Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- January 31, 2014
What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God… Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them. Nehemiah 5:9, 11
The best business practices are founded on the fear of the Lord. Almighty God, not the almighty dollar, is the standard for doing business. Just because the majority support an unseemly brand of commerce, does not give Christ followers permission to do the same. A Christian business leader can be shrewd without being selfish. They can take advantage of an economic opportunity without exploiting individuals. Best business practices are based on generosity, not greed.
Nehemiah rebukes the business leaders of his day for monetarily kicking their people while they were down. During the famine crisis those with more took all from those who were starving, in exchange for food. Desperate times expose the desperate to exploitation. However, for those who love Christ it is our opportunity to be Jesus by giving, not taking. A person who has fallen needs a lift up, not a push down. Best business practices help those in need with economic solutions.
If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. Exodus 22:25
Regardless of the industry, we can exemplify integrity. If ministers, we can model care for the poor. If bankers, we can offer full disclosure in our financial dealings. If manufacturing, we can constantly upgrade the safety conditions of the workplace. If insurance, we can reward policy holders who have an excellent claims history. If a service company, we can exceed the expectations of the customer. If medical, we can offer affordable healthcare. If education, we can maximize technology. In all work sectors we have daily opportunities to employ best practices.
Furthermore, by God’s grace create a culture of generosity in your company. A company known for giving back to the community will be supported by the community. A generous leader is worth following. Much better to be known as a benevolent George Bailey than a crusty old penny pinching Mr. Potter. Most of all look to your Heavenly Father as the ultimate Giver of all things good, beginning with His son Jesus. Best business practices have their genesis in God. Learn about integrity in business from my good friend Lee McCutchan… http://bit.ly/1dB8neq
“We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” James 4:13-15, The Message
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me in my work to model Your best practices for Your glory.
Related Readings: Isaiah 2:22; Proverbs 12:14, 27:23; Luke 12:18-20; 2 John 1:8
Post/Tweet today: Almighty God, not the almighty dollar, is the standard for doing business. #bestbusinesspractices
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If you research what the Bible says in total about a Hebrew charging interest to a fellow Hebrew and then literally do financial math, you find ancient wisdom of God and the Bible.
If you literally do the financial math found in my blog, you see nothing but horrendous destruction following our concepts of buying home with a mortgage and expecting its “value” to rise as we dump principal and interest into a large pile over time.
God declares that we cannot charge interest, even one percent, to a person who cannot afford his own necessities, like a house or his farm, and considers that person is a poor person. You should inherit land, and build your house with friends and neighbors, just like my ancestors did without a mortgage. You should not treat a foreigner living among you no differently than a fellow countryman, therefore you would pay him or her the same. We have lost tremendously because we do not understand the simple truth and yes, the MATH God gave us that verifies His Word.
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Dear David~
First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to respond to the devotional”Best Business Practices”. We appreciate your strong stance on this and agree that, God’s Wisdom on financial matters is as true today as they were in ancient times! Isn’t it amazing that HIS TRUTH on all matters never ages. The trouble is, we, as mere flesh, tend to not always walk in His Truth..(especially in financial matters). I rejoice in the fact that we can always seek out “sound financial advice” in His Word! (even when we make our human mistakes).
Thank you again for your comments. They are truly “food for thought”.
In the meantime, please do continue to read the Wisdom Hunters devotionals. We would love to hear from you again with any feedback you may have on the devotionals. It is always a blessing to the Wisdom Hunter team to hear from our readers.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne Maffett
Wisdom Hunters
gwynne@wisdomhunters.com