Investing for “Good Works”

Read Time / 2 Minutes

Theme / Eternal Investing

We have a dog named Toby.  He is a Doodle, 5/8 Poodle and 3/8 Retriever.  He is a good dog.  I tell him he is a good dog when he does good things: he sits for me, he comes to me, he fetches a toy.  I do not tell him he is a good dog when he decides to chase a squirrel instead of listening to me.  When we got Toby as a puppy, we wanted him to be good dog, but it did not happen without our direction and his willingness.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, as Christians, “we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  I wonder how often we ponder the breadth of “good works” that God has planned for us.  God has placed each of us within this time in history, with its accompanying economic context and opportunity to make wise financial decisions.

While we are on this earth, we have a responsibility to manage God’s financial blessings in our lives.  We should be willing to include “good works” in our investment decisions, to reach whatever financial goals we are trying to achieve.  Investing for “good works” suggests investing in companies that positively contribute to society – in ways that honor God.  

We live in a time in history where we have broad insight into companies.  Is a company good to its employees, good to its suppliers, good to its customers, good to its community, and good to society at large?  Do the products a company produces improve lives?  Do the philanthropic initiatives of the company benefit lives?   

Let’s seriously consider how we can do “good works” through our investments.  God has given us the opportunity – are we willing to listen?  Toby does (most of the time)!

Doug Hanson, MBA

Wealth Advisor