Two weeks ago I saw an article about how CEO’s in the U.S. have lied to shareholders, Congress, and the public at large in an effort to advance their business, or cover up their wrongdoing in other areas–heaping lie upon lie. The very same week I saw another article for employees, this one was eight ways to lie to your boss and not get caught.
Is it any wonder that the public casts a sullied eye on business people? The overall reputation of business executive places them just ahead of politicians and attorneys (apologies to my friends in politics and law).
In my adventures to Christian college campuses I frequently hear students in the department of business complain they are looked down on by those in the “arts and sciences.” They haven’t done anything, yet they feel like the “B” team of society.
Folks, this is simply unacceptable. As Christians we need to represent or Lord and Savior honorably. We need to be salt and light to the world. How can we expect the unbeliever to see something different about a life in Christ if we do not represent Christ well? Our pastor have an hour, maybe and hour and a half, to bring a message about life with our Savior. But as business people we have 40-60 hours per week where our witness tells a story of our life with Jesus.
John, writing to believers, provided instruction on how Christians should lead an ethical life. One of my favorite passages that sums up a great deal of his teaching is 1 John 2:15-17 (ESV):
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
John warns us not to love the world or the things of the world. Notice John goes on to call out three specific issues: 1) desires of the flesh, 2) desires of the eyes, and 3) pride in possessions. The desires of the flesh is about the quest for pleasure. The desires of the eyes is about the envy of others possessions/things. The pride in possessions is about our prideful hearts. Most sins accrue to one of these three causes: the quest for pleasure, and possessions, and prideful spirit.
How is it for you? Do you work in an environment where it is difficult to maintain your ethical edge as a Christian? How are you an example of God’s truth in the workplace?
I understand the conflict about lying in business, and i heard someone say long ago – “a good christian cannot be a good businessman” right about sums it all. However, I would like a clearer guide – being a christian wanting to be able to do things for others, what would be a concrete acceptable margin a christian businessman may make, enough to amply provide for one’s family, with some little extra to do philantrophy? I dare not challenge or even question God’s wisdom. Rather, I want to know what is acceptable to GOD. Thank you.
I appreciate Ms. Yu’s comments from a month ago. I’ve just returned from a mission project in Eastern Europe in which we teach Biblical concepts of business and finance to evangelical Christians who think they have a business idea. When we started this project 5 years ago we were told just what the article says, “You cannot be a Christian and a business person, because all business is corrupt.” So sad. In fact, you can – you must – be faithful to Truth and be a person of integrity and be in business. It is not easy. Our brothers & sisters have suffered, but they are shining as lights in the darkness where they are. Regarding “how much profit is right to take?” – profit is not inherently evil. In fact, it is necessary to sustain and grow your business. There is no “magic number” for profit. You must decide how much you must have to live on and take a salary, then how much to invest in the kingdom of God through your business, then how much is required to re-invest in the business to sustain and grow it. It is a complex process, but having a budget and a business plan are essential for reckoning this matter. Thank you!