JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION
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Investing

I will digress a little and give you a glimpse of how this article came about. Earlier this week I spoke briefly with a new man, where I work, about the scriptures. He was lead to believe by another worker that I followed a strange religion. So before jumping to conclusions he thought he would ask me some questions directly. He asked if I used the whole Bible or just parts of the Bible. I told him I used the whole Bible. He asked if I used some strange Bible or the same Bible he used. I told him that I had over a dozen Bibles at my disposal at home and that I didn^t know what Bible he used. He suggested that the Bibles all said the same thing to which I basically agreed pointing out that we use predominantly English translations and that the original languages of the Bible were Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

Earlier today I was searching for a passage that, as I remembered, stated that all things should be done in moderation. I activated my Bible software and did a search but found no such statement. So I tried to think of where I had gotten this idea and turned to the pages of the first Bible I had read, The Good News Bible. I searched in Ecclesiastes and came across this startling passage which changed the topic of my search for the time being and gave me fuel for this article. It was Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 2. I will show you a few other translations first.

Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. 2Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 2 The New King James Version

Cast your bread upon the waters, I thought, well that^s ok if you like soggy bread. For you will find it after many days, old soggy bread, for a more acquired taste I suppose. Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, I suppose there are some who like old soggy bread. The last time I threw bread unto the waters I was feeding geese. They seemed to like it fine. Maybe there is some rational behind this passage, or maybe it has some hidden meaning.

Let^s read another version.

1Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. 2Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 2 The New Living Translation

The word for bread is translated gift here in this translation and the meaning of the verse changes dramatically. Gifts could mean anything that you have, not just bread. There is nothing repulsive or dubious about this concept. It shows that there are benefits to be had from being generous perhaps even during harder times.

In yet another translation we read:

1Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. 2Don^t hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 2 The Bible In Contemporary Language

The idea of benefiting from generosity is strengthened even more in this translation were it is called an investment. It makes me wonder if we will someday be dependant on the generosity of others toward us.

The first Bible I ever read gave me a very different concept of this verse. The translation is called The Good News Bible, The Bible In Today^s English Version, published by the Canadian Bible Society. It reads:

Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit. Put your investments in several places, many places even, because you never know what kind of bad luck you are going to have in this world. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and 2 The Good News Bible

I have been living by this advice for years. What a contrast to other translations and other interpretations. Makes me wonder which is better or more accurate. How much weight should I put on the author of Ecclesiastes here who was struggling for the meaning of life throughout his book? Does this book represent the will of God or Godly advice?

There are other passages in the scriptures that pertain to investing and managing your possessions. Let me draw your attention to some.

From the Good News Bible: Here is a terrible thing that I have seen in the world: people save up their money for a time that they may need it, and then lose it all in some bad deal and end up with nothing left to pass on to their children. Ecclesiastes 5:13 and 14.

We are left with the impression that it is a good thing to have material goods or money to leave to our children. Other translations are not so clear, see the King James Version.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children^s children, but the sinner^s wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 Revised Standard Version

This passage reinforces the concept of material possession benefiting grandchildren. But it is not necessarily the emphasis of the Bible because in Ecclesiastes 7:11 and 12 it is written:

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. The New King James Version

Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. 12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. Revised Standard Version

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. 12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor. The New International Version

Wisdom along with an inheritance is good 11 And an advantage to those who see the sun. 12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. The New American Standard Bible

Of course a dominant theme in the scriptures is paying tithes but this article is not to focus on that. Nevertheless it is very difficult to pay tithes if you are living in poverty, so I take this principle as an encouragement to prosper and look at it as a simple way to give thanks to God for blessings.

Concerning prosperity a couple of passages have significance in a material sense and many speak of Spiritual prosperity.

Beloved, I desire that in all things thou shouldest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 Darby^s New Translation

17Cry further, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity, and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:17 Darby^s New Translation

In conclusion I will bring to your attention one more verse that in my mind backs the concept of striving for prosperity. It is the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14 to 30. I extract a few verses:

Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.? 26 But his lord answered and said to him, ^You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. Matthew 25:24 to 28

The good advice given here was to deposit money in a bank or with bankers to gather interest. Bankers invest money in people and in businesses by lending it with usury. This is how they are able to pay interest on saving accounts. I take liberty in this and conclude that it is acceptable to lend money or invest in people and corporations. I personally invest in the stock market in an effort to prosper.

2007 Jacques Gauvin

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