Spotlight on Scripture: 25 Helpful Bible Verses on Investing
You might read scripture for lots of questions, but what about saving and investing? In truth, the Bible contains many verses on investing money for your family. There's guidance on patience in investing, diversification, seeking counsel from others and more. Keep reading for some scriptural wisdom on investing and finance.
What the Bible Says About Investing
Does scripture have things to say about investing? Yes, absolutely. There's specific and eternal wisdom about the role an investment takes in your family and how to approach this aspect of your family finances.
Please note: All scripture on this page is in the English Standard Version (ESV) translation unless otherwise noted.
Bible Verses about Why Investing is Important for Your Family
We are called to invest for a purpose. In your family, this could be for reasons like retirement, paying for college, buying a home, or something else. Investing can make important milestones a reality for your family. Bible verses about investment decisions can be an anchor for your family when you makes these kinds of financial decisions.
Genesis 41:34-36 (Joseph Prepares for the Future)
Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 13:16
A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about 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;
Proverbs 31:16
She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Bible Verses about Diversifying Investments
The principle of diversification in investing is to avoid the risk of placing your family’s money in a single or small number of investments. This is often illustrated with the phrase “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” That idiom is often traced back to the book Don Quixote. The principle goes much further back to a Biblical foundation.
Ecclesiastes 11:2 ESV
“Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”
Bible Verses About Wise Counsel on Investments
Scripture calls us to seek wise advice. That's doesn't mean from just anyone, any website, or any podcast. We're called to seek input from wise voices. There is no shortage of opinions on how your family should invest so focus on sound advice.
Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 19:2
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
Proverbs 19:20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 24:6
For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Proverbs 28:26
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Bible Verses about Investing for the Future
Investing is a financial decision focused on the future. It's an important practice focused on saving resources in times of plenty and then growing those resources for needs down the road.
Proverbs 21:20
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Proverbs 27:12
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
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;
Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went 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. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
Bible Verses about Honest Dealings with Investments
Scripture calls for both parties to show integrity in any investment situation. If your family works with a company or financial advisor, you should hold them to an ethical standard. They should have the same expectation of you as a customer or client too! One way to support this goal is to ask if the other party is a fiduciary or if they have conflicts of interest or share principles important to your family.
Leviticus 19:13
You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
Proverbs 14:15
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than vast revenues without justice.
Proverbs 22:16
Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
Luke 16:10
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.
Learn More: Financial Planning and Investment Help for Christian Families
We help Christian families on their journey to financial freedom. If you would like more posts from us on how to balance what's truly important with your finances, please sign up for our free newsletter. If you’d like to hear more about how Intrepid Eagle Finance helps families manage their financial lives, click here to learn more and schedule a free consultation.