Biblical Wisdom for Investing: Lessons from Ecclesiastes 11:2

“Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.” – Ecclesiastes 11:2 (NIV)

When I look back on my life at 68 I wish I had understood this verse.  What a gift to understand and be able to implement it at 18 years old.  Not following this advice has been the source of the greatest stress in my life.  I won't go into all the details but we owned a company that specialized providing services to one industry. 

After all at High Point University and later, when I received my masters at UNCG I was taught to go deep.  Find a niche and  serve it.  Works great until our leaders in the country decided that it would better for our people to have it made in China and other countries.  The rest is a sad story.  Anyway when I came across this verse, I know I wanted to write about it.  Hopefully it will help others avoid my missteps.

When most people think of the Bible, they picture spiritual guidance, moral teaching, or encouragement for daily life. But God’s Word also contains practical wisdom that has stood the test of time including insights about money and investing. Ecclesiastes 11:2 is one of those verses.

The Call to Diversify

The writer of Ecclesiastes, traditionally believed to be King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, recognized a truth that financial advisors repeat today: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

To “invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight” is another way of saying: spread your resources around. Why? Because “you do not know what disaster may come.” Markets shift, economies collapse, crops fail, wars erupt, technology changes overnight. Solomon knew uncertainty was a constant in this world, and the wise person prepares for it.

This is exactly what modern investors call diversification. By investing in different assets, industries, or opportunities, you protect yourself from being wiped out if one fails.

Real-World Lessons in Diversification

The 2008 Housing Crash

Before the housing crisis, many people believed real estate values would only rise. Some invested everything in property, flipping houses or overextending on mortgages. When the crash hit, property values plummeted, banks collapsed, and millions lost homes and life savings. Those who had diversified—spreading money between stocks, savings, bonds, or other businesses—weathered the storm much better.

The Tech Bubble of 2000

In the late 1990s, tech stocks were the hottest thing going. Companies with little more than a website were valued in the billions. Investors poured all their money into tech, expecting endless growth. Then the bubble burst. Many fortunes disappeared overnight. Again, those who had diversified across other industries weren’t left destitute.

Farming and Crops

Even in ancient times, farmers understood this principle. If you planted only one crop and a drought, pest, or disease came, you could lose everything. But if you planted multiple types of crops, the loss of one could be offset by the harvest of another. That’s why Solomon’s advice in Ecclesiastes 11:2 still makes perfect sense.

Everyday Example: Jobs and Income

Even in our daily lives, this principle applies. Think of someone who depends on only one job for income. If that company shuts down or downsizes, their entire livelihood is at risk. But someone with multiple streams of income, a side business, rental property, or investments—can stay afloat even if one stream dries up. 

If you are old enough you will remember Sears as one of the greatest companies.  They were the "dot com" before there was a dot com.  Their catalogs sold everything and they were a great company, that is before Walmart came along.  In today's times things are changing even faster.  Who knows what life will look like with AI, so live on less than you make and have multiple sources of income.

Biblical Stewardship and Investing

It’s important to note: the Bible doesn’t condemn investing. In fact, it encourages wise stewardship. Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30) commends those who multiplied what they were given. The foolish servant was the one who buried his talent and returned it with no growth.

Investing, when done with wisdom and integrity, is a way to multiply resources that God entrusts to us. But Ecclesiastes warns us not to gamble everything on one outcome. Stewardship means planning for the unknown while trusting God for the results.   If you invest wisely and consistently that money will provide another source of income.  My advice is to invest in index fund that covers all the stocks.  I have more on this by clicking here.

Practical Application for Today

So, what does Ecclesiastes 11:2 look like in modern terms?

• Financial Investments – Spread your resources. Stocks, bonds, real estate, savings, small business ventures—don’t bet everything on one.

• Business Decisions – Don’t rely on a single customer, one product line, or one source of income. Build resilience by diversifying.

• Life Investments – This principle also applies beyond money. Invest your time and talents in different relationships, ministries, and opportunities. You never know which one God will use to bless you—or others.

Faith and Planning Go Hand in Hand

Some people think trusting God means ignoring wisdom. But that’s not biblical faith. True faith is trusting God while applying the wisdom He’s already given us. Planning for the unexpected is not a lack of faith, it’s living out faith with prudence.

God knows the future; we don’t. That’s why He tells us to diversify our investments, efforts, and opportunities. It’s not about greed, it’s about stewardship, stability, and being ready to weather whatever storms may come.

Final Thought:
Ecclesiastes 11:2 is proof that God’s Word is as practical as it is spiritual. If you want to build financial security, resilience in business, and stability in life, remember Solomon’s wisdom: spread your investments, because you never know what tomorrow holds. Trust God with the outcome, but be wise in the process.