Saving, Investing & Estate Planning
What does the Bible say about saving, investing and estate planning?
Most people spend everything they earn and hope the future takes care of itself. The Bible teaches something different: “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down” (Proverbs 21:20). God calls us to save for future needs, invest wisely and leave an inheritance for our children’s children (Proverbs 13:22).
In these one-minute Financial Moments videos, Tom Copland explains how to save steadily, invest without chasing riches, and plan your estate so it honours God and cares for your family.
PART 1: SAVING
The Joseph Principle
God told Joseph to store a fifth of the harvest in the seven good years so Egypt would have food in the seven lean years. Most of us will face a “famine” too: a job loss, an illness, a big repair.
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Genesis 41:34–36 “Take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance… This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine.”
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James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”
The wise save; fools spend it all
Living paycheque to paycheque leaves nothing for the bills we know are coming. Jesus said a wise builder counts the cost first.
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Proverbs 21:20 “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
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Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
Save a little at a time
God’s way is steady saving over a long time, not a windfall. A budget makes sure you spend less than you earn, so there is something to save.
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Proverbs 13:11 “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
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Proverbs 6:6–8 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!… it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
Saving isn’t hoarding
Saving for future needs is wise. Storing up more and more and trusting in it is not. The rich fool in Luke 12 wasn’t wrong to have a big harvest; he was wrong to keep it all for himself and trust it instead of God.
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Luke 12:20–21 “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you… This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
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Matthew 6:19–20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
PART 2: INVESTING
A biblical perspective on investing
Investing isn’t wrong. It’s a way to manage well what God has entrusted to us. The difference is the goal: provide for needs and give generously, not get rich.
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Matthew 25:27 “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”
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Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Avoid get-rich-quick investments
High-risk schemes, borrowing to invest and “sure things” promise fast money. Scripture warns against them.
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Proverbs 28:20 “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
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Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
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Proverbs 23:4–5 “Do not wear yourself out to get rich… Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone.”
Don’t trust in your investments
As savings and investments grow, it’s easy to start trusting them instead of God.
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1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.”
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Psalm 62:10 “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
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Proverbs 11:28 “Those who trust in their riches will fall.”
Diversify to reduce risk
Taking some risk is biblical, but spread it out, because no one knows what will happen to any one investment.
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Ecclesiastes 11:2 “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”
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Ecclesiastes 11:6 “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed.”
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Proverbs 31:16 “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.”
PART 3: ESTATE PLANNING
Leave an inheritance
Planning your estate is part of faithful stewardship. God owns it all, so plan your estate by seeking His wisdom in prayer and in His Word.
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Proverbs 13:22 “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.”
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Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Put your house in order: have a will
A current, carefully prepared will is a loving gift to your family. It reduces delays, costs and disputes after you die.
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2 Kings 20:1 “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die.”
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1 Timothy 5:8 “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith.”
Wisdom in passing on wealth
An inheritance can bless children or harm them. Think about when and how they receive it, and prepare them to manage it.
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Proverbs 20:21 “An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end.”
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Ecclesiastes 2:18–19 “I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish?”
Give from your estate
Your estate is one last opportunity to give to God’s work and build treasure in heaven.
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1 Timothy 6:18–19 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”
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Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This is general biblical teaching, not personal legal, tax or investment advice. For your own situation, talk with a qualified advisor.
Keep learning, free of charge
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