In order to overcome your fear of investing, you must do these three things: 1) Get savvy. Before you start investing, you need to learn the language and nuances of the stock market, housing market, mutual funds, and other transactions. There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Yes, your savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts are great ways to protect your money while earning a modicum of interest. But, if you want to make a higher return, you have to take some risk. And the higher the risk, the higher the return. 2) Get counsel. ‘Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed’ (v. 22 NIV). A good financial consultant will help you plan based on your age, risk tolerance, and investment objectives. Talk to friends and relatives who have made investments; learn from their experiences. And be sure to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is called ‘counsellor’ because He can guide you in every area of your life (see John 14:26 AMPC). 3) Get moving. Time is money. You can go broke trying to save for big things like your kids’ university education or your retirement if you don’t take advantage of the high returns offered by the stock market and other investments over an extended period. And be sure to stand on God’s Word and trust Him: ‘Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV). As long as your motive is to do God’s will and bless others, you can pray for God to bless you with success, and He will.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.