Page 93 - Managing Your Resources - Student Syllabus - short combined

Isn’t it easy to see how this fits into the topics of investing and retirement? The last thing you want to
do is start sticking all of your hard-earned money into a single investment. What if it goes bad?
Suddenly all that progress you made is gone—just like that. Talk about discouraging!

Plus, if we’re really honest with ourselves, that just isn’t good stewardship.

Psalm 24:1 (KJV) says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

That includes our paychecks and our retirement accounts. It isn’t our money; it’s God’s money. And if
He puts us in charge of His resources, we need to make sure we know what we’re doing. Otherwise,
we’re poor managers—and that’s not a good reflection on His kingdom!

That’s what makes diversification so important. Diversification just means spreading your investments
around. Or you can think of it like this: You’re dividing your eggs among a bunch of different baskets
instead of putting them all in one. Diversification, and a hefty dose of patience, keeps you from losing
all your money at one time, should your investment fail! Spreading investments out across a lot of
projects reduces risk, which protects your eggs.

Even though the Bible was written more than two thousand years ago, it’s just as relevant to us today as
it was back then. We all know what it’s like to make plans that, for whatever reason, don’t always work
out. Solomon was smart, but he couldn’t predict the future—and neither can we. Ecclesiastes 11:2
reminds us to be intentional about handling money wisely.

5. Focus on Christ First, the Rest Will Follow
With all the focus on money in our lives, it's important to take a step back and
remember where to keep the focus in the long run: not on your money, but on
God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Our true wealth lies in Christ, and in putting our hope in Him. In first Timothy it talks about how we are
to rely on Him, and how we are to be rich in good deeds – and to be generous.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with
everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous
and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the
coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

(https://www.biblemoneymatters.com/what-does-the-bible-have-to-say-about-investing/)

Plan for your future! Not only so you can take care of yourself and your family in the long run, but also
so that you can give back to others and be generous and be a living example of Christ's love.

92