I was speaking at a civic club the other day about my book, “Choose Stocks Wisely: A Formula That Produced Amazing Returns.” During the Q and A time, I received a question that I’ve received before.  The question probed at what my thoughts are toward investing in stocks amidst a backdrop of great financial uncertainty in our nation today. 

Many people are concerned, and rightfully so I might add, about where our massive national spending and burdensome national debt are taking us. The macro financial problems we are facing today indeed make one think about how to best get ready for what could be a difficult road ahead. So, how investing in stocks fits into the bigger economic picture is certainly a relevant issue to mull over.

Years ago, I read a definition of money in a financial book that went like this: “money is a creation of our minds and exists because of the strength of our faith.”  I did a double-take after reading it and have never forgotten it.  It’s true.  Our money today is just monopoly paper in that it’s backed by nothing except our collective belief, as a society, that it possesses value. So long as we believe it is worth something, it will continue to be worth something. Fretting is not a solution because collective fear and panic would only bring about the fall of our economy as runs on the banks would quickly deplete monetary reserves.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, my stance is that the future, including eternity, belongs to Him.  He has told me not to worry over tomorrow, but to seek and trust Him with my future. Without His assurance, where else can I go to find certainty about my future? There’s no monetary investment that will secure our lives.  Only He can do that. God gave His only Son on the cross to rescue us forever.

In response to my faith in Christ, I look at the stock market as one earthly vehicle for trying to grow financial resources…..nothing more and nothing less. Since God controls the future, I go on about my business each day as normal, trying to follow Him and leaving the rest to Him. Whenever I choose to invest in a company’s stock, I’m going to do my best to find a company that is managing its financial house superbly while its stock is trading at a discount to its true value. Regardless of the times, this approach remains best, in my view.