Are you an investor who wants to know what the Bible has to say about investing? Find the answers you seek in this Bible reading plan. In this plan, we look at a few principles that affect the lives of investors. We’re not so much talking about Biblical strategies for getting great returns on our portfolios as much as we’re talking about the reasons you get into investing in the first place. 

Without these biblical basics for investors, you might feel lost, adrift, or exhausted in your work. Dive into this Bible reading plan to discover what God has to say about how we invest.

Day 1: Finding Contentment

Investors aren’t the most content people on the planet. Our desire for more is part of what makes us good investors. You want to see your portfolio grow year over year. 

But the Bible teaches us to put selfish desire to death and to follow Christ wherever he leads. In this devotional, we see one investor who has wrestled with contentment all of his life. Even after attending Bible college, he still has to refocus his ambitions and rest in contentment that comes from God.

Bible reading from Philippians.

Day 2: Renewing My Mind

We’re reminded in 1 Corinthians to do everything for God’s glory. Even the most mundane things can be done for God’s glory, and this can be difficult to understand since our culture says that only the “big” things matter. What are the big things? Being CEO, investing in a unicorn, winning a Superbowl, or selling a multi-platinum record. 

And sometimes being an investor doesn’t feel very glorifying. Compound annual interest isn’t flashy. In Christian circles, we sometimes think that it’s just money. The real spiritual heroes are pastors and missionaries.

But if we renew our minds and focus only on what God calls us to do, then we can refocus and truly aim to glorify Him.

Bible reading from 1 Corinthians.

Day 3: The Final 2%

Today’s installment of the Bible reading plan focuses on Abraham. In Genesis, we see God calling Abraham to a foreign land on the promise that He would make Abraham a great nation. Then for decades, Abraham waited for a son. Finally, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice that son on an altar. What a test of commitment! In this situation, God asked Abraham to give 100% of himself in faith. 

And so, you’ll be asked to dig up that final 2% of mistrust and possibly sin. Give it all over to God. 

Bible reading from Genesis.

Day 4: Don’t Skip Straight to the Spiritual

Investors can be heady individuals. We think about macroeconomic trends and bottom lines. We’d rather analyze a quarterly report than get our hands dirty with a company’s nuts-and-bolts product. 

But Jesus, despite delivering many spiritual truths, was flesh-and-blood himself. It’s important to pay attention to where he ministered and who listened to him. We lose a good deal of meaning from Jesus’ teachings when we skim over city names and regions, for example. Let’s dive into the importance of Biblical context.

Bible reading from John. 

Day 5: Not My Efforts

Make sure to give God all the glory. And make sure to read your Bible and memorize scripture. This very short devotional gives a general reminder to keep going on your Christain journey every single day.

Bible reading from John.

Every investor faces difficult decisions when managing and expanding their portfolios. But despite the responsibilities we face in our day-to-day work, we must also remember to let God lead our lives. 

In this Bible reading plan, we speak to a number of investors who have put this faith into practice. These investors will share their wisdom and insights into what it means to put God at the helm while also being obedient to his calling. We also share many Bible verses that speak to letting God lead your life. 

Day 1: Which King Are You?

As we read through the Old Testament, we hit the part that covers the history of kings. Each king receives a relatively short summary of their reign, and most summaries can be boiled down to whether or not the king served the Lord. 

So, what kind of summary will your life receive? Few people will remember us for our wealth or possessions. God definitely doesn’t care how much we amassed in our brokerage accounts. Perhaps we should consider our level of obedience instead. Do we courageously address the tasks God has for us to do? Do we faithfully give of our time and energy with little expectation of repayment? 

Dive into these deep questions in the day’s Bible reading plan.

Bible reading from 2 Samuel.

Day 2: Chart Your Course With God Leading

Luke Roush co-founded Sovereign’s Capital in 2012, and is a Managing Partner in the firm. While living in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta from 2013-2016, he opened the fund’s operations in Southeast Asia. He contributes to today’s devotional and reminds us that our hearts grow and change over time.

This means it can be dangerous to take complete control of our lives. As Proverbs tells us, our hearts are prone to corruption (and we might not even be aware of it!). The big lesson here is that we can’t go it alone. Read on to see how we can fight this temptation to take the wheel from God’s hands.

Bible reading from Proverbs.

Day 3: Discipline and Devotion – How God Leads Our Lives

Can you really say that God is leading your life when you don’t spend time with Him? At the end of the day, a relationship with God requires discipline and devotion. This doesn’t have to look like flagellation or despondency. But we also can’t take a cavalier attitude toward our quiet times. The distractions are just too many in this day and age.

Donnie Smith was appointed as President and CEO of Tyson Foods in 2009 where he guided Tyson Foods to be a company with a conscience, focused on feeding the world great, affordable food, while also making a positive difference in people’s lives. He’s the author of today’s devotional.

Bible reading from Romans.

Day 4: The Fourth Ship

The four ships refer to the suffixes of a few major charcter terms. Leadership, manage–“ship”, stewardship, and lordship. We hear about the first three all the time in podcasts and business books, but lordship is often overlooked. Perhaps because it feels counterintuitive to our aspirations and pursuits.

But if we want to let God lead our lives, we need to ask Him what He wants us to do. This devotional will remind us that, despite all our responsibilities, God is the ultimate Lord, and by surrendering, we are able to truly persevere.

Pete Ochs is the author of today’s Bible reading exercise. He is the founder and chairman of Capital III, an impact investment company with investments in the US and Central America. During his four decades in business he has invested and operated companies in the energy, manufacturing, banking, and education sectors, oftentimes focusing on places devoid of human flourishing such as prisons and poverty-stricken countries. 

Bible reading from James.