By Tim Russell, CFP®, CKA® (President & Wealth Manager) at Life Financial Group
Originally shared on the Life in the Markets podcast — 1/26/2026
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
*Note: you will get the most out of this update by watching the video above*
From Garden to City: The Biblical Call to Invest
When we talk about investing, most people immediately think of money—retirement accounts, net worth, and financial security. While those are certainly part of the picture, Scripture invites us to see investing as something much bigger, deeper, and more foundational.
In this episode of Life in the Markets, Tim Russell begins a two-part series exploring what he believes is a deeply biblical call to invest—not merely for personal gain, but for the flourishing of humanity and the glory of God.
A Story With a Trajectory
The Bible tells a unified story with a clear direction. Human history begins in a garden and ends in a city.
In Genesis, God creates a world that is good, beautiful, and full of potential, but unfinished. Before humanity is created, Scripture tells us that “there was no man to work the ground” (Genesis 2:5). Creation needed a caretaker, a cultivator, a steward. When God creates man and woman, He blesses them and gives them a charge:
“Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…” (Genesis 1:28)
This is not a command to exploit or abuse creation, but a calling to responsibly develop it.
To Cultivate and to Care For
Genesis 2:15 tells us that God placed man in the garden “to work it and to keep it.” Some translations say “to cultivate and to care for,” which captures the balance at the heart of biblical stewardship.
To cultivate means to develop; to bring out the raw creative potential God placed in the world. This includes reshaping the land, building systems, creating culture, and forming civilization. God invites humanity to co-create with Him, drawing beauty, order, and abundance out of creation.
But cultivation is always paired with care. We are called to develop without destroying, to build without marring the beauty of God’s work. Stewardship means progress that preserves, growth that honors, and innovation guided by wisdom.
From Garden to City
The Bible doesn’t end with humanity returning to a garden. It ends with the New Jerusalem, a city where God dwells with His people, where culture, creativity, and civilization exist in perfect harmony with creation.
This tells us something important: development is not the enemy of God’s plan. Human flourishing, creativity, commerce, and even cities themselves are part of the trajectory of redemption when done rightly.
God is moving history from garden to city, and He invites His people to participate in that work.
Why Investing Matters
This is where investing comes into the picture.
We cannot cultivate the world effectively without business, commerce, and capital. Investment is one of the primary tools God uses to unlock the resources of creation for human flourishing. Capital allows ideas to become companies, innovations to become realities, and resources to be stewarded in ways that bless people and communities.
Investing, then, is not just about personal financial security (though that matters). It is about participating in God’s work of development, order, and flourishing in the world.
A Christian Vision for Capital
Every believer has a role to play through their work, their savings, and their investments. The question is not whether we will invest, but how and why.
As Christians, we are called to direct capital toward businesses and organizations that do good, serve people, and reflect God’s design for the world. This may mean supporting companies that create value responsibly, care for workers, steward resources wisely, and contribute to the common good.
This vision is why Christian financial advising matters. Helping people steward their resources faithfully is not separate from discipleship, it is part of it. This is precisely why Life Financial Group exists!
Looking Ahead
This episode lays the foundation. In the next installment, Tim will explore the practical side of this calling:
- What does faithful investing actually look like?
- How do we align our capital with God’s purposes?
- What role does Life Financial Group play in helping investors live out this calling?
Until then, remember: investing is not merely a financial activity; it is a theological one.
Stay Connected
Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Email us at contact@thelifegroup.org with “Life in the Markets” in the subject line.
✅ Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube
🎧 Listen to the audio podcast wherever you get your shows
📘 Pick up a copy of The Good Steward to grow in your financial discipleship
The topics discussed in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations. Investing and investment strategies involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. All information herein is from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness.The team assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on this material. Information is as of the date stated and subject to change without notice. Securities and advisory services offered through GWM, Inc, Member FINRA/SIPC
