Seeing Investing Through God’s Eyes

Isaiah 55 proclaims my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Rob West with our finite minds. We can never fully understand God's can we gain some understanding of his view of things like investing all talk about that with Jason Meyer today of Eventide limits on your calls at 800-525-7000: 24, seven, 800-525-7000. This is moneywise live biblical wisdom for your financial decision will our guest Jason Meyer is Eventide an underwriter of this program.

He's a founding member of Eventide and spends a great deal of time encouraging folks like us to be a part of God's plan with our investments aligning your Christian values with your role as an owner of the investment you have in your portfolio Jason welcome back to the program. Jason investing is one of those topics that can feel far away from our faith, perhaps even completely disconnected and we look at numbers and charts and wonder how it all connects with the Bible and God's purposes, so I'd love for you to unpack this a bit for us.

How can we see investing as a part of God's plan for great question and I think the question is central to what it means to live the Christian life are have a lever to really try and see all of life through God. There were including such seemingly mundane things out investing. My favorite quote here that I like to think about come from Ralph Winter, who founded the US the upper world mission and Keith quote unless we see the whole world the way God the world. Every decision we make will be flawed." Every deficient obviously includes things like conducting and so happy how God conducting I think it's an important and often overlooked question our lives because we've gone there. Jason mentally and we thought there should be a connection I want my faith to intersect with every aspect of my life including my investments. It was very challenging to even find investments that could reflect your faith appropriately. Perhaps even just a few years ago is not true for the longest time investing has been really about seeking a profit and seeking to generate an attractive rate of return that can help us make progress toward our financial goals and planning thing and saving up a good thing but it leads few questions about what's actually taking place. One of the businesses on investing in, and how to stop investing connect with God's purposes in the world and there's been incredible and Vance men said lets you just to touch on this because you and I have had a front row seat. The last five years or more to see the growth in what we call faith-based investing with companies like Eventide that exists specifically to create investments that make the world rejoice. It's been incredible to watch the developments as an yeah sure. I think there is certainly a market for an alternative vision of about where instead of treating it out. That kind of human development separate from from God waving out purposive to actually start with the Bible of the foundation and the play what should investing look like in light of the way in which God made the world and made human work to function and business to function and how we build an investment approach from the Bible instead of working backward from the world of finance and trying to fit it in our faith exactly look differently and stacked in the state based investing space Jason as you know there investments that allow you to embrace companies making a positive impact in the world. Avoid companies that don't align with your Christian faith and even engages a shareholder or as an owner with companies to let your values be known enforcing developments in all three right right you know back. I would say a couple of decades ago. It was really about trying to invent law avoiding some of the problem areas that we can come into and inducting the screening company out with the primary approach, but I'm delighted to see that we take in and built upon that are actually speaking to an borate company that we believe are well aligned with God's part in his design work culture and the world today is just around the corner exactly look at the creation story and talk about how business and investing are meant to contribute to the goodness of creation that is more Jason Meyer around the corner.

Stay with us back to moneywise live yesterday's Jason Meyer with eventide an underwriter of this program were talking about how faith in investments intersect, how does it all connects with the Bible and God's purposes, and just before the break. Jason was sharing that with us how our faith doesn't have to be disconnected from our investing in business and in fact this really takes us back to the creation account that Jason, how do we put all of this into action, and really learn to see investing through God's eyes right you know we could start with the present day and talk about ethical issues or impact opportunities things like that but I think actually the best way that we can frame up investing is to do it within the biblical story the very beginning of the story in the book of beginning the book of Genesis because of the turns out Jennifer provide that with glimpses of the vision for business and investing is a part of God's story, so let's remind ourselves of the key features of that story so open about with God's great work of creation. God is a worker.

He created the heavens and the earth and everything that fell from, and everything that God make declares good and very good at the crowning work of creation God make the humanity in his Barry – and what that image means is that we are given godlike capacity.

So for example you love like God to be creative like God fell on, as well as a sacred responsibility to actually reflect God's very nature, character and attributes to the world and the rest of creation being made in God's image. God then commands us to rule in Genesis 128 over the entire creation and exercise dominion as God, earthly representative, I mean what it off them possibility and then finally come to the point where I think we can begin to look like on business and investing in account in Genesis 215 where we learn that God give humanity the gift of work suggestive God with a worker in creation. God intends for humanity from the very beginning of the story to participate with him and if orchestration now what God is obviously to make things out of nothing, but we do if we take God's good creation, and we develop it further and to discover the potential that he has built with and the created order. And so for example we take the grain.

God is made and we develop it through human ingenuity and labor and we make what we greatly got it made, and develop it through human innovation and work and make wine and we could describe all manner of culture making, in keeping with God's goodness and creation, so our architecture scholarship technology and business and investing here at the beginning we can see that our labor are RA participation with God in the work of creation by further developing goodness and furthering God's glory in the world. If I think it all adds up to everything we do in business and investing should be to develop and cherish God's good creation and weight beneath human needs and bring glory and honor to have this incredible. I love the picture and the beauty of God's design and how it applies to our lives today. Let's put a finer point on the business and investing aspect of the how is that meant to contribute to the goodness of creation, and perhaps even the second question, how is that different from the story we often hear in the world today. Yeah we hear in the world today is pretty easy… Beginning and that that hate about profit and investing is just about getting a return, but I think we saturate our minds with the biblical story and are shaped by it we can have the confidence to set aside these rival stories about business and investing both business and investing like all work are met by God to provide for the needs of the world and bring glory and honor to him and so we think about that humanity through business is therefore meant to image God attribute the provision for the world by creating services that the world needs to flourish. In fact we call the product the business goods and services because the products are intended to be good and are intended for humankind, so that the calling profit if necessary by hearing the biblical story.

Secondary and investing as well has a different story. And that is that humanity through investing is meant to resource business with the capital that it needs in order to accomplish the work of provision. So inducting financial returns are good, but again there. Secondary put together what I like to do with. I like the picture investing looking out over the garden of God at all the various business work is taking place and then to strategically make decisions about the kinds of business work. I want to further my capital.capital rather investor are like master planners over the garden of God for strategically allocating capital in ways that yield the highest return to the world and the maximal return to God's glory while what a beautiful picture of what investing can be of course Jason there's a problem for sin enters the world and that right into God's perfect creation. So how does sin specifically affects this work of investing right man.

I wish the story had ended there, but unfortunately then enter them to the world and what that mean fundamentally is that investing takes on a different level of state.

So if that had never entered the world, and the work that they would be rather easy right because everything would be getting every nothing efficient will enhance the world and bring God glory and honor infantry world. Investing decisions will be yeah yeah yeah but will bring reality means that not every decision today can be a yes and Eric.

Sadly, many investing decisions today and I think you should say no to the fall meeting for humanity canal user that that God-given creativity in business and investing to create things that harm our neighbor and bring this honor to God and so great care must be taken. I think with every nothing decision.

We need always to be acting. Hey, if it investing decision going to enhance the beauty and provision of the garden that God made, or if this inducting decision going to diminish it well and that is a great way for us to turn to the value of faith-based investing as we begin to wrap up today's teens and it really offers us a way to intentionally say yes to businesses that we believe are developing God's good creation in ways that serve our neighbors and not of God. Yeah, I think that spot on. In my view, the real value of faith-based investing is that it offers a way to intentionally invest in companies that we believe have products and practices that are enlarging the beauty provision of God's good creation or developing it in line with the store that we looked at, and I believe that faith-based investing not only allow the fee investing through God's eyes, but actually to practice it and to think that there is an edge in the very way we invest today. Jason, you all are finding those companies and I know others are as well, and you're excited about the stories that you're able to participate in with your investing dollars and that of your clients right right you think about the way in which you transform investing most of our fading and the only purpose we have is reaching a financial goal but will be connected. I think the story of God we find meaning in the day-to-day work directing dollars to real businesses that are adding real value to God's creation and felt that I think that the news that the purpose and investing and can transform our identity as investors. While it's powerful that's all the time we have for today. Jason, thanks for bringing us a fresh biblical perspective for investing my friend Dave Ramsey Jason Meyer of Eventide you can get more information@investeventide.com that's investing eventide.com your calls or next.

800-525-7000 stay with us will be right back to moneywise live on Rob Webster hose. So glad to have you along with us today as we take your calls and questions on anything financial we got slides open today on a Friday. Here's the number 800-525-7000 800-525-7000. We want to take whatever you're dealing with today apply biblical principles and see if we can help you move forward with confidence as we are found to be faithful stewards of God's money begin the nine to call 800-525-7000 that we begin today in Lake Worth, Florida Bruce listening to WR MB how can help user hi, well, good afternoon.

Thanks for taking my call. My wife and I are trying to decide about $60,000 in savings and how much of it. We should try to put back in a like a savings account that would pay more than just the .05% that were currently receiving sure that let's talk about the money that you have worded it come from and how you plan to use in the future. Well let you know it's really just kind of a safety net. We have our IRA and I'm 67 retired.

My wife is 63 working part time so I'm waiting till 70 to get my Social Security so this was meeting our budget. You were doing that without a problem. So just hard to leave that much money just sitting there. Not really doing anything in my question was whether or not it's worthwhile having it there as a safety net or should we take some of it away very good. What are your monthly expenses: roughly, I guess, probably about 3000 months that even in this season. If we were to say let's have a full 12 months worth of expenses. You're still quite a bit beyond that, because that would only be 36,000 think that's the first question Bruce is to decide what is that right amount phenotypically during working years, we would say 3 to 6 months worth of expenses in an emergency fund for the unexpected. And then beyond that, you know you could have separate savings accounts for known expenses that don't come.

Certainly every year or even every tube but you need to plan for them.

A good example would be in a home repair fund. You know you could look at 1% of the homes value annually you're putting in a home repair fund for things that just where out of roof needs to be replaced over time, or all the wood around all the windows of the windows themselves mean these are expenses that would be unexpected but they can be bigger ticket items and they come down the line every several years so I think your first go to decide how much in that emergency fund and yelled again 3 to 6 months. As a starting point, but during retirement. We may want to bump that up. You know to is much as 12 months expenses then beyond that, what are those other savings buckets. We need related to the house maybe a car replacement fill in then any other kind of medium-term savings goal. So when you feel most comfortable with.

Regarding those items I just mentioned well yeah our houses yelled 30 years old, so that that's really good advice, no homework, no keeping funds out for home repairs and things like that. You're saying about 12 months of work of expenses yeah plus that home repair fund.

So let's see you put 40,000 away you seated the home repair fund before and we did 12 months expenses 36 so that we have an additional 20,000 enough for that 40,009. Use a high-yield savings account. That's enough for says high yield and unfortunately today. High yield means 1/2 of 1% but that's good to be headed up. The key is you want that safe. You don't want that at risk.

You don't want it invested work could lose value you needed accessible FDIC insurance but I get it out of your checking link it electronically through a high-yield savings account least you can earn some interest. Beyond that, you could look at either some additional giving opportunities. Or perhaps you put that 20,000 to work. Maybe you put it in the Guild through the Robo advisor or innocent high-quality mutual funds in the balanced portfolio with a mix of stocks and bonds where this could grow over time. If you didn't have any other specific know items that you've targeted for that money. But I think clearly, you've over accumulated in terms of what just needs to stay straight. In savings you need to bring some definition to that, based on our conversation within the balance, you could look to investing in stocks and bonds, but give me your thoughts on that though.

Well, we have you know everything pretty much in place as far as our IRA Roth IRA. So we have investments out there are not homeless free and clear, and the card to pay for so we have no debt at all thankful and praise God for that. But there was just one last question there in the bank. I don't know if I should name names, but we were in there last week and the manager said that he has like a premier savings account that where they have a target rate of 5% and you know when I look online and I see .05. It makes me doubt as to whether not you know they're accurate with their know this 5% target rate. I know it's a target, but I think they also charge you know 1% or 1.5. So when you're looking out for.

If I win or lose, they still get paid. I can't see how they could come anywhere close to that 5%. Are you aware of any thanks offering a 5% return. No, no, I want to understand what they're doing there.

The fact that there is a management fee tells me you know it's good to be the portfolio construction is constructed in stocks and bonds. It has absolutely the ability to lose value.

Typically, we would look to generate about a 4% return in retirement. Using predominantly fixed income with a smaller portion of stocks to provide a little bit of growth over time. And then if the market was down he wouldn't touch that portion but that's certainly not guaranteed and the 1% fee would be typical sounds like to me you guys have really defined your finish line so I think at this point, you can look to do some additional giving right now because you've already accumulated for retirement and you got more than you need in savings. I think that might be a great next step is to look at additional giving. Hopefully this is helpful to you.

Bruce 800-5257 doubt thanks for tuning in. This is moneywise live biblical wisdom for your financial decisions on my West Coast back to the phone lines open. Would love to hear from you. 800-525-7000 just a moment.

We'll talk about whether you should tithe before or after tax that comes from David in Florida.

Christina was to know about property tax acquisitions will talk about that and then refinancing with Tammy, but first from the Quad cities hi Bob, I can help you today and and so on, and cast out in about $40,000 and not just history actually is not a good idea to send a bunch of money so was wondering is very direct it to make it work for me a little bit late or maybe do so.

This 40,000 specifically as we were trying to target yes okay and what you believe you uses for and what is the time horizon on that something I'm 60 years old almost 6 or so just like the best thing it looked up the housing market you already paid the capital gains on this are set that aside.

Okay, so this was from a primary residence and it is so okay so you're gonna move into another property that you own it. Okay, very good and are you still working at this point is self-employed, so one man one man with salt, so something you what you have set up in the way of a retirement account. Do you have any simple IRA or an individual case, something like that and love happily tenant from the union.

Get that full time and then before I moved okay but I think that's can be your best option at this is to be a part of your retirement. We want to get this growing on a tax-deferred basis and as a self-employed individual probably your most cost-effective the least amount of administration in terms of setting up a retirement account would be a was called an SEP a step IRA and these are for self-employed individuals. You can put in up to 25% of your total compensation or maximum of around $57,000 and you know this is going to be a great opportunity to get some money working for you know what I would be looking to do is, perhaps, you know, as you are able to go ahead and try to get it all up to the limit as much.

As of this is you can going in on a tax-deferred basis is can give you the deduction in the year of the contribution and then it's going to grow tax-deferred. And I think beginning to move this 40,000 into a set up as you're able to yell gets it in that tax-deferred environment and then you could begin investing in. The question is where and you know I think you could do visit with our friends, of sound mind investing.org they give you some wonderful mutual fund suggestions that you could use or you could look to one of the Robo advisors if you want to take more of an indexed approach to investing where you capture the broad moves of the market using indexed ETF's very low cost, and it would be a mix of the stock and bond ETF's. That's consistent with your age goals and objectives.

It's a passive autopilot approach, but some very smart algorithms go into determining what your portfolio makeup should look like and then rebalancing it over time and as you add money to edit would automatically be reinvested in that strategy without any transaction, so I think one of those would be great, but I'd love for you to go and set up that set out to get that money working for you and growing on a tax-advantaged basis.

Does that make sense about any well if you wanted to do the Robo advisor approach. I look at the Schwab intelligent portfolios or betterment. If you wanted to check out our friends, of sound mind investing.org you can just open a separate one of the brokerage custodian, Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Vanguard, and then use the sound mind investing newsletter to help you select the mutual funds to invest in every time you make a contribution. You'll find them@soundmindinvesting.org and Bob. We appreciate your call today.

We got some lines open 800-525-7000 South to Davie, Florida hi Tammy, how can I help my long on take out another one at 10.5 no closing cost accounting information that I can't link to the title company Connie Canady and 99 and will call on how when I'm looking at why I cast 138 going from one thing that one can BBQ and then take 3800 know I can understand that no closing cost to cannula on the 15th of 13 years now, but I pay extra hundred a month I can I get go ahead and keep the loan I have and get back to $100 every month. Let's great question so you have a 15 year mortgage you been paying on the first third for two years. He got 13 remaining you can to save more than a point actually 1.2%. If the if these rates are correct that's good I want you to save at least 1%. What is the value of the mortgage, what you owe on it today can be $100 a month starting in the total closing costs are under 4000 is at right. 3832 so that's in line so I think the closing costs are right. I like that you're shortening the term that's good. I like your save at least a point on the interest rate that's good. The only remaining questions are to number one. Are you going to stay in the home long enough to realize the true benefit that needs to be at least 5 to 7 years and then to are you able to absorb a higher monthly payment because I suspect the monthly payments can be slightly higher than what you're currently paying plus the hundred dollars okay so you it fits into your budget and that you're planning to stay in the home so I like to submit everything you told me is correct less than 4000 closing cost 10 year loan you are going to get the 2.65% rate and it fits into your budget you to be there for a while, hopefully till it's paid off, and beyond. I'd say go for it. To me you're going to save some money over the life of this loan and if you can continue to put moronic great it'll be even better is that help my confirmation. Okay I got blessed to have it. We appreciate your call today. That's what it's all about you know we want to know that were doing the right so many choices managing God's monies of responsibility and sometimes we just need some reassurance. I know I that's what we're here for. So the question today. Here's the number 800-525-7000. Pause briefly, but will come back in.this wonderful question so you don't go anywhere, stay here, and more to come on moneywise live biblical wisdom, your financial decision for joining us today on moneywise live with calls and questions on anything financial moneywise. Listen regularly visit our website connected with a CK or coach as the prayerfully consider a gift to the ministry.

We rely on listeners to fund what we do here at moneywise media every day and that we would be grateful for your support, just head over to our website moneywise live.org and click the donate button. We would certainly be grateful will head back to the phones now 800-525-7000 two Chicago, Illinois hi Christina, I can help question sure I live in Chicago and after a couple years the county had brought back a property tax sale and it's basically an auction. My understanding delinquent property. You can purchase their tax and I have not infected or actually bought any property before, and a lot of things in the market.

Currently our way out of my price might and spell at this juncture I would love to know your thoughts on the biblical principle of purchasing property and this format typically anyway kind of an intersection between you know someone else not being able to pay on their own property and then someone like me would like to own and do the upkeep and maintenance and not being able to purchase something that's already ready infected golf so yeah yeah yes I'm not a big scene of this type of investing. Basically, as you described Christine tax lien is just a claim against somebody's home to secure the payment of this case, the tax debt. So those are pays placed on the home by where the property by the city or county. The federal government can also do that with IRS payments that are owed and then the homeowner who has the lien attached their property won't be able to refinance or sell it until that tax debt is paid and the lien is removed and then a lot of these cities or counties will sell these to generate funds and in order to collect those funds more quickly. They put them on auction as you said to the highest bidder.

You get the tax lien certificate in that lien superior to most of the liens, with the exception of the federal government, and so it actually gives you a way to invest in real estate at a price as you said that's lower than most other forms of the downside though is your monies can be tied up so the owner typically has 12 months to redeem the property which means your money could be sitting for that long. You can't touch it. There could be other higher priority liens in place of the head of bankruptcy or something else that could cause you to lose your investment. Or you could do no end up with the properties abandoned and not worth the time or money to renovated you could be wasting money fill in.

In that respect so you know if you have limited capital. I can see why this might seem like it's attractive but you know again it's just because the reasons I mentioned, it's not my favorite approach. So what I might do is just consistently put money aside either to build up more money over time so you can actually make direct ownership in real estate or you have you built up or are you consistently funding an investment plan throughout the retirement plan at work or something like that all actually care about the young family unit great weight of start and property ownership in real estate. However, I'm getting beat out and traditional lending option that are going for those who have invested before sure track record so little challenging yeah imagine discouraging, but I think you're in an interesting time right now to where the housing market tends to be red hot right now. It's clearly a sellers market. There's been real inventory constraints and lots of demand for good reason. People are moving out of the into the suburbs to single-family in the millennial's are now buying homes to their having kids and is just a number of factors coming together.

Not to mention people working remotely, which means they want a little more space. So all those things have led to the housing market wherein I think that's going to correct itself of Artie seen a pretty significant jump in inventory just in the last several months so I think if you continue to save and you go in and begin accumulating your portfolio, perhaps a bit more down the road where you could go in with a more down payment in a market that's a little more friendly to you through direct ownership you could do very well if you want to do the tax lien approach. I think the key is in order to get consistent returns.

You really need to do this on a regular basis and you need to have time to vet the properties and you need to really know what you're doing and for that reason I'd tend to stay away unless you really want to make this something that you will become somewhat of an expert in so I would pray through it and as you proceed. I'm confident the Lord will give you some wisdom in where you should invest. I'm glad you're thinking about this at a young age that will serve you well, but let's head to West Palm Beach, Florida hi David, how can I help you sir. So my whole life I've been typing before taxes.

But closer to retirement. I'm thinking that where my dad and tied on the on again right so then I was thinking that maybe would've been easier to just tie after taxes and engines continued by and I think it money during my retirement sure is all that it's a great question. You know, I think the starting point on the questions to recognize, you can out give God.

And it's all from him and giving is an opportunity to be connected to his work with a portion of his resources and I'd love for us to be increasing that over time using the time, it is a beginning point, but at some point you gotta decide how much and certainly with the tide you want to give off of your increase. I would approach it the way you have recognizing you. We want to give based on God's full increase before we start giving it up to other people and so I would say tied on the gross I know when the late Larry Burket was asked that question. He would often say tongue-in-cheek. It depends on whether you want to be blessed on your net or your gruff lips, he would have some fun with that but I think that the bottom line is you've taken the right approach now as we get into perhaps collecting Social Security right you can have a difficult time determining what sexy being returned to you based on what you pay them versus what was that the increase in so you know I would just say from whatever source you get your provision apart for maybe an insurance settlement were there, you know making up for a loss or a tax refund where you know as you been tithing gross youth clearly already tied on that money apart from that, I would just say it's all part of God's provision. I just continue giving the tithe and I don't think you can go wrong with that and I'm confident God will bless those efforts but at the end of the day.

David, I believe that's between you and the Lord and so I would just come up with a process for deciding how you will approach that moving forward on the additional income you're receiving, as well as when you start collecting other Social Security benefits and I'm confident you'll come up with the right choice. Okay thank you sorry God bless you, but appreciate you go, that we have a few minutes left.

Let's head to Chicago hi Tammy, how can I help you all should show very much think I wanted to get on that will create case like a legal case and I just wanted to borrow. It's okay to borrow against my settlement make settlement, but it's something that the economy out of the pandemic strain had been in.

I can yeah and you know I I would try to stay away from this. Essentially, it's a cash advance on an expected settlement, but these, you know, like a cash advance on your paycheck. You know are going to have high interest rates. You know the sky high could be 20 to 60% yellow lawsuits can take years to settle, so you could be stuck paying interest charges and fees for a long time. And these lawsuit loans are not heavily regulated so you know you've got a really be careful as to what you're getting into. So for that reason I would stay away. And some people need them. I guess you could say because they been injured or can't work in ill or falling behind on their bills and so they look at this is kind of a way out, but I think for the reasons I mentioned, it's just something that would, I would just stay away from this bottom line, just because again you could pay exorbitant interest rates and really eat into all that money that you're ultimately counting on. So I think the key is what other options could you find, you know, could you call your your creditors and tell them what's coming and work out in a payment plan or see if they put it on the backend, or you really do the hard work to see what could be done without you having to take advantage of one of these because they just really is not going to be in your benefit, it might be a short-term fix. But that's all it is at the end of the day, you can end up with very little. Once this is all said and done so Tammy let's just pray the Lord give you some wisdom here as you seek some other options and I would stay away from the presettlement loan funding, but I appreciate your call today and your kind remarks unfortunate around the time Josephine you stay on the line and will talk a bit more off the air, but that's going to do it for us today to you folks as we think about being faithful stewards of God's money. It comes down to first recognizing God of next that money is a tool to accomplish his purposes and were the stewards of the managers.

So if we live within our means and avoid the use of dad give generously and set some long-term goals and you have some savings or margin. We put ourselves in a position to experience God's best contentment. That's our goal here moneywise I think surveyed along with us today was a thank you to Erin to Amy and to dab into Jim can do it without them. My wonderful team also want to think say thank you Moody radio moneywise. I was a partnership between Moody radio and moneywise I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy church on Sunday, I can join us on Monday I'll be here, Lord willing