Real Christian Love In Investing With Jason Myhre

May 28, 2024

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Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

It may not be intuitive, but this verse is a compelling guide for applying our faith to our investment decisions. We’ll talk with Jason Myhre today about how we can love without hypocrisy as we invest our money.

Jason Myhre is the Executive Director of the Eventide Center for Faith & Investing, an educational initiative of Eventide Asset Management, and an underwriter of Faith & Finance.

Bringing Faith into Investing: A Deeper Look

The phrase, “Let love be without hypocrisy,” challenges us to ensure our love is genuine. In Paul's time, hypocrisy referred to actors wearing masks and pretending to be someone else. Similarly, our love must be real, not a façade. As Christians, the greatest commandment is to love God and our neighbors authentically. This principle extends to our investments, calling us to invest with genuine love and integrity.

Recognizing Good and Evil

Paul’s guidance on what real love looks like—abhorring evil and clinging to good—provides a litmus test for our actions. Genuine Christian love passionately opposes evil and fervently supports good. In the context of investing, this means avoiding investments in companies that engage in harmful practices and supporting those that contribute positively to society.

Three Key Takeaways For Faith-Based Investing

1. Add Moral Discernment

Traditional investing focuses on risk and return. However, as Christians, we should prioritize moral discernment. When investing, we are supporting real businesses with real-world impacts. Recognizing the moral dimensions of these businesses is crucial. We must look beyond the numbers and assess the ethical implications of our investments.

2. Avoid Harmful Investments

While not every investment decision is clear-cut, some areas are easier to discern. The Christian investment community consistently recommends avoiding companies involved in abortion, tobacco, pornography, gambling, and alcohol. These industries are consistently identified as morally problematic. Faith-based investing can guide us in steering clear of such entanglements.

3. Embrace Good Investments

Many businesses produce goods and services that benefit society. As investors, we should actively seek out and support these companies. Investing in businesses that align with our values allows us to live out the love described in Romans 12:9.

Taking the Next Step

To help you apply these principles, Eventide Center for Faith and Investing has created a resource listing faith-based investment products that align with Romans 12:9. You can access this resource at faithandinvesting.com/faithfi.

By integrating faith into our investment decisions, we can honor God and contribute to a more just and loving world. Let's strive to invest with authenticity, discernment, and a commitment to good, reflecting our Christian values in every financial choice we make.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I currently have a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with my husband, and we're looking to upgrade it because my parents are planning on moving in with me. We're selling our current home and plan on having $260,000 as a deposit somewhere. Our ballpark is around $500,000, but finding a four-bedroom at that price point is a little tricky. In the worst case, we'd be willing to go up to about $540,000, but that's about 30% of our take-home expenses. 25% is the ideal, and I wanted your thoughts on that.
What documentation does the IRS need from a church for me to claim a deduction for tithes paid last year? We tithed to a church last year and then changed churches. However, we didn't receive documentation of giving from the church we left. We've tried to contact the church but haven't got a response.

Resources Mentioned:

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.

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