Noise, noise, noise – It’s everywhere. “What kind of noise are you referring to you?' you ask... It’s all the ‘noise’ in the news from shows on CNBC, FOX, CNN, the radios, the news feeds on your IPhones/IPads/Androids, the newsletters some subscribe to, the popup screens on your favorite searches, and the list goes on and on. There’s continuous market talk, as though a daily, if not an hourly update of the DJIA is somehow supposed to be that important, and yet even on the market’s best day a commentator’s sentiment never seems to be just good enough. Thinking about all the noise, it prompted 1 Peter 5:8 to come to mind, “…the enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion…” Prior to this, Peter’s letter enlists us to be humble and to give our anxieties or worries to God. There’s a purpose for this being the precursor to his conclusion that the enemy prowls like a roaring lion. Pride and worry, or greed and fear, are often the distractions that remove our eyes from God’s plan. Given that our approach, our counsel, and our planning is rooted in Biblical wisdom we know that these same distractions can show up in our hearts as it relates to money. We believe that not only how we use money, but our very attitude towards it can serve as one of the most prominent messages of the Gospel in today’s world. In economic expansion or recession, the Christian has the opportunity to imitate God’s character, in that they have planned and stewarded to maintain the course. To give more monetary terminology to the discussion, it’s considerable to view our lives and money as it relates to our decisions through liquidity, longevity, and legacy. The short-term can contain a lot of noise whether from the economy, the political environment, or even life itself. That’s the purpose and foundation of creating, having, and maintaining ample and proper liquidity. That through this noise, you’ve been preparing the storehouses, and your giving and living do not have to be forced to be fixed on something other than what your life is meant for. This allows strategies for the longevity of investment assets to charter their course and for proper asset allocation to have its influence on compounding returns. Lastly, when looking at legacy, if the first two are managed well, the ‘testimony’ of stewardship will influence and affect family generations to come. Depending on needs and resources, the perspective of legacy can sometimes be accomplished via contributions to grandchildren’s education, charitable giving, or even beginning your own charitable work of some kind. To conclude, “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37) Through each business and economic cycle, we have the privilege to carry the Gospel in how we manage the resources we’ve been entrusted, and we have a world that cries out for peace. We know the peace that surpasses all understanding.