The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
Planning for the future is a necessity in life. Whether investing for retirement, college, or long-term savings, intentional preparation is a pivotal component of financial health.
As an investor in the market exchange, it is important to educate yourself on the potential workings of the economic realm to become aware of the costs, both losses and gains, of investing.
There are multiple ways to invest your funds, “Determining which investment option is right for you will depend on your particular investing goals. Bonds, stocks and mutual funds are the most common ways consumers choose to invest their money. Investments in gold, real estate and other alternatives are generally high-risk but can also be high in reward – if you have the right expertise.” (Consumer Affairs)
Diving into the money market also involves taking a risk, but finding a qualified broker will help alleviate some of the concern. Therefore, you should “look for an investment company that will have your best interests (not just the company’s) in mind.” (Consumer Affairs)
According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Full Service Investor Satisfaction survey released in April 2015, “Edward Jones and Fidelity Investments rank highest in a tie in overall investor satisfaction with a score of 812 each…Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Wells Fargo Advisors rank third in a tie with a score of 810 each. Raymond James follows scoring 809.” With several highly recommended brokerage firms to select from, ultimately, the decision of whom you will trust with your monies is up to you.
Although we do not know the potential loss or gain, with a basic understanding of how investments work and finding a reliable broker our concerns begin to diminish. However, in the end, we still have to be willing to let go and trust that the gains are worth the loss.
Did you know that God already knew the price of sacrificing His son, yet even in our sin, (Romans 5:8) He still is willing to invest in us?
Investing takes risks: God already figured the price and He believes we are worth the investment.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it …Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?-Luke 14:28, 31
When we chose to allow God to buy into our shares of life, we do not relinquish control of our decisions. Instead, we learn to place our trust in Him establishing a greater faith in us.
Losing in order to gain: Our worldly eyes have only the ability to see gain as monetary, but God’s prosperity is for eternity.
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” – Matthew 16:26
Return on your investments: Like a shareholder, God’s has offered us to be coheirs to His kingdom in exchange for our trust in Him. When we accept His gift of mercy and grace we become grafted into the family of God.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. –Romans 8:16
God is the great investor. Before we were even born, he knew the value of our lives and the cost of his investment. The question is, are we willing to accept Him as our broker for life?
