are those who believe that this account is based on the actual historical account of Herod’s Son. "The Saviour probably derived the details of this parable from the actual history of Archelaus, the son of Herod, who after his father's death went to Rome to receive the sovereignty over part of his father's kingdom in accordance with the intentions of his father's testament. Its confirmation by the Roman emperor was necessary, because Herod's empire in reality formed part of the Roman Empire. A Jewish deputation at that time also went to Rome to dispute Archelaus's claim to kingship, bit the emperor nonetheless appointed him as ruler (though not as a full sovereign king) over half of his father's kingdom" (Geldenhuys). While this is generally believed to be historically accurate, we cannot just automatically assume that Jesus was borrowing from secular history to produce a sacred parable. That may indeed have been the case, but we cannot be dogmatic about it. Albert Barnes points out that this actually and historically happened more than once: “This actually occurred several times. Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great, about the time of the birth of Jesus, went to Rome to obtain a confirmation of the title which his father had left him, and succeeded in doing it. Herod the Great, his father, had done the same thing before to secure the aid and countenance of Antony. Agrippa the younger, grandson of Herod the Great, went to Rome also to obtain the favor of Tiberius, and to be confirmed in his government. Such instances, having frequently occurred, would make this parable perfectly intelligible to those to whom it was addressed.” (Commentary on the New Testament). I agree, Jesus was perfectly skilled at adapting His sermons and parables to the minds of His hearers. After all, He knew what they were thinking at all times. He read their minds the same as He reads our minds (Lk. 5: 22; Lk. 6: 8; Jn. 2: 25; Jn. 21: 7; Heb. 4: 13; Rev. 2: 23). So, of course, He knew how to perfectly relate a parable so His hearers could immediately grasp it. By the same token he also knew how to phrase a parable so that nobody would understand it, or only some would understand it, if that’s the effect He wanted to produce. Jesus’ mastery of language was absolutely perfect because He controlled the results which His words produced. This is a key principle for all preachers and teachers to understand. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10: 17). The Word of God is capable of producing the effect of faith in the hearers. This is always the case…God produces whatever effect He wants His words to have. The effect of disbelief is also produced by God (Jn. 12: 38-40; Mark 4: 15-16; Lk. 4: 28; Lk. 8: 14; Jn. 6: 59-60; Acts 5: 33; Acts 7: 54; Acts 17: 8; Acts 17: 32; Acts 19: 28; Heb. 3: 15-16). When we preach or teach God’s Word it is never up to us to produce the effect that it is to have. He is the cause of His own effects, and not us. Whenever I learned this principle it took a false burden off my shoulders which I thought I was supposed to bare. No longer do I try to persuade men to react a certain way to my preaching or teaching. It is impossible for me to reach anybody anything. That is the domain of God. He controls the thoughts and intents of the hearts of men (Heb. 4: 12).
I am pointing this out, because it is foundational to a proper understanding of all of the Lord’s parables. The parables are stories that He told which were calculated to produce a variety of effects in His hearers. So in this wonderful parable of Luke 19, we should know right up front that not everyone is going to receive it or understand it. It’s not meant for everyone. So what I am expounding here is by no means a hard and fast rule applying to everyone pertaining to investments. What it is, is a wonderful story, which might indeed be profitable to certain individuals who may have “a need to know”, and whose minds may be enlightened because of it.
Now here is the deal in a nutshell. Ten people received an equal sum of money (Lk. 19: 13). They were expected to “occupy”, to “invest” or “trade” until their Lord returned (v.13 see also Matt. 25: 16). When the master returned he immediately wanted to know how much of a return was gained on his monetary trading (Lk. 19: 15). One person was found culpable and judged because he did not even so much as put the money in a bank where it would have earned interest (Lk. 19: 22-24). It is clear that in this parable this constituted an wicked and thus evil use of money (Lk. 19: 22).
So the lesson here is really quite simple. If we were to ask, what would Jesus’ stock pick of the day be? We would have to answer that at a bare bones minimum it would be a pick which would at least net returns equal to that which you would get in a bank. The bank seems to represent the most conservative acceptable investment. Any investment which returns more than mere money in a bank, is considered a “good and profitable” investment (Lk. 19: 17, 19). Such investing is then rewarded even beyond the initial returns. The one who increased his portfolio by ten times (Lk. 19: 16) was given a
governorship over ten cities. The one who multiplied his portfolio by five times was given a governorship over five cities. In both cases the reward accrued from sound investing was multiplied many times over. The man who hoarded his coin in a napkin, who returned no profit and who made no investment, ended up loosing even the coin that remained (Lk. 19: 24, 26). Verse 26 states a unique principle of Christian investments. If you do not multiply your money, it will probably be taken from you and be given to someone who has proven that he can and will make profitable investments. This all seems to boil down to the so-called law of sowing and reaping (1Cor. 9: 6; Gal.6: 7).
Because this is a parable, we understand that it’s primary application is spiritual and not literal. It relates spiritually to people who have received of God grace (Eph. 4: 7), and who multiply their spiritual gifts (1Cor. 12: 7) by investing in the Kingdom of God. “Lay up your treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6: 19-20). Eternal investments carry eternal rewards. This is where the emphasis should really be placed.
Many people are so caught up in achieving a level of worldly success, that they neglect their own soul. The parable in Luke 12 is pertinent to this concept. There a man’s investments had prospered to the point that he said “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry“ (v.19). Notice Jesus’ emphasis. It carries tremendous significance. “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God“ (vs. 20-21).
Being rich toward God is ten thousand times more important than being rich in this worlds “things”. So Jesus’ stock pick would never be made in isolation from the spiritual truths of relationship to the eternal riches. Jesus does not tell you to pick “ABC” stock, or any other stock for that matter, but He does teach the principles of eternal finance. His word says that “We are bought” (1Cor. 6: 20; 1Cor. 7: 23; Acts 20: 28; 1Pet. 1: 18,19). Christ purchased every believer out of the slave market of sin. He paid the price, and made the ultimate heavenly investment. He invested His all to redeem us and bring us into the kingdom of God. This is the ultimate definition of investing, and it returns the ultimate profit by rescuing lost souls from hell and giving them the riches of eternal life. If you want to know Jesus’ stock pick for today, he tells you to use the capital of the blood of Christ, and invest in the “Faith First” blue chip. When you deposit your faith in Him, you will reap the eternal rewards of salvation, and it will be poured out to you “pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Lk. 6: 38). And you will have “life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10: 10).
Before I finish, I’d like to warn you of a phoney baloney spiritual ponzi scheme investment strategy. It is the false investment strategy known as the “prosperity gospel”. This is where some highly paid, spiritual shysters, who pawn themselves off as God’s ministers, promise you freedom from want, and the guarantee of unlimited wealth when you give to their ministries, when you tithe, or when you donate to their causes. To finish the verse that I half quoted in the previous paragraph, “Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Lk. 6: 38). The prosperity gospel takes this whole matter of sowing and reaping, of investing for the Lord, to an unbiblical and immoral level. Do not misunderstand me. I’m not saying that God will not bless you if you honor Him with your substance (Prov. 3: 9-10). He will honor you, and He will greatly bless you. But that is entirely different then telling a disabled widow who lives on Social Security, that if she will give to your television empire, God will meet her every need. He will pay her mortgage. And she will become wealthy. The false prosperity gospel is summed up in three words…GIVE TO GET. That’s what they teach. God does not want you to be poor, so if you give, you shall receive. When the Lord is your shepherd YOU SHALL NOT WANT (Ps. 23: 1).
If this is true, then why did Paul tell us something completely different. 1Ti 6:6-11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness”. This statement seems pretty simple to understand. It is not dark or mysterious. It is wide opened and clear. The Christian is to learn “contentment” which according to Paul is “great gain”. Wanting to be rich is a “temptation and snare”. It leads to “many foolish and hurtful lusts”. It “drowns men in destruction and perdition”. It causes men to “err from the faith”, and to be “pierced through with many sorrows”. This false doctrine is summed up in two simple sentences by Paul. “The love of money is the root of all evil”. And “Thou, O man of God, flee these things”! Paul’s words cannot be misunderstood and made to teach that God wants every believer to be wealthy. Paul’s own experience clearly teaches that the prosperity gospel is a blatant lie. Paul experienced “need”, “want”, “hunger” and “contentment” in abject poverty. Philippians 4:11-12 says: “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need”.
Paul speaks clearly in Philippians 4 about his “wants“ (v.11), his “affliction” (v. 14), and his personal “abasement” (v.12) which was the result of his great poverty, his “needs” (v.12) and his “hunger” (v.12). This does not sound like any prosperity gospel to me. In fact, one of the great promises is soon given by Paul himself. It is a promise which is used completely out of context by these spiritual capitalists of the prosperity movement. Paul says in verse 19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus“. There you have it, plain, simple and true…God will provide your “NEED”.
You do not “need” a Rolls Royce. You do not “need” a diamond bracelet. You do not “need” a private jet. You do not “need” alligator shoes. You do not “need” a house in the mountains and another at the beach. You do not “need” a swimming pool. You do not “need” designer jeans, or a $300.00 umbrella, or an I-pod, or a flat screen T.V. or a tennis court, or cosmetic surgery, or a golf cart, or two cars, or a hot air balloon, or a private yacht, or a million dollars. You do not “need” most of the things which you may already have. They are things. They are stuff. They are not “needs”. The “needs” are spelled out in in Matthew 6: 25-34. You should look it up, carefully reading and understanding what it says. God spells out clearly “your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (v 32), and the things that he lists are “Food, Drink and Clothing” (v.31). No prosperity gospel in that…Food, Clothes and Drink…The bare bone essentials to sustain life. You don’t even need a house or a pillow for your head. Jesus had neither. You need only what God say’s that you need. Everything else is “Wants”.
This seems like a good place for me to get back to our original premise, and that is that there is a Biblical concept of investing, of trading to make a profit, and that there is nothing at all wrong with it, if it is done correctly, and without the encumbrances of greed and lust. Failure to multiply the money that God gives you is an indication of a deeper spiritual condition. I have not mentioned it, but I will sum it up right here at the end. If you wrap the money, which God has committed to your trust, in a napkin. It indicates that you hate the master (Lk 19: 14) that you do not acknowledge His sovereignty (v. 14b “We will not have this man to reign over us”), and that you are in reality a “wicked servant”. With this in mind we can understand that Jesus taught a form of ethics which is based on honoring God in all things. If he indeed “reigns over you” you will “love” Him and not “hate “Him, and you will show it by the things you do. So in this instance of “What stock would Jesus recommend today?” He would have you to pick one which would yield some sort of return by which his Lordship can be acknowledged and glorified.
This parable also implies that the return is to be given back to the Lord who gave the funds in the first place. It is His. All of it is His. Even the profit which was earned on the initial portfolio is His. And His sovereignty demands that it all be rendered back to Him at least in principle. There is to be no keeping back a part (see Acts 5: 1-11) “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price” (vs.1-2). This factor alone transforms the act of investing (in stocks, or real estate, or any other type of investing) into an act of worship. We are to worship the Lord with all the things that we possess (Lk. 12: 15). This is why the principle of tithing was prescribed from the earliest times of the Old Testament (Genesis 14: 20 cf Heb. 7: 4). The tithe was not the giving of the whole, but it was the symbol of it. When the first fruits (the tenth) was given to God, it symbolized that the whole was His, and that the tither was keeping back nothing.
The principle is clear: “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine “ (Prov. 3: 9-10). Whether God blesses you enough to invest, or whether you have little, the principle is the same. God owns everything, so we must acknowledge that, and worship Him completely and freely. In this, all our investments come out right. And in this our souls are blessed beyond a mere bank balance or tally sheet. May God be pleased to help us to love Him with all that we have, and in everything that we are. Invest, as Jesus would.
©2009 Earl Jackson All Rights Reserved
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