Making Wise Investments in Life

Introduction:

Since this life is what we have, it is good to make the best we can. You probably have heard the phrase, “Money doesn’t solve everything, but I sure would like to try.” Well, some of us feel this way and it is true that money doesn’t solve everything. However, it is also true that foolish investments and poor management of our finances also does not help us live any easier. Life is hare enough when we don’t make wise choices.

Solomon gives us some sound advice for how we should invest our resources and our time, regardless of how much of it we may have. We recognize that God is the ultimate giver and rewarder of men, but we also want to be good stewards and managers of what He has entrusted us with.

Let’s take a look tonight at 3 financial principles from Solomon that will help us make wise investments in life.

Read text. Pray.

1. Diversify Your Investments (vv.1-3)

Cast your bread upon the waters does not refer to feeding the ducks at the pond. It refers to the grain trade by sea. In other words, invest in industry. Modern way we do this is through the stock market with mutual funds.

1 Kings 9:26–27 ESV

King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, seamen who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon.

Lack of investment:

Ecclesiastes 5:13

Ecclesiastes 5:13–14 ESV

There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.

Matthew 25:26–27 ESV

But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

2. Don’t Wait for Certainty to Begin Investing (vv. 3-5)

time, capital, etc

We can never know for certain what will happen. We can only judge the times

Dark Clouds = rain

Tree falls = stays on the ground, unless someone comes along and cuts it up and moves it

3. Learn to Increase Your Odds of Success (vv.6)

Another reference to diversifying investments

Mutual funds diversify because they spread the risk out over several companies

Conclusion:

The conclusion of the matter is that we really don’t know what will succeed and what will not. If we all knew, we would all jump on the next big thing. We would all have an opportunity to be rich. But we don’t know what will happen.

Just as in this morning’s message, we have to learn to put our ultimate trust in God. He will provide for us and sustain us. He will be the One who will ultimately provide for us if we are trying to make it ourselves.