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Back to Counsel & Wisdom From God's Word By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Howard Dayton, CEO of Crown Financial Ministries completed an in-depth study of the Bible and found that God’s Word contains 2,350 references to money and material things. In addition, 16 of the 24 parables that Jesus Christ gave us deal with money and material things. Clearly, God’s Word, the Bible, has a tremendous wisdom to assist you in making any financial decision. The psalmist makes the following comments regarding God’s Word: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors” (Psalm 119:24) and “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word was considered to be so important that God instructed Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). In my experience, when people have got into financial difficulty, frequently it was because they have unknowingly violated one or more of God’s financial principles. Some examples include 1. no savings for an emergency (Proverbs 21:20) 2. taking on too much debt (Proverbs 22:7). 3. cosigning a loan, for which the Bible uses the term “striking hands in pledge” (Proverbs 17:18; 22:26, 27) 4. getting involved in a financial transaction they did not understand (Proverbs 19:2) and that was not biblically diversified (Ecclesiastes 11:1,2) Many times the financial stress could have been avoided by simply following the counsel and wisdom from God’s Word, the Bible. God promises great blessings to the believer who meditates on and follows his Word. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prosper. (Psalm 1:1–3 emphasis added) Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:2) Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. God gave him incredible wisdom and knowledge. At the end of his life, Solomon concluded, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). In the financial arena, the only way you can “keep God’s commandments” is to understand and implement God’s Word on finances. In summary, when faced with an important financial decision, it is absolutely necessary that you seek God’s counsel and wisdom by studying and implementing what his Word says on finances. If you would like to learn more about what God’s Word says on finances, I suggest that you visit the website of Crown Financial Ministries (Canadian site: crowncanada.ca, U.S. site: crown.org) and obtain some of the excellent materials available through this organization. In addition, if you are not already on my “Financial Moment” e-mail list, send an e-mail to thomas@copland-ca.com and I will send you, at no charge, a Financial Moment every two weeks. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Priorities Read More Stewardship Principle Read More Debt Principles Read More

Overview Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 The following steps should enable you to learn and implement God’s investment principles. 1. Pray and depend on God for his wisdom (James 1:5) and his direction (Psalm 32:8) when investing, because no human can consistently predict the direction of the markets (James 4:13–15). Listen for God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12), because only God knows the future and God is in control (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). 2. Develop and implement a biblically-based investment strategy that reflects God’s will for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Understanding God’s financial principles will enable you to avoid a lot of bad investments. 3. Diversify your investments in accordance with Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2. This requires allocation of your assets into different types of investments that will likely react differently to any particular market condition, which will reduce the risk and volatility of your portfolio. (Note there are two Financial Moments on this topic.) 4. Use minimal—or ideally no—debt, because God’s Word strongly discourages the use of debt. People who use leverage aggressively will likely be forced by a lender to sell at the wrong time—when their investments have decreased in value (Proverbs 22:7). 5. Ensure that you understand the investment. Generally, people lose money when they invest in something they do not understand (Proverbs 19:2). 6. Assess your tolerance for risk, and invest accordingly. It is biblical to assume some investment risk; however, if you don’t feel comfortable with the volatility of your portfolio, then reduce your equities and increase Canada bonds. 7. Avoid “get rich quick investments” and hasty decisions. If you do not have enough time to pray and evaluate a particular investment, then do not invest. Hasty decisions are usually bad decisions (Proverbs 21:5). God recommends saving and accumulating assets over a long period of time (Proverbs 13:11). 8. Obtain biblical counsel from more than one source (Proverbs 15:22). Ensure that your investment advisers understand God’s financial principles because, unfortunately, many Christians do not, and they inadvertently give unbiblical advice (Psalm 1:1–3). 9. Ensure that your motives are godly and not worldly (Proverbs 16:2). 10. Follow God’s directives (e.g., planning, patience), not human tendencies like fear and greed. 11. Give to God’s work, as it produces eternal benefits! (Matthew 19:28, 29) 12. Keep a balanced perspective on investing (1 Timothy 6:6–8). It is appropriate to invest with the objective of saving for future needs; however, don’t overdo it—don’t spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing, as this is not God’s will (Proverbs 23:4, 5). The above is intended to provide an overview of God’s principles with respect to investing. Further details are provided in my individual Financial Moments for each step. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Giving to God's Work Produces Eternal Benefits Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 Giving to God’s work is an investment with eternal rewards for both the giver and the beneficiaries of the gift. In regard to the giver, Jesus said: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). There are also eternal benefits for the recipients of the gift. For example, when you give money to an evangelical organization (including your church), and through that organization, someone accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior, then that individual will be in heaven for eternity. Although investing to provide for future family needs is something that God wants us to do (1 Timothy 5:8), giving to God’s work is even more important, as it stores up “treasures in heaven.” Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19, 20). It is easy to become focused on building your portfolio. However, investments are temporary: “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). As God blesses your investments, avoid hoarding. Jesus warned, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). I recommend that at least two times per year, you obtain an update of the fair market value of your investments, and ensure that you are giving at least 10 percent of the increased value of those investments to God’s work, in addition to any giving of your regular personal income. Remember, the tithe is the smallest percentage mentioned anywhere in scripture, and the emphasis in God’s Word is to give generously. (See Luke 6:38 and Matthew 13:44–46). Note that when Zacchaeus became a believer, he gave 50 percent of his assets in demonstration of his thankfulness for salvation in Christ (Luke 19:8). God instructs us to give him “the first fruits.” Proverbs 3:9 states, “Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” When we make giving to God’s work a priority, God has promised that he will bless us financially. If you make giving to God’s work a priority, God has promised that he will entrust you with even more money (2 Corinthians 9:6). Why? So you can spend it on yourself or hoard it? No, God’s purpose for entrusting you with more money is that you can give even more to his work! Now [God] who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10–11, emphasis added) Jesus promised that if we sacrifice now, the return on our investment (as a result of giving to God’s work) will be a hundredfold in eternity! “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19: 29, emphasis added) Remember, there is absolutely no earthly investment that provides a hundredfold return and is guaranteed by God! In summary, although it is important to save and invest in providing for future family needs, always make investing in God’s work a priority, as it will produce eternal benefits! Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Downloadable PDFs Resources from Tom's past seminars and workshops Financial Management God's Way Presented at Agincourt Pentecostal Church Download Debt Reduction God's Way Presented at Bayfair & Westney Baptist Church Download Handling Money God's Way For individuals and families. Presented at First Filipino Baptist Church Download God's Perspective on Money Presented at Scarborough Grace Church Download God's Wisdom in Managing Money Interactive series presented at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Download God's Perspective on Debt Series with suggested solutions presented at InTouch Ministries Download Debt Reduction God's Way Interactive series presented at Morningstar Christian Fellowship Download Administración Financiera con Base en los Principios de Dios Financial Management God's Way - Spanish Version Download Discerning God's Will in Managing Money Advanced series presented by Tom Copland Download

Back to Testimonials It pushed me to pay off my mortgage I sincerely thank you (Copland Financial Ministries) for hosting these wonderful sessions on Financial Management God's Way. It really pushed me to pay off my mortgage sooner than later, and I'm forever grateful! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me after our session. I value your insights, along with the tips you gave me. Praise the Lord for His generous provisions, who enabled me to pay off that mortgage! I'm so glad I'm mortgage-free. What a relief it is! I went to church to thank the Lord for getting me out of mortgage debt. To Him, I give all the glory for what He made happen for me. With your godly counsel, I plan to stay free of debt and hope to build wealth so I can do some philanthropic work. Thank you for agreeing and believing it with me. S.P. Toronto, ON, Canada Previous Next

Keep a Balanced Perspective Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 We are bombarded with information on investments. Every day hundreds of individuals give their opinion as to where you should invest your money. It is easy to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. This is not God’s will: “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:4, 5). It is appropriate for a Christian to spend time learning and applying God’s investment principles, but once this has been accomplished, we should take a long-term perspective and trust God for the results. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NKJV) I review the portfolio that God has entrusted to me about four times per year. I ignore what is happening in the markets and in the media on a daily and weekly because excessive time and energy are required in order to absorb the mammoth amount of information that is available. During these “quarterly reviews,” I spend several hours with the Lord, seeking God’s wisdom (James 1:5) and God’s direction for my life, which God has promised to provide (Psalm 32:8). Since no individual can consistently predict the direction of the markets or any investment (James 4:13–15), I purposely listen for God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12), because I realize that only God knows the future and God is in control (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). During this time with the Lord, I meditate on scripture verses that deal with investment principles to ensure that I have developed a biblically-based investment strategy. I review the portfolio and make adjustments according to God’s investment principles and God’s specific direction for me. I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 37:7) to provide his specific direction, and when I sense I’ve heard it, I pray and ask God to confirm it. Once it is clarified, in faith, I implement God’s plan for my investments. At all times, I ensure that the plan is within God’s investment principles because I know that God would not provide any directive that is contrary to his Word. If you “connect with the Lord” (John 15) on a regular basis and follow his wisdom and his direction, then you will have fulfilled your stewardship responsibility and you can leave the results (the return on your investments) to God. God has promised that he will meet your needs (Matthew 6:31–33). God instructs us not to worry (Luke 12:22–31) and not to be fearful (Isaiah 41:10), but rather trust him and be content with his provision. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6–8) Be sure to give God “the first fruits” (Proverbs 3:9) of your profits, as this demonstrates your faith and commitment to him. God promises that he will bless the generous giver: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). Giving generously is the best way I know of to avoid hoarding and to deal with any potential greediness (Luke 12:15). In summary, it is appropriate to spend a reasonable amount of time learning and implementing God’s investment principles as well as seeking God’s specific direction for your life. However, it is not God’s will for you to spend excessive amounts of time and energy on investing. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Develop & Implement a Biblically Based Investment Strategy Back to Investing By: Tom Copland October 19, 2021 A biblically-based investment strategy should meet the following two criteria: 1. be consistent with God’s principles 2. reflect God’s specific will for your life To develop and implement an investment plan that is consistent with God’s principles, it is essential that you understand God’s investment principles. God’s Word, the Bible, provides us with a wealth of knowledge on investing. Authors such as Austin Pryor and Ron Blue have written entire books on what God has to say about investing. I have written 14 financial moments on this topic. If you would like a copy then send an email to thomas@copland-ca.com In my experience, the majority of bad investments can be avoided if you understand and apply God’s investment principles. Here are some actions the Bible warns against, which can lead to potentially bad investments. A. investing in something that you do not understand (see Proverbs 19:2) B. using a lot of debt (see Proverbs 22:7) C. making hasty decisions (see Proverbs 21:5) D. having a lack of biblical diversification (see Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2) For further details, see my four financial moments on those topics. Remember, God has admonished us to keep his Word at the forefront of our minds at all times. Joshua 1:8 states, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” In respect of the second component—that is, an investment plan that reflects God’s specific will for your life—there is no substitute for spending quality time in prayer with God at least three or four times per year, seeking the Lord’s specific direction for your life. God has promised that he will direct us if we ask in faith and trust him. Psalms 32:8 states, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” I recommend that you document what God has instructed you to do, and carefully follow up. In the area of investing, most people tend to be “responders”; that is, they respond to sales calls, hot tips, good ideas, etc. Frequently people make decisions on a case-by-case basis rather than by developing and implementing a biblically-based investment strategy that God has personally revealed to them. Although God’s investment principles (i.e., guidelines) are the same for everyone, God’s specific will for each individual will not be the same. For example, it is possible that God will direct an entrepreneur to have a significant portion (but not all) of her or his portfolio invested in the business that the person owns and operates. Nevertheless, for these entrepreneurs, it is important to obtain some element of biblical diversification, which will require that a significant portion of the balance of the portfolio be invested in relatively safe items, such as government bonds. In summary, it is critical to develop and implement a biblically-based investment strategy that reflects God’s specific will for your life. Previous Article Next Article More Topics Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More Priorities Read More Counsel & Wisdom Read More

Back to Testimonials Biblical Advice Your Biblical advice has made a huge difference in our finances over the past couple of years. Thanks again. L.T. Oxbow, SK, Canada Previous Next

Back to Testimonials Your ministry is a blessing to me Your ministry is a blessing to me & my family. I am very appreciative of your 'all wise' emails. DM Chester Basin, Nova Scotia Canada. Previous Next

Back to Testimonials Thank you for your ministry I Attended the Zoom Webinar - Managing Money During Covid-19. It was excellent! I would be interested in attending more virtual workshops when they are available. Thank you for this ministry! L.S. ON, Canada Previous Next

Back to Financial Deceptions You Should Try to Obtain Financial Freedom (ASAP) By: Tom Copland June 15, 2020 Many people believe it is good to try to get rich quickly. Some of the common methods utilized to obtain “Financial Freedom” are as follows: 1. lottery tickets—sometimes promoted as “Imagine the freedom” 2. aggressive investing—usually with a lot of debt 3. excessive hard work, which is out of balance God’s directive is different. The emphasis in Scripture is to plan and save for future needs slowly over a period of time. “Steady plotting brings prosperity, hasty speculation brings poverty” (Proverbs 21:20 TLB) “He who gathers money little by little makes it grow” (Proverbs 13:11 NIV). “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5) Over the past 30 years, I’ve seen many cases in which people who wanted to get rich quickly ended up losing everything. God warns that hasty decisions frequently lead to poverty. In my experience, individuals who have accumulated significant wealth—and retained it—have done so over many years (20 years or longer). At the time the Book of Proverbs was written, most people made their living off the land as farmers. God provides the following admonition: He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:19, 20 ) In short, God is saying that you should focus on earning your income from your occupation or business. When people invest or get involved in areas that they don’t understand, generally they lose money. (See Proverbs 19:2.) God warns of the dangers of trying to get rich: Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4, 5) The Apostle Paul also outlined significant “spiritual risks” of trying to get rich: People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9, 10) In summary, the emphasis in scripture is to plan and save for needs over a period of time, without the attitude of trying to get rich quickly. God has promised that if we put him first, then he will meet our needs (Matthew 6:31–33). Previous Article Next Article More Topics The Joseph Principle Read More Co-Signing/Surety Read More Freedom from Financial Anxiety Read More

TV Shows Tom's 28-minute videos Handling Money God's Way A featured series for individuals and families Session: 1 Stewardship Stewardship is acknowledging in your heart and mind that God owns everything Session: 2 God's Wisdom on Debt and Saving God warns of the dangers of debt and God admonishes us to save for future needs Session: 3 Steps to Get Out of Debt Obtain a practical understanding of how to reduce your debt, with the long-term objective of becoming totally debt-free Session: 4 Budgeting Includes biblical principles of investing Session: 5 Financial Deceptions Beliefs that appear to be correct but are contrary to God’s principles and often tempt people to get into debt. Session: 6 Godly Attitude Toward Money Question: Can money in and of itself, be corrupt or evil? $ Handling Money God' Way 28-Minute Shows Management of Money Impacts Relationship with Spouse Most people buy things they don't need, accumulate debt, and eventually suffer the consequence. Advanced Biblically-Based Estate Planning God's Word, the Bible, has phenomenal wisdom on finances. God's Financial Wisdom for Young People Unfortunately, many Christians do not pray and wait for God's provision. In a sense, they don't even give God a chance to provide. Discerning God's Will in Managing Money An overview of the Bible's financial guidelines so you can really discern what God wants you to do. God's Financial Wisdom for Business This series is appropriate for business owners and managers. Applicable to anyone who makes important financial decisions for a business. Covid-19 & Your Finances Tips on how to manage your finances during the Covid-19 pandemic. Includes Tom's Webinars. Managing money During COVID 19 A must watch! Dealing with Inflation and High Interest Rates from a Biblical Perspectives The objective here is to determine whether you have a surplus or deficit in your monthly cash flow. God's Financial Wisdom for churches and Church Leaders You've been faithful with a few things. I'll. I'll trust you, with you, with many things. Management of Money Impacts Eternity Does how you manage money here on earth impact eternity in any significant way? Questions to Consider Before Borrowing It is not a sin to borrow money, but it is a sin to borrow without repaying. This series takes you through important things to consider before deciding to borrow money. Investing God's Way The Bible provides 12 principles related to investing. This 3-session series teaches you how to fulfill your stewardship responsibilities by way of investing the money God has entrusted to you. The Dangers of Co-signing The biblical perspective is to have minimal debt or no debt. And the Bible warns of the dangers of cosign doesn't say you can't co-sign, but it warns of the dangers. The worldly perspective is to use debt freely, which results result in lots of debt and the world's perspective. Obtaining Godly Counsel Too often we believe that we have to figure things out on our own, but this is not God’s will. God wants us to seek his counsel on any important decision. Secular Perspective vs Biblical Perspective Session 1 Overview A person with a biblical perspective will be called a biblical steward Featured Series 28-Minute Videos