Eric Schrum | On August 5, 2020

El Greco’s Jesus Carrying the Cross, 1580.

Making decisions about where and how to invest your money is difficult. If it were easy there would not be 24-hour financial news channels, endless articles on the next hot investment, and thousands of financial advisors across the country. When wise advisors work with clients to help them invest their money the conversation usually starts around goals- “What do you want to achieve with your money?” Then the conversation will naturally flow to the timeline the client has for their money- “When do you expect to use your investment money?” And of course, every wise investing conversation will spend time discussing risk- “How much risk are you willing to take?” or “How much risk can you take with your investments?” All of these questions are important, and all of these questions are designed to help you select the best possible investments. However, as Christians we often overlook the best investment option available. An investment that with faith, has no downside and unlimited upside potential. Intrigued?  Keep reading.

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In the kingdom of heaven things tend to get flipped upside down. Lose your life and you will find it. The first will become last. If you wish to lead, serve. And for the purpose of our discussion today- If you wish to be rich, GIVE.

As a wealth advisor I speak to many families and individuals about their money. While each of them has different goals and desires they hope to achieve, all of them want to get the most return on their money for the least amount of risk. This desire is understandable, yet on our current earth risk is inextricably tied to the return one receives. The young entrepreneur never creates a company if he doesn’t take his idea and act on it- risking time, money, and pride. The employee who does not risk speaking to their boss about a raise, won’t earn a higher salary. And an investor who is afraid to put their money at work in the stock market has no chance of earning the subsequent return. If this is coming across as bad news to you, it gets worse. Everything we own, have worked for, and taken on the risk to receive on this earth will perish. Jesus knows this. Look at verse 19, If we store up for ourselves treasure here on earth moths, vermin, and thieves will destroy that treasure. If that treasure manages to last a few generations, it inevitably falls out of the hands of the one who worked to earn it.

It’s fascinating when we dig into Jesus’ teachings how logical they are. Jesus knows the true result of hoarding treasures on earth and has a solution for our hopeless woes- Invest your talents and money in a treasure which cannot perish. When we give, we are quite literally investing in an asset whose expected return blows any stock chart on the New York Stock Exchange out of the water.

In the biblical “stock market,” risk can be easily interchanged with faith. If we as believers do not believe Jesus’ teachings and put our faith into action, we aren’t able to receive the return in heaven. While salvation is a free gift for all to receive, the measure of treasure we receive in heaven is tied to our actions. Let this article be a challenge to you, a call to examine where you are truly storing your treasure. Is it here on earth where moth and vermin will inevitably destroy it? Or is it increasingly being turned over to the investment management of the good shepherd who will see us through the race we are running and welcome us home with open arms?

Eric Schrum

Eric Schrum is an advisor and partner at Schrum Private Wealth Management. Eric contributes for The Faith First Advisor, The Faith Driven Investor, and has a particular interest in helping Christians align their finances with their beliefs through wise financial planning and investing. Investment Advisor Representative of Spire Wealth Management, LLC. Advisory Services offered through Spire Wealth Management, LLC, a Federally Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through an affiliate, Spire Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC.