August 18, 2026
How Do I Avoid Profiting from Ill-Gotten Gain?
When most people think about investing, they focus on one question: Will this help me grow my wealth? As Christians, however, we are called to ask another question:
What am I participating in by owning this investment?
Our wealth is not ultimately our own—it has been entrusted to us as stewards. That means our responsibility extends beyond earning a return. It also includes considering whether our investments align with God's purposes.
Show Notes
Stewardship Means Caring About What We Own
Owning a stock is more than simply watching numbers rise and fall on a screen. When you purchase shares of a company, you become a partial owner. As that business succeeds, you benefit financially from its profits.
That reality raises an important question:
If a company profits from activities that are contrary to God's design, should Christians share in those profits?
While every situation contains nuance, Scripture consistently warns against profiting from ill-gotten gain. Deuteronomy 23 prohibits bringing the wages of prostitution before the Lord, illustrating that God cares not only about generosity, but also about the source of our gain. Likewise, Ephesians 5 instructs believers to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness." These passages encourage Christians to think carefully about how their wealth is generated.
What Is Ill-Gotten Gain?
Ill-gotten gain refers to profit derived through activities that oppose God's design for human flourishing. Not every investment decision is straightforward, and there will always be grey areas. However, there are industries where many believers conclude that the primary business model depends upon practices that are difficult to reconcile with biblical stewardship. Rather than asking only, "Is this investment profitable?" Christians should also ask, "How is this company earning its profits?"
Areas Many Christian Investors Consider Screening
There is no universally accepted list of investments every Christian should avoid. Faithful believers will often reach different conclusions. Nevertheless, many biblically responsible investors carefully evaluate several broad categories.
Addiction-Based Industries
Many investors choose to avoid companies whose business models depend heavily on addiction or destructive behavior.
These may include:
The concern is not simply that these industries generate revenue, but that much of their profit may come from individuals whose lives have been harmed through addiction.
Exploitation and Human Dignity
Christians are also called to care deeply about justice and the dignity of every person made in God's image. Some investors seek to avoid companies associated with:
While researching these issues can be challenging, they remain important considerations for those seeking to invest faithfully.
Life and Family Issues
Other investors choose to evaluate companies based on how they engage with issues surrounding the sanctity of life, family, and human sexuality. These topics often require wisdom and discernment because faithful Christians may disagree on where specific lines should be drawn. Even so, they remain part of the broader conversation about aligning investments with biblical convictions.
How Investment Screening Works
One common misconception is that screening investments is simply an all-or-nothing process. In reality, investment managers often establish specific thresholds.
For example, one fund may exclude any company receiving more than 5% of its revenue from gambling, while another may use a 10% threshold. Some screens allow no involvement at all in certain industries, while others distinguish between primary and incidental business activities. Because every investment manager approaches screening differently, investors should understand how those decisions are made before selecting a fund.
Direct Indexing Provides Greater Flexibility
For investors seeking greater control, direct indexing and separately managed accounts (SMAs) can provide far more customization. Rather than purchasing a single mutual fund with predetermined screening rules, investors may be able to exclude specific companies or industries according to their convictions.
These solutions are not appropriate for everyone and often require larger account minimums, but they offer increased flexibility for those who desire more personalized screening.
Faithfulness, Not Perfection
Perhaps the most encouraging truth is this: No Christian will build a perfect portfolio.
The modern investment world is incredibly complex. Supply chains span continents, companies operate across multiple industries, and new ethical questions continually arise. God has not called us to perfect knowledge. He has called us to faithful stewardship.
Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, our responsibility is not to make flawless decisions but to faithfully steward the resources He has entrusted to us. That means seeking wisdom, asking thoughtful questions, and making investment decisions that increasingly reflect our desire to honor Christ.
As we grow in understanding, our portfolios can become another way we seek to glorify God with every area of our lives.
Questions to Consider
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Episode Transcript
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