There is an investment strategy that goes against conventional wisdom but is normal to the kingdom of God. This strategy is so non-conventional that it fits the mold of God’s statements in Isaiah 55:9 that says,

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

In other words, our normal pattern of thinking and way of doing things is far below the thoughts and ways of God. And this truth becomes very apparent when it comes to financial matters such as investing, income generation and protection for the future. Let’s look at what Solomon says here.

Proverbs 19:17 says,

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.”

King Solomon is telling us that whenever we show mercy and kindness by providing for the needs of the poor, our gifts are not eternally forgotten. They have not been thrown into a black hole never to be remembered again. On the contrary, our gifts to the poor are literally an investment in God Himself and God promises to pay us back!

Does God owe us? Certainly not. God owns everything, even that that we gave. Does the poor owe us? No, because we gave it as a gift of mercy. Yet God counts our gifts to the poor as a loan to Him and He will pay us back in their behalf. Amazing!

This truth is magnified over in the book of Matthew, chapter 6. It says,

“Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.

But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:2-4 Amplified

Another set of verses highlight this truth even more. Please notice the sections I have underlined to highlight this principle. It says,

[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. II Corinthians 9:6-10 Amplified

Have You Heard This Before?

Now let me ask you a question. When was the last time you heard this financial advice from the financial planners and investment counselors of our day?

When was the last time a debt counselor, banker, loan officer, attorney, stock broker or friend said directly to you, “You need to give your money to the poor.”

It’s probably been a long time or maybe it’s never happened. Why? Because giving money to the poor doesn’t appear to be sound, financial advice. It appears to be a waste of money and resources. But in the kingdom of God this is the soundest advice one could ever receive.

Proverbs 22:9 says,

“He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives his bread to the poor.”

Proverbs 28:27 says,

“He who gives to the poor will not lack…

Jesus instructed the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 saying,

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:21-22

Now we know that the lesson of this conversation was to show how the “possessions had the man” rather than the “man having the possessions,” but our point here is to show you the advice Jesus gave to the man. He said, “…give to the poor…”

The title of this article is:

“Do You Hear and See What I Hear and See?” King Solomon observed the same habits and behavior in his day as we see in ours. People have selective hearing and vision when it comes to the poor.

People try to avoid the poor at all costs, whether it’s the homeless laying on the streets, the scruffy-looking man who asks for change or the beggars who stand by the freeway with signs saying “Work for Food.”

We try to deafen our ears to their cries for help when they stick out their hands requesting money.  We try to look the other way to avoid eye contact so they won’t think we saw them. We choose not to hear, we choose not to see.

We try to justify our selfishness by telling ourselves,

“That man ought to get a job instead of begging from me.”

“I don’t have any money to spare. I need someone to help ME!”

“I don’t want to support his/her drinking habit, drug habit, etc. That’s all they’re going to do with it anyway.”

And there’s a host of other statements we will tell ourselves to soothe our evil conscience and feed our selfishness. I call these statements “25 Words or Less.” They’re nothing more than excuses to be sinful.

King Solomon makes a powerful declaration in Proverbs 21 that addresses God’s viewpoint on this attitude. He says,

“Whoso shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, will also shall cry himself, and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13 NKJV

In other words, “what goes around comes around.” Or to use the Biblical version, “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”

Solomon is telling us there will come times when we will be in need, crying out for someone to help us. And it will be as though the whole world is deaf. No one will listen. No one will help - all because we would not hear the cries of others.

Solomon further emphasizes this selfish attitude in Proverbs 28:27 by saying,

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.”

Hiding your eyes from seeing the pain and suffering of the poor will bring devastation in your life. It is the effect of being selfish.

Maybe some of the financial problems you are having right now are due to you “hiding your eyes” from the plight of the poor. Instead of looking down to be of assistance you look away or you look up with “your nose in the air” as though you are better than them.

It’s amazing how we teach our children when they’re young not to be selfish. We scold and discipline them, making comments like,

“Johnny, let them play with your toys. It’s nice to share.” Yet we as adults do exactly the opposite. We become hypocrites because our words say one thing but our actions say another.

If there is a lesson to be learned from this article, it is

It’s not only nice to share, its necessary to share if we want to be free from financial bondage. It is a key to financial freedom.

It could be that the doorway out of your financial bondage leads directly to the poor and downtrodden around you. Take off the blinders. Remove the ear plugs. Open your wallet or purse.

The next person you see with a “Work for Food” sign - give them some money.

The next stranger that asks you for a dollar - give them five!

This is the best investment strategy you have heard in a long time.