If you’ve ever heard a financial analyst or planner speak about money to a layperson, the term “diversification” most certainly came up. They usually advise amateur investors to spread out their investments so that if one of the investments performs poorly, the others can pick up the slack. This protects the investor from losing everything if one stock tanks in the market. The idea is to have a diversified investment portfolio where, on average, the return on investment (ROI) is positive, even if one of the stocks turns out to be a bad investment by itself.
In finance, diversification is the process of allocating capital in a way that reduces the exposure to any one particular asset or risk…The simplest example of diversification is provided by the proverb “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. Dropping the basket will break all the eggs. Placing each egg in a different basket is more diversified. There is more risk of losing one egg, but less risk of losing all of them. On the other hand, having a lot of baskets may increase costs.
— Wikipedia.com
Most amateur investors will opt for this kind of financial strategy because it makes the most sense. In the world of finance, diversification is the smart thing to do for most people. The “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” rule of thumb can also be applied to several circumstances in life. Do we purchase one nice car or two mediocre ones? Do we invest all of our time in building a single friendship or less time building several? Do we exercise one way and risk injury or cross-train? Do we become a specialist at work or a jack of all trades? The list goes on and on. In most cases, diversification is a sound strategy.
But what does the Bible say about this? Let’s narrow our focus on one specific investment decision we all have to make, especially as believers. Unbelievers technically do not even have the option I’m about to describe. I’m referring to the two different spiritual economies: God’s versus Satan’s. The Bible has a lot to say about this one decision.
The Word of God teaches us that diversification is a terrible idea when it comes to spiritual economies.
What do I mean by diversification in spiritual economies? Simply put, I’m describing those situations where believers invest in two economies instead of one. When they do so, they lose in two fundamental ways! First, whatever time and energy is spent merchandising in Satan’s economy is lost – the ROI for believers in Satan’s economy, though it promises to perform incredibly, is always negative. Second, the opportunity to gain larger returns in God’s economy is lost because this person isn’t all in. Paul wrote about his experiences with investing in Satan’s economy verses God’s.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
— Philippians 3:7-8
Paul understood that the ROI for him prior to being fully invested in God’s economy was, “counted as loss” (v7).
Obviously, the best ROI for a believer is one-hundred percent investment in God’s economy. If this is the case, then why do believers still invest in Satan’s economy? Jesus spoke very plainly on this topic, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). I cannot think of a single believer I’ve ever met that doesn’t have a diversified investment portfolio, spiritually speaking. I believe personal reasons do differ, but the common thread is that their affections, their hearts, are divided between the grand promises they receive from the world and those they read about in the Bible. The result is a diversified portfolio and an inevitable pair of losses. The parallels between financial and spiritual investments aren’t novel to my writing – not at all. Paul used finances to illuminate this issue long before I ever considered it.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
— 1 Timothy 6:6-11
If a believer attempts to abide in both Satan’s and God’s economies, they suffer a twofold loss. In order to maximize their ROI, a believer must place “all their eggs in one basket,” namely, God’s economy. While this is inadvisable in the financial realm, it is the absolute best possible strategy in the spiritual. This amounts to a believer abiding in “undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:35) – “[taking] every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Paul wrote about the dangers of listening to the various satanic agencies pitching us investment advice, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
Investing in Satan’s economy is a really bad idea. While you might increase in worldly wealth, you will miss out on heavenly riches. Cut your losses and invest everything you’ve got into God’s economy and be blown away at the ROI. Does this mean you cannot be in possession of a financial investment portfolio? Not at all. As I’ve taught over the years from my pulpit, “It’s not the blessing, it’s what you think of it that matters most.” If your self-esteem increases as your bank account does, you’ve got a problem. If it doesn’t, you don’t. The simple truth is that God wants all of your affections aimed at Him, not your wealth, or anything else for that matter.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
— 1 Timothy 6:17-19
God’s after our hearts. Our investment portfolios are evidence of where our hearts truly lie. Where and how we spend our precious resources matters to God, and therefore it ought to matter to us. The last blog I wrote was titled, “Who Am I?”. In that blog the Spirit had me write, “On the grand stage of life, each of us is insignificant by comparison; yet, God has made us significant to Himself.” Our lives matter to God – isn’t that enough reason to make them matter to ourselves? It’s true, we have been given but a little wealth for a little while during our pilgrimage on Earth. Let us invest it wisely and bring glory to God.
One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
— Luke 16:10-13
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins