by: Cassandra Laymon, CFP®, MBA

“You don’t get fit by being lucky.” ~Tony Robbins

When it comes to fitness we know that it’s not an 8-hour session in the gym that will transform us, but it’s the small decisions we make every day that make all the difference. Eating vegetables, drinking water and passing on the donuts at the office will have a big impact over time.

We know this mantra is true in our physical fitness, but isn’t it also true in our spiritual fitness?  While mission trips and large donations do a tremendous amount of good for both the receiver and the giver, smaller daily decisions will also have a great impact on our spiritual condition. Consider these two passages from the New Testament:

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”    ~Mathew 25:21

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.   ~Luke 16:10

These passages tell me that God is not only interested in our grand overtures, but also in the daily small choices we make about how to spend to our time, treasure, and talent.  This thought, of course, makes me think about the way that many Christians steward their money. It is never difficult to convince someone of the biblical wisdom of being content with less, saving for an emergency, or paying off debt. It is often a challenge to convince these same folks to think differently about the way they are investing.

For me, it seems simple and straight forward to want to grow your nest egg by investing in companies that that are seeking to be a blessing in the world and to avoid investing in companies that go against biblical values. Surprisingly, this does not come easily for many Christians, even if they do understand that Biblically Responsible Investing is an option.

Here are two reasons I often hear as to why people are resistant to the idea of this type of investing:

1.      I’m just a small investor when you look at all the money that is being invested in the world.

2.      I’m a good steward of the money that I’ve been given – where I invest is an insignificant piece of the puzzle.

Going back to our Bible verses for today, it’s clear that these small decisions do matter. God does care about the details of our lives! The question I always come back to is: Have I made the best choices I can based on the resources and information I have been given?

If you are concerned that you may be unknowingly investing in companies that oppose Biblical values, I encourage you to find out the truth.  Get your portfolio screened, and then have conversation with your financial advisor about the kind of companies you are profiting from.  If your advisor is unable to provide a screening report for you, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@beaconwealth.com and we’ll be glad to screen your portfolio so you can discuss this further with your advisor.

Remember that the small decisions we make every day help to strengthen our spiritual fitness!

 

Financial Planning & Investment Advisory services offered through Beacon Wealth Consultants, Inc.