Excellence Matters
Image by Benjamin Thomas
With the help of faith friends from our gathering of Faith Driven Investors, we’ve begun drafting a set of Unifying Principles. Our hope is that we can begin to come together under these thoughts and ideas to work toward a more full vision of what it means to let our faith drive our investments.
If you have thoughts, questions, concerns, things you’d change or add, please let us know! We’re relying on you, our community, to make this resource the best it can be.
We strive to do our best, knowing that our best only happens when God does it with us.
Francis Schaeffer once said that it’s to the degree we do our work well, that we have an opportunity to witness and be heard. Excellence should be obvious and not need to be stated. Yet, we must acknowledge that most of the world believes that adding additional bottom lines must subtract something from the other bottom lines. We endeavor to make sure that this movement is about excellence across discovery, diligence, execution, portfolio management, and outcome measurement.
God asks for our best work, not the best "Christian" version of our work.
The label of "Christian" is not an excuse for poor workmanship—in fact, it is the exact opposite. Because we report to a higher authority, we seek to serve him with the highest-quality work possible. We can safely assume that no wobbly chairs came out of the carpenter's shop in Nazareth, so we must follow the example of our Savior and seek excellence in every aspect of our daily job.
Faith Driven Investors settle for nothing less than the best as they seek to give it all to God, knowing that the work they do—even more so than the words they say—speaks to and reflects the God they serve. We also know that this hard work only goes as far as God wants it to. Therefore, we seek to work both for and with God—knowing that above all else God wants a relationship with His people.
This leads to a daily dependence on God to renew and redeem our work every morning as we cede all control to the God who will make our best efforts count.
Using Scripture as Our Guide
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Luke 14:28-30 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”
Matthew 7:17-20 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.
Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.