Meme Stocks & Cryptos: How to Ensure You Never Lose!
If you peruse the headlines these days, you’ve likely noticed the increasing chatter about meme stocks and crypto currencies (cryptos). Meme stocks are those that gain a following on social media and whose performance is primarily based on popularity among retail investors. Examples of meme stocks include: Gamestop (GME), Blackberry (BB), AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) and Plantir (PLTR). The recent Gamestop drama was so popular that Netflix has already created a movie (which I’ve not seen) about the events!
In addition to the meme stock craze, many retail (individual) investors are investing in cryptos such as Bitcoin (BTC), Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin (DOGE), just to name a few. There are hundreds of different cryptos and it is anybody’s guess as to which one will be the next Bitcoin. At the time this blog is being written, one bitcoin is worth more than $60k!
While investing in the stock market or currencies is not new, the recent surge in retail investing has caught the attention of the media. A few retail investors are becoming millionaires in a matter of days, while others have lost millions just as fast.
I find investments fascinating. Jesus’ parable of the talents has always captured my “interest” (pun intended!). And while I am certainly no expert on stocks or cryptos, I have learned a few things about investing into the future.
So I’d like to share with you three ways you can invest into the future. If you invest in these three areas, I guarantee you’ll never lose.
First Area of Investment: Faith in God
Unlike stocks and cryptos, which do not promise financial gains and only have value in this lifetime, God promises significant gains for those who “invest” with Him. The gains promised by God in this lifetime are not material gains. This author does not adhere to the prosperity gospel.[1] Rather, the gains promised by the Lord are far superior to what a stock or cryptocurrency could ever provide. Consider the following Bible passages, for example:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Romans 4:7-8).
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
“Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38).
Through a personal relationship with God, we gain what money cannot provide. The sad thing is that mankind often searches for material gain, wrongly believing that it will meet our deepest desires as people created in God’s image. Ultimately, you and I yearn for things like joy, peace, purpose, love and the free gift of eternal life. These yearnings are placed in us by God Himself. And He is the only One who can satisfy them.
Second Area of Investment: God’s Word
God’s Word nourishes our souls. It speaks truth to us in a world filled with lies. It brings a certain amount of order in a chaotic world. If we will plant God’s Word in our hearts, it will yield peace and joy for us. Consider the first three verses of Psalm 1:
1 How happy is the man
who does not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path of sinners
or join a group of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water
that bears its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
This passage teaches us that those who meditate on God’s Word are like a flourishing tree that bears fruit. What a wonderful illustration!
Third Area of Investment: Other People
The Bible is clear people are made in God’s image. The Bible is also clear all people are loved by God, no matter their position, wealth status, gender, race or ethnicity. People are more important than money and possessions. The investments we make with others, whether it be time, energy or something else, will pay dividends in this life and the next. Consider the following passage about others:
36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:36-37)
Jesus teaches us that loving others and investing into their lives is the second greatest commandment right behind loving Him! Even if you do not see immediate returns from your investment into someone else, we should keep loving them with the love that God has given us.
The choice to live this life apart from God is the ultimate risk. When we choose our own way, we invite sadness, pain, loneliness and a host of other problems to overwhelm us. To choose a life without God is to purposely forego the peace, joy and hope that He offers us in this life. If we reject God entirely, we forego an eternity of peace and joy with Him in Heaven.
For the person who already has a personal relationship with God, the temptation still exists to make decisions apart from Him. When we do this, although our eternity is secure, we invite unnecessary sadness, pain, loneliness and a host of other problems that will overwhelm us.
Whereas stocks and cryptos could (and do!) plummet overnight and cause many to lose, God will always lead us to greater gains, even though He asks us to invest our lives.
Are you ready to fully invest your life with God?
Written by Levi Hazen, LIFE Executive Director
Endnote:
[1] The Gospel Coalition defines the prosperity gospel/theology as, “The prosperity gospel (also known as the “health and wealth gospel” or by its most popular brand, the “Word of Faith” movement) is a perversion of the gospel of Jesus that claims that God rewards increases in faith with increases in health and/or wealth.” See: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-prosperity-gospel/.