Would you lie in wait to ambush an innocent and unsuspecting person, intent on harming and robbing them?

I hope not! We know deep down that harming people for profit is evil. Thieves are rightfully prosecuted and punished.

In the financial world, we’re indignant when we learn about scandals like Enron or FTX where unscrupulous people are willing to ruin others to line their own pockets.

In Proverbs 1:10-19 a father cautions his son about the dangers of “ill-gotten gain” – profit at the expense of others.

¹⁰ My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
¹¹ If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
¹² let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—
¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
¹⁶ for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.
¹⁷ How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
¹⁹ Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.

Just as I’m sure that none of our amazing readers would actively pursue ill-gotten gain, I am equally sure that at least some of you are profiting from ill-gotten gain through your investments.

When you invest, you can profit in companies that bring benefit and blessing to people through their products and services or you can profit from companies whose products cause harm and destruction. Profiting from companies that prey on addiction.

Are you profiting from someone’s addiction to pornography? Are you profiting from the gambling addict or alcoholic?

Your investments can be a powerful tool that can help contribute to human flourishing or can further sin and harm. Which would you rather be investing in?

If you’re not sure what kind of companies you are investing in and profiting from, we have an easy way to find out.  We offer complimentary portfolio screening.  Simply input your stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds and we’ll then send you a report so you can start to make your money matter.