INVEST WISELY
Book of Ecclesiastes (Part 17)
Text: Eccl 11:1-6
Luke 19:13 – “So he called ten of his
servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put
this money to work,' he said, 'until I
come back.'”
Luke 19:23 – “Why then didn't you put
my money on deposit, so that when I
came back, I could have collected it
with interest?'”
1. The Principle of Investment: Think Long-Term
Eccl 11:1 – “Cast your bread upon
the waters, for after many days
you will find it again.”
“Do good. Cast your bread into the water.
You will be repaid someday.”
- Arabic Proverb
Invest beyond your own country!
Eccl 11:1 – “Cast your bread upon
the waters, for AFTER MANY
DAYS you will find it again.”
“Local businessman loses $26m
at RWS casino over 3 days”.
Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will be
richly blessed, but one eager to get rich
will not go unpunished.”
Proverbs 13:11 – “Dishonest money
dwindles away, but he who gathers
money LITTLE BY LITTLE makes it
grow.”
2. The Principle of Prudence:
Diversify Your Risk
Eccl 11:2 – “Give portions to seven, yes
to eight, for you do not know what
disaster may come upon the land.”
Eccl 11:5a – “YOU DO NOT KNOW the path of the
wind or how the body is formed in a mother's
womb…”
Eccl 11:5b – “YOU DO NOT KNOW the activity of
God who makes all things…”
Eccl 11:6 – “Sow your seed in the morning and do
not be idle in the evening, for YOU DO NOT
KNOW whether morning or evening sowing will
succeed…”
Eccl 11:3 – “If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the earth. Whether
a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there will it
lie.”
Proverbs 22:3 – “A prudent man sees
danger and takes refuge, but the simple
keep going and suffer for it.”
Proverbs 30:24-25 – “"Four things on
earth are small, yet they are extremely
wise: Ants are creatures of little
strength, yet they store up their food in
the summer…”
“Insurance is like a parachute in a plane.
If you ever need it and you don’t have it,
you’ll never need it again.”
3. The Principle of Discretion:
Take Calculated Risks
Eccl 11:4 – “Whoever watches the wind will not
plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”
Eccl 11:5 – “As you do not know the path of
the wind, or how the body is formed in a
mother’s womb, so you cannot understand
the work of God, the Maker of all things.”
4 Considerations In Investing:
• Ability
• Security
• Liquidity
• Suitability
4. The Principle of Diligence:
Work Hard!
Eccl 11:6 – “Sow your seed in the
morning, and at evening let not your
hands be idle, for you do not know
which will succeed, whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.”
2 Misconceptions about Work:
Work is meaningless
Work is a curse
Gen 2:15 – “The LORD God took the
man and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it.”
1. Implement a Meaningful Budget
2. Cap Your Standard of Living
Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rule over
the poor, and the borrower is
servant to the lender.”
How Do You Want To Live?
Live Above your means
“All these good economists have told us is
simply this:
If your outlay exceeds your income, then
your upkeep becomes your downfall.’”
How Do You Want To Live?
Live Above your means
Live With your means
Live Within your means
Live Below your means
3. Honor God With Your Tithes
Where are you at in your stewardship?
– A miser, a spendthrift or a steward?