Personal Finance

Your Money and the Bible

Bible and money in the same sentence? You got that right! Christians defer to the Bible when it comes to matters of the spirit. But if you think about it, the holy book also offers valuable financial wisdom. If you look close enough, you can discover simple truths that can guide investors of any faith to financial success.

Saving is good but investing is better

“He who had received the five talents at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money…” – Matthew 25:14-18

Ever wondered how the rich got their wealth and then kept it growing? Saving your money may be safer but investing it is exponentially more profitable. There’s no shortage of options when it comes to investing but the sooner you do it, the better.

Diversify your portfolio

“Divide your portion to seven, or even eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” – Ecclesiastes 11:2

As the saying goes, never put all your eggs into one basket. A good technique in risk management is to invest in a combination of stocks and assets: bonds, fixed income securities, real estate, capital investments, depending on your available resources.

Take advantage of interest rates

“Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?” – Luke 19:23

“You’re telling me that the bible talks about interest rates?” Yes, and more. Interest rates have been around since 3,000 B.C. and has been crucial in accumulating wealth. Knowledge of prevailing interest rates and forecasts can tell you whether to spend big or save your money. The rule of thumb: save when the interest rate is high, borrow and spend when the interest rate is low.

Never rush big financial decisions

“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” – Proverbs 22:7

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5

Don’t be a one-day millionaire. Sure, you can win big in the lottery or gain large profits from a jackpot investment, but that’s only half the battle. The real challenge begins when trying to sustain and grow your earnings by making sound financial decisions based on hard facts and experience. Never make decisions on a whim. Build your knowledge and assets in increments and learn from any mistakes along the way.

Plan for long term

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” – Luke 14:28

In other words, set clear, reasonable financial goals so you’ll know how to prepare for them. When starting a business, take into account fixed costs, operating expenses, and your return on investment. Don’t pounce on projects and opportunities that may be beneficial in the short term but will cost you in the long run.

Source: Security Bank

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