Two Ways to Live, Two Forms of Capital
The righteous way builds enduring, eternal wealth.
There are only two ways to live. This is the clear and consistent teaching of Scripture. Psalm 1 opens the entire Psalter with a powerful contrast: the righteous man, who delights in the law of the Lord, and the wicked, who follow their own way.
Psalm 1 1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
This distinction—the righteous way or the wicked way—matters not only for our spiritual health, but also for how we manage capital. In the realm of investing, wealth management, and financial stewardship, Christians are called to discern between God's way and the world’s way. We are to trace and honor biblical lines—lines that show us what is righteous and what is not.
The Two Capitals: Physical and Metaphysical
Modern finance tends to define capital in physical or economic terms: assets, money, equipment, or anything with productive value. This is often labeled physical capital, or more broadly, secular capital. It can be measured in dollars, owned by individuals or institutions, and allocated toward things like business creation, investment portfolios, or national economic development.
But Scripture points us to another kind of capital—what might be called metaphysical capital. This is wealth that transcends the physical. It is not merely intangible; it is eternal. It includes spiritual capital, relational richness, godly wisdom, and the inheritance found in Christ.
Jesus himself draws a clear line between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God when on trial before Pilate:
Matthew 18 35bWhat have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38aPilate said to him, “What is truth?”
Interestingly, Pilate ask the most important question to the most important person but failed to wait for an answer as he chose to walk away.
In God’s economy, truth is not subjective. And capital is not limited to what can be counted. As followers of Christ, we must learn to evaluate wealth not only by what we see on a balance sheet but by what is stored in heaven.
Understanding True Wealth
The word wealth comes from an old English term meaning well-being. So, while it may involve “an abundance of valuable possessions,” as the dictionary suggests, biblically it means much more. True wealth encompasses health, peace, relational depth, and spiritual maturity. It touches every dimension of what the Bible calls shalom—a state of harmony, completeness, and prosperity under God’s rule.
There is, of course, nothing wrong with physical capital. It has its place. But the Bible repeatedly warns us not to chase it blindly:
Proverbs 23 4Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 5When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
That’s the nature of transitory wealth. It vanishes. It doesn’t last. It cannot carry us through suffering or into eternity.
In contrast, enduring wealth—what we might call metaphysical capital—comes from fearing the Lord and seeking wisdom:
Proverbs 8 12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 19My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, 21granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
This kind of wealth doesn’t decay with inflation or market volatility. It doesn’t depend on quarterly earnings or capital gains. It flows from a righteous life grounded in God’s truth and aimed at His glory.
Christians are not merely physical beings with spiritual interests. We are spiritual beings called to steward both forms of capital—with a clear understanding that metaphysical wealth is ultimate. As heirs of the Kingdom, we already possess treasure that cannot be stolen or spoiled (1 Peter 1:4).
Living with Lines
As Christian investors, business owners, or simply stewards of what God has entrusted to us, we must draw biblical lines. Not every opportunity to acquire capital is righteous. Not every use of wealth is God-honoring. But within the Christian worldview, there is liberty—freedom to build and manage capital so long as we do so under the lordship of Christ and in light of eternity.
There are two ways to live. One leads to fruitfulness and blessing, like a tree planted by streams of water. The other, no matter how impressive in the moment, is like chaff blown away by the wind.
So let us pursue enduring capital. Let us invest in what truly lasts. In future articles, various topics will be explored around Christian investing in a sinful world.