From Alpha to Omega: The Principle of Putting God First in Your Investments
I love the etymology of words... always have. Not sure why it’s so fascinating to me, but I love hearing how things began.?
There are two words I want to talk about today: Alpha, and Principle.
Alpha
The Greek word "alpha" is one that resonates throughout history, its influence branching out into various fields and industries, from the sciences to finance. It's the first letter of the Greek alphabet, often symbolizing a beginning or the primary in a series. In finance, the term "alpha" refers to the excess return an investment or a portfolio yields over its benchmark. It's the golden fleece investors chase after, the holy grail of investment performance.
However, this particular significance of "alpha" is not what I’m aiming to spotlight today. For Kingdom-minded people, "alpha" carries a much more profound meaning, rooted in spiritual values and the Biblical concept of prioritization. It’s the Greek counterpart of the Hebrew "aleph", the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, signifying the "first", the "one", or the "leader".
In the New Testament, God declares, "I am Alpha and Omega," signifying that He is the beginning and the end. This assertion conveys the idea of God’s encompassing and enduring presence, His dominion over all temporal bounds. From this viewpoint, we derive our vision for Alpha.
Principle
The term "principle" etymologically comes from the Latin 'principium,' which means a beginning, a foundation, a fundamental truth that serves as the base for a system of belief or behavior. It’s something that, by choice, you decide to put first because of its importance.
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The first definition for the word “principle” according to Merriam-Webster is: “a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption”.
In finance often we refer to the principal (not to be confused with the head of a school whose office I was only in once). This is usually in reference to an original sum of money, either in an investment or a loan. That’s not what I’m talking about here.
So, let’s look at these words together as it pertains to my industry. In this way "alpha" isn't merely a financial term signifying above-average returns. It’s about prioritizing God, the 'Alpha', in our investment decisions. It's about ensuring that our financial stewardship aligns with our faith and values, that the way we manage and invest our resources is pleasing in the sight of God.
In adopting Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI), we seek to put God first, to align our financial choices with the principle of His Word. BRI is not only about filtering out the bad; it’s about actively investing in companies that operate in a manner consistent with Biblical values.
In essence, the alpha principle is about combining our faith and finances, about making God our 'Alpha' in our investment choices. It’s about recognizing that our resources are a blessing from God and that we are called to manage them in a manner that honors Him. The goal is not just to secure financial returns, but to impact the world positively in accordance with our faith.
If you share these beliefs and want to see how your investment choices reflect (or are at odds with) your Christian values, I’d love to connect.