I'm the first to admit that the Bible says nothing about stock markets. However, it talks extensively about money, lending, and taxation. From there we can derive a biblical idea of wealth and abstract our own views.
So, that's what I've done and here are my biblical views on stock trading.
Serving One Master
The first point makes most sense to put at the end, a finishing touch to my argument. However, it's the most important principle from which all other passages need to resolve towards.
We can serve only one master:
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24 ESV
I find a dilemma at the heart of this passage that isn't easily resolved. God sometimes blesses with money and wealth (Proverbs 10:22, 1 Samuel 2:7) and yet there are alarming warnings to the wealthy about their wealth (Mark 10:25, Luke 18:24, 1 Timothy 6:9), including our current passage about not serving two masters.
The best way to resolve these passages is that money is not inherently evil, but there is an evil manner by which we can attain it.
James writes 'the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you' (James 5:1-4). It's similar in disdaim to ill-gotten wealth of the Pharisees who 'devour' widows houses (Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47). Clearly in the bible it is greed that ruins us (Proverbs 1:19, Luke 12:15).
So, the challenge to us isn't whether the stock market is inherently evil, rather, whether we use it to amass wealth. You can probably see where this is going.
Best Case for Stock Market
The best case scenario for the stock market is that it's a form of gambling. You can make low-risk investments where you're less likely to lose money, or high-risk and stand to gain or lose more money. One way or the other, it's a bet that a company's value will increase with time and productivity.
There aren't any verses that deal with gambling head on. However, I'll mention a couple that give us wisdom on the matter:
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:11 ESV
This passage gives us wisdom that honest work and slow gain is the right way to wealth. We see a strong overlap between high-risk gambling and 'wealth gained hastily', but it's less clear for low-risk investment.
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
Proverbs 22:3 ESV
This passage is more about our own awareness of danger. Even a low-risk investment can lead to big losses if we can't sense danger, so it may still be unwise to invest if you're not going to pay attention to your investment.
Worst Case for Stock Market
In the previous section I refrained from cynicism, savouring it for this moment: the financial institution is run by a den of robbers.
There are many ways that financial investors use the stock market to walk off with other people's money.
One technique called pump and dump is to exaggerate the value and security of a stock. Amateur investors listen for tips and invest in the stock, pumping up the value, then the professional investors dump their stock and walk away with the money.
There's unlikely many Christians who trade and condone or partake in that behaviour. Nevertheless, here's a passage against this behaviour:
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Ephesians 4:28 ESV
Beyond simply following the Law that requires us to not steal (Exodus 20:15), Paul encourages believers to Labor with their own hands in honest work and share their wealth.
A second abusive strategy is insider trading.
Perhaps one of the most recent cases, and by no means an isolated incident, was when Paul Pelosi invested in Microsoft stocks just weeks before the U.S. government. His wife, Nancy Pelosi, was part of the government that announced a $22 billion investment into the company and increased their stock value.
At its worst, stock trading shouldn't even be considered gambling. It's an organised crime that takes the risk out of investment.
Final Remarks
The question I would pose to any Christian that wants to trade is: why do you want the extra money?
If it's because you currently have very little money, you might risk losing what little you have. But on the other side of the coin if you already have lots of money, why do you need more?
Are you putting more effort into your pursuit of money than God? Do you work honestly and trust in God for your provision?
Remember, it's easier to thread a camel through the eye of a needle than for the wealthy to inherit the kingdom of God. A little extra money isn't always a blessing.
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