By: Cassandra Laymon

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to him.

Psalm 24:1

            When I think about God’s great creation, I’m often in a state of wonder. The details of the earth amaze me: a perfect habitat to provide food for our sustenance, plants that provide oxygen for our survival, gorgeous flowers and plants, and loving pets, to name a few. Adding to my amazement of the grand scheme of things, He made each human with an individual blueprint, with the ability to make their own choices.

            It’s that last part – our individuality – that sometimes causes us to forget that everything does belong to God, including all aspects of our money: what we consume, what we save, and what we give, and yes, even what we invest…it all belongs to him.

            While I think we know this in the back of our minds, on a day-day-level, it’s easy to forget. There are so many details to manage on a daily basis!

            What if, each and every day, we were keep this thought in the forefront of our minds: “What would God have me to do with the money he has given me?”

·         Would it change your spending habits? Christmas has just past, and looking at all the gifts under the tree, I have to think that a little restraint is in order next year.  

·         Would you give more? Would you share more of what you’ve been blessed with?

·         Would you invest differently? Are you unknowingly investing in companies that go against God’s word – companies that promote addictions, pornography, and abortion?

When it comes to investing, it’s hard to imagine that you need to pay attention to that level of detail. It’s overwhelming to think that you should know what companies you are investing in. If we really do believe that God owns it all, this is something you should be considering.

Investing in a God-honoring way doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s called Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), or Morally Responsible Investing. BRI is an easy way to invest while keeping God at the forefront. Here is a 2 minute video that sums up BRI: https://vimeo.com/145204551

As the New Year begins, money issues are often at the top of our resolutions list. This year I encourage to you to put God at the head of your list and consider how He would have you spend, save, give, and invest all that He has given you.