Doing Business God’s Way

Wally Latham is a colleague and friend. We were students together at Asbury College (now University) in Wilmore, KY, and at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. He recently wrote the following and graciously gave me permission to share it with you —-

And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. Nehemiah 10:31

Recently I saw the website of a business with a prominently displayed cross and a distinctly Christian name on the business. Unfortunately, I have known the owner very well for more than 30 years. His personal life is the opposite of the business image he is projecting.

God’s people are to do God’s business in God’s way. This requires clear moral and ethical behavior in their business practices.

My Grandfather was a successful businessman. He worked in an industry known for its unethical practices. Yet he never was accused of anything other than being completely honest and ethical. He was a devout Christian and his faith fashioned the way he conducted business. Character matters. Integrity matters. Ethics matters. Morality matters.

God’s people who are in a covenantal relationship with God are required by this covenant to practice business in a way that reflects that they are in fact God’s holy people.

Reflection
Do your business practices reflect the holiness of heart and life expected and required of the people of God? Do the people with whom you do business know you to be completely honest and ethical in all your business practices? If not, what needs to change? Does your business honor God through your business practices?



Remember
“Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:25-27