Everybody Is An Investor PT1

Steven Garofalo M.A.A. March 7, 2025

In 2024, 62% of US adults invested in the stock market, according to Statista. This is a 20 year high. 87% of upper-income, 65% of middle-income, and 25% of lower-income Americans own stocks.

TODAY, through James 1:9-12, I am going to show you how we as Christians are to invest above all other means. Furthermore, we are going to learn what God tells us considering how we are to act and think in relation to the amount, levels and value of our earthly investments.

While a large percentage of people participate, the wealthiest individuals own a disproportionately large share of stocks. According to an article by the BUSINESS INSIDER, written by Jennifer Sor, January 10, 2024, the wealthiest 10% of Americans own 93% of stocks even with market participation at a record high.

·       The richest Americans own the vast majority of the US stock market, according to Fed data.

·       The top 10% of Americans held 93% of all stocks, the highest level ever recorded.

·       Meanwhile, the bottom 50% of Americans held just 1% of all stocks in the third quarter of 2023.

The wealthiest Americans have never owned so much of the stock market, with the top 10% now holding a record 93% of US equities, according to Federal Reserve data. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wealthiest-10-americans-own-93-033623827.html

ARE CHRISTIANS TO INVEST?

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 makes clear that monetary investing is good with king Solomon telling us to: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. ³ If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. ⁴ He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. ⁵ As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.”

WHAT IS KING SOLOMON SAYING?

King Solomon is saying that we are invest, and as a wise investor we ought not always be averse to taking some risk, especially when there is genuine possibility of real gain (v.1). The adverse is to become like the lazy sluggard and fail laid in verse four which says, “HE WHO OBSERVES THE WIND WILL NOT SOW, AND HE WHO RAGARDS THE CLOUDS WILL NOT REAP”. In other words, there is a real danger in being overly cautious in light of life and nature’s unpredictability. Investing part of life and the only way to get ahead and have a more rewarding life. Reckless or taking excess risk by the can be bad, especially in your older years. But taking some risk can always be good. Risk to move to a new city, state or country can be good in our older years. In the end, taking some risk to start a business in retirement can be very good for our minds and our financial well-being. Risk at most any time in life is biblical and can be exciting and rewarding.

WARNING-INVESTMENT OF ANOTHER KIND IS MORE IMPORTANT

But then Luke 12:33-34 makes clear that investment of another kind is even more important, saying to: “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

God warns us through Luke what we might do with the fruits of our investments in that you are to “sell what you have”. This contrasts with the world’s hoarding of possessions; the disciple must be generous with what God gives. “MONEY BAGS WHICH DO NOT GROW OLD”: By serving God and others, you can invest in your eternal future. You cannot take possessions with you in the next life, but you can store up an eternal treasure by giving to others. In the end, as verse 34 makes clear, what people consider valuable is WHERE their energy will be spent. Knowing God and investing in His purposes should be where we invest and the TREASURE we seek.

Please allow me to leave you with one thought about today’s investor. In 2024, 62% of US adults invested in the stock market, according to Statista. This is a 20-year high. 87% of upper-income, 65% of middle-income, and 25% of lower-income Americans own stocks. Perhaps the truth is a good portion of that 87% of today’s upper-income investors have been investing a bit too much in the wrong places. Perhaps a good portion of the 65% of middle-income have been investing in the wrong areas of life. And what about the 25% of lower-income Americans who own stocks? Perhaps they are “watching the clouds” (v.4) and not investing enough. Or maybe, just maybe, they are investing properly in God’s kingdom. God’s authentic followers are found across all three classes of income and people. I think the question becomes an issue of where their heart is and where they are with their relationship to Jesus Christ and the biblical teachings. In any case, let’s remember that EVERYONE IS AN INVESTOR. It’s not a matter of IF but WHERE. Let’s choose wisely.

 AMERICA’S GUILT CULTURE AND JUSTICE – A Basic Understanding - PT1

Steven Garofalo M.A.A.      January 17, 2025

This series started as America’s Guilt Culture and the Death. I think this is important because we can be a “National of Laws”, but if we don’t properly execute the law, we quickly become “Lawless”. As a result, today, I want to start with some application in order to wade into this subject in parts rather than in one big article. In this multi-part series, we are going to look at the Death Penalty and what the Bible says about Capital Punishment or the “Death Penalty”.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS-The Scriptures Are Clear

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image” (Genesis 9:6).

Leviticus 24:17 states, "Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death". 

REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON’T SUPPORT OR BELIEVE IN THE DEATH PENTALTY

1)    It’s wrong to kill. We all have the right to life and nobody deserves to be killed; despite what the Bible says. My response is directed at the “despite what the Bible says”. The thought that one’s virtue or self-proclaimed vision of goodness-if above God's Word is a sin and evil. All of God’s attributes are equal, including His mercy and His justice. God makes the rules, not us. The Bible is clear that to knowingly “murder” (premeditatively taking an innocent life) must be paid with the life of the murder of him or herself.

2)    Innocent people will be murdered if we have the death penalty: With the advent of DNA and modern science, changed social norms and the reduction of prejudice in society, the chances of being wrongly convicted are very low if existent at all. Furthermore, the Death Penalty mandates a bi-cameral system that mandates a separate hearing to see if one even qualifies for the death penalty to begin with. The argument is valid one in light of past culture and technology or lack thereof. In today’s world, with the advent of cameras, DNA, Cell phone data, etc. there is few places one can hide. This argument has been so abused in our modern age that innocent people are being murdered-namely those who are let out of jail after murdering to murder again. While possible, it’s highly unlikely for one to be wrongfully convicted and sentenced with the death penalty in our modern age.

3)    The Death Penalty is not a deterrent: The simple answer to this objection is that IF the death penalty would be applied SWIFTLY and WIDELY, it would have an immediate chilling effect on public behavior-especially the murder rate. At present, it takes at least a decade and in many cases much longer to execute a person who is on death row due to the length of the appeals process.

CONCLUSION

The United States or any nation can claim to be a “National of Laws”, but if we don’t properly and biblically execute the law, we quickly become a nation of “Lawlessness”. What the Bible says about Capital Punishment or the “Death Penalty” is just as true as any other Scripture reference in the Bible. We cannot choose to apply or don't apply, or we violate God’s laws, His Word, and His will. In our next entry (Part 2), I will show you in detail that Americans have become a “guilt culture” and how that has led to even more lawlessness-and (for many) a rejection of the death penalty against God’s Word.  Let's remember the Words of God who said, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image” (Genesis 9:6). "Whoever takes the life of any human being shall be put to death" (Leviticus 24:17) .

PT3-A BIBLICAL SUMMARY OF THE DEATH PENALTY

Capital punishment, or the death penalty, refers to the execution by the state of those guilty of certain crimes involving First Degree Murder. Today, I am going to break down in greater detail what exactly Bible says about Capital Punishment-or the Death Penalty. This is part three of our three part serious on the death penalty, so let’s just jump right in.

Though some have opposed capital punishment for ideological or out of emotional reasons, it’s important to note that God mandated it’s use in the Bible. Now that we have seen Part 1 and 2 of this series, let’s jump in with both feet to look at God’s mandate for the death penalty, and break down what the Bible actually says about capital punishment or “the death penalty”.

THE BIBLICAL GOD GIVEN MANDATE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY

Most people don’t know or don’t realize that the Bible actually mandates the death penalty for crimes or in certain instances. According to the Merriam-webster.com dictionary, the word “MANDATE” is defined as “a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one”; an authorization to act given to a representative.”[i] In other words, “a formal order” disallows for that order to be disobeyed. To disobey an order by the police can get you arrested, shot or killed. To disobey an order in the military can get you punishment, including court marshalled. Let’s break down what the Bible means when it speaks to the Bible mandating the death penalty.

1)    The divine, Scriptural and divine mandate occurs FIRST-immediately after the Noahic Flood. God instructed Noah and his sons, saying: “Whoever sheds man’s blood by man his blood shall be shed” (Gen. 9:6 NASB).

2)    Human beings are created in the IMAGE OF GOD (Gen. 9:6). No other creature, great or small can say this. Only humans have logical minds able to think, process, understand and communicated as compared to all other creatures that exist only through instinct and natural mechanisms. As such, ALL human life is sacred, justifying a penalty as severe as death for crime of murder.

3)    Capital Punishment (the Death Penalty) is reserved for the state (government) not the individual. There is no place for personal revenge or retribution outside the bounds of the law: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, VENGENCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). This is the state’s responsibility, as God’s civil servant on earth, to protect its citizens and to punish those who harm them (Rom. 14:4,6). This begs the question as to what we are to do when the state turns evil and persecutes good for evil and makes evil appear good for their own sinful advancement? “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20). The answer is too complex to address in full here because bleeds into “ethics and morality” which involves civil disobedience and dealing with the natural growth of such sinful governmental policies which grow into anarchy (as we saw in the early 2020’s), extreme patriotism, and possibly revolution. Suffice it to say that we are to sit back and rest on “civil disobedience” which is a refusal to do evil, even when the state mandates it as a first step.

4)    HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? Capital punishment provides the state the means to apply the appropriate punishment for murder: “Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deut. 19:21 ESV).

ISN’T STATE (GOVERNMENT) VIOLATING THE SIX COMMANDMENT “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER” (Exodus 20:13)?

The state and only the state possesses the power of death to punish evil (Romans13:4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). This begs the question as to “WHAT” or “WHO” is EVIL. Evil are those acts identified by God as evil justify the use of Capital Punishment

God is the STANDARD for defining what is GOOD and what is EVIL. If this were not true, there would no abuse in what Nazi Germany did in killing millions of Jews.

The state does not violate the sixth commandment, saying, “You shall not murder” by it is proper executive and application of capital punishment. The Hebrew word “ratsach”, translated “kill” in some translations, refers to acts of murder or homicide. A different word, “harag”, often translated “kill” occurs more often in the Old Testament. Rather than violating the six commandments by capital punishment, the state supports the commandment by executing those who murder. The good news is that God provided us specific guidelines for those who would qualify for the death penalty. Let’s investigate further.

1)    The accused person must have committed a crime for which death is appropriate punishment. God sates: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (Deut. 19:21).

2)    Clear evidence of guilt must be provided by two or more witnesses (Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6).

3)    Those charged with crimes must be treated in a uniform and impartial manner, regardless of the “status” (Deut. 1:17) or “class” (Lev. 19:15) of the offender. Our society, business, and especially our governmental-political system favors some people and discriminates against others because of class or status, or deprives some of adequate defense, intentionally or through neglect, diminishes its integrity and creates serious doubts about its administration of justice (Leviticus 24:22).

CONCLUSION

God instituted capital punishment as a legitimate option for every state. Its institution predates Israel’s birth as a nation and Moses’ divinely inspired directions for its governance, eliminating the possibility that it was mandated soley for Israel if you were wondering. God issued His guidance on capital punishment to ALL of earth’s only surviving people (Gen. 7:20-24). God’s instructions to them provided the foundation for all subsequence governments there forward. Because God mandates capital punishment prior to Israel’s establishment, at the very least, it is a legitimate response to murder in other societies.