Shaun Morgan

Values are the fundamental beliefs that guide our attitudes and actions.

Everyone has values and every investment philosophy is driven by a set of values. The question, then, is not whether an investor is driven by values, but rather *which* values are driving the investor.

At Eventide, we describe the set of values that drive us as those “rooted in a biblical worldview,” which means that our reason for investing and how we invest is grounded in our understanding of who God says we are and the purpose for which we were made as revealed to us in the Bible.

One of the most foundational elements of this worldview is the dignifying and humbling belief that *all* humans have been created in the image of God.

This belief has profound implications.

__First, the belief that all humans are created in God’s image has profound implications on how we view ourselves and our purpose in life.__

If we are created in the image of God, we are then called to reflect God’s glory, displaying His loving, just, and good character to the world. Just as an idol carries the image of and reflects the one it was fashioned to imitate, we fill the world with God’s glory as we more fully reflect His image.

__Second, this belief profoundly affects how we view and interact with people—all people.__

Everyone bears the image of God, which means everyone is imbued with dignity and worth. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”1

This belief that there are no ordinary people also motivates us to love our neighbor, even those outside our immediate communities.

__The Role of Investing__

As investors, the belief that all people have been created in the image of God—the *Imago Dei*—has deep implications for us because we understand the influential role that investing has on the lives of so many image-bearing people. Knowing this, as we allocate our investment capital towards businesses, we cannot ignore the impact that they are having on people.

We first consider the impact of __what the business does.__ Does its product or service help society flourish by meeting an important need?

Next, we consider the impact of __how a business operates.__ Does the way in which it operates add value to its various stakeholders—customers, employees, suppliers, host community, the environment, and society more broadly?

Once again, the biblical concept of the *Imago Dei* is foundational to a biblical worldview, which compels us to reflect God's character and invest with the understanding that all people are worthy of dignity and respect.

Investing fuels businesses.

Businesses impact people.

There are no ordinary people.

__Note__

1C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory,“ in *The Weight of Glory*, 25-46 (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 46.

**Photo by [Markus Spiske](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/markus-spiske) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/)*

*This communication is provided for informational purposes only and expresses views of Eventide Asset Management, LLC ("Eventide"), an investment adviser. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives, generate profits, or avoid losses. Eventide's values-based approach to investing may not produce desired results and could result in underperformance compared with other investments. Any reference to Eventide’s Business 360 approach is provided for illustrative purposes only and indicates a general framework of guiding principles that inform Eventide’s overall research process. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.*

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Values are the fundamental beliefs that guide our attitudes and actions.

INVESTING | Apr 28, 2022

Values-Based Investing Rooted in a Biblical Worldview

By: Shaun Morgan

Investing that makes the world rejoice®

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