The Stock Market is a place that offers a wide-diversity of investment opportunities to those who wish to see their wealth increase for future benefit.  

Depending on the nature of a company’s business, and known trading performance, shares are offered on stock markets at a particular price and prospective buyers are advised that the chosen level of interest markets at a particular level of volatility.  In other words: if you choose an investment that promises greater ‘bang for your buck’ then the investment chosen will come with a ‘higher risk’ rating – You may lose a part, or all, of your investment. 

Over a period of five years, my wife and I experienced major financial loss in our first-ever stock market experience through a highly respected broker.  No, he wasn’t the cause of our loss – it took an unforeseen terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York City, September 2001, to topple stock market investments world-wide (at that time, we were serving the Lord in Cairo).  

Although banks are renown for being safer places of investment, for the increase of safety banks can only offer lower percentages of interest to their investors than stock markets.  By the way, banks are not institutions where investments are guaranteed from suffering loss…great loss…everything! 

Having worked very hard all their lives, my father and mother invested the bulk of their life-savings with a large, reputable bank in Tripoli, North Lebanon.  It took an unforeseen civil war that broke out in Lebanon in 1975 to cause the erosion of their savings – their investment plummeted in value from 3 Lebanese Pounds/US$1, down to 1,800 Lebanese Pounds/US$1…a loss of 600%!

If stock markets and banks are not safe-enough places to invest with then what ‘on earth’ can we do with our wealth?  Concerning ‘money’ and ‘possessions’, Jesus, the Sovereign Stockbroker of the Universe says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 NLT).  

 Jesus’ investment advice is clear and simple: Firstly – Don’t invest your wealth in the world. The world is unsafe – Highly volatile – Depreciating – And, is coming to an end!  Secondly … (More about this topic next week.)