Practical Advice, Christian Context

Q: Much of SMI's advice (get out of debt, have a plan, invest in mutual funds etc.) seems similar to what I see in secular publications. So what makes SMI distinctly "Christian"?

A: Our orientation as a "Christian" publication is rooted in foundational principles. All of our content is based on two Scriptural precepts: (1) God is the owner of everything, and (2) the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ includes a call to be a good steward (manager) over what God owns.

We believe that wise and faithful management is intentional, not accidental. It requires training (acquisition of knowledge), discipline (self-denial, a long-term perspective), and action (actual implementation of strategies). Therefore, our SMI articles and resources are aimed at expanding our readers' knowledge, encouraging a disciplined life, and helping people put our principle-based strategies into practice.

In some instances, our advice will likely be quite similar to that found in secular publications. For example, we might explain how to read a prospectus, rollover an IRA, or choose a mutual fund. But we also focus on topics — such as God's provision and our call to faithfulness — that put those "practical" things in a Christian context.

Ultimately, our goals are two: (1) to help our readers glorify the Lord through faithful stewardship of His resources, and (2) to help them increase their ability to give. As we like to say, we want to help people have more so they can give more to advance the Kingdom of God.