Why Are We Violating Scripture?

Why is this? Do we really believe that the authors of the books mentioned above have a better understanding of business than the One who created it? Do we really believe that God created everything, but then think that He is not really interested in the businesses we run or how we operate them? While our current practices may prove where our hearts lean, I believe it is time we change.

I have compiled a list of 5 very common business beliefs and traditions that could be viewed as violating Scripture. This list is not complete. There are certainly more traditions that you can probably think of that violate God’s word. Due to limited time and space, I chose the 5 I believe are most common. Take a look and see if any strike a nerve with you!

Tradition #1 – Anything Goes In Negotiating

Whether you are talking about the car business or any other industry, the common belief is that virtually anything goes when it comes to negotiating. Of course, I am intimately familiar with the car business. Here, in most cases, both the salesperson and the customer are willing to withhold information, spin the facts, or outright lie in order to gain or maintain the upper hand and “win” the best deal. Neither side sees a problem with this behavior.

In most industries, this same attitude is accepted as the norm in varying degrees, whether in B2B transactions or in retail. Unfortunately, this tradition does not align with Scripture! While God certainly does not prohibit negotiating, He does hate even the slightest lack of total integrity in doing so. Take a look at these two verses:

Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,
but an accurate weight is His delight.

The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.
Proverbs 11:1,3

Tradition #2 – Debt Is Necessary

This business practice is one that draws much debate. There are those who say a Christian in business should never have any debt. Others will argue that a little is acceptable, if managed properly. However, the common belief in the business world says that debt is absolutely necessary for growth, short term working capital, or long term acquisitions. Without it, many believe businesses are doomed to stagnate or fail.

I am not here to pass judgment on any and all debt. That is not the point of this post. However, I will say that growth and success are possible without debt and that debt brings on great risk. God’s word clearly warns against debt and even lists it among curses against those who disobey His commands.

The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is a slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7

If you follow His commands:

The Lord will make you prosper abundantly with children, the offspring of your livestock, and your land’s produce in the land the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open for you His abundant storehouse, the sky, to give your land rain in its season and to bless all the work of your hands.You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.
Deuteronomy 28:11-12

If you ignore His commands:

But if you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you: […] The foreign resident among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:15, 43-44

Tradition #3 – Working Bell-To-Bell

This next business tradition seems to be changing in the last several years as a new generation enters the workplace. The Millennial Generation (Gen Y) certainly has different priorities than those of the Baby Boomers or Generation X. While they may not yet have it all figured out, I think they may be on to something with their desire for fewer hours in their work week.

For the rest of us, we were always taught that those that put in more hours than the rest were the ones that would be successful. Expectations in my industry (and many others) was for 80+ hours per week or more. Anyone not working bell-to-bell was seen as weak or lazy.

However, if you look at Scripture, you see a different picture. In addition to numerous passages leading us to see other priorities above business, there is even the verse below that directly contradicts this workaholic mindset.

It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living.
God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.
Psalm 127:2

Tradition #4 – Anything Goes In Advertising

You don’t have to look far for advertising that is not truthful. It is so prevalent that we have just accepted it as the norm. Just recall the last fast food ad you saw that showed a huge burger with fresh toppings. The actual burger you received probably looked like it had been run over by your car!

Car dealers advertise prices they can’t honor and cell-phone companies claim to have nationwide coverage without gaps, but drop calls regularly. You know this is true for these other businesses, but are you allowing your company’s ads to follow suit? What does the Bible say? The verse below mentions speech, but don’t you think it applies to how we “speak” about our company or deals when we advertise?

Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from deceitful speech.
Psalm 34:13

Tradition #5 – Taxes Are Optional

I will likely step on a few toes here, but you can handle it. There is no question that the vast majority of us (if not all) believe that our tax dollars are eventually either wasted or carelessly spent with little to no accountability. Many use this truth to rationalize some very drastic maneuvers to avoid paying them. In some cases, outright lies are told via tax returns.

Regardless of the reasons you may conjure up for avoiding your taxes, the truth is that we should not violate our integrity for any purpose – even taxes. Take a look at the verses below and see what you think about the position God’s word takes on this.

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. […] And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.
Romans 13:1, 6-7

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said. They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality. Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius. “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said to Him.

Then He said to them, “Therefore give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
Matthew 22:15-22

Summary

I encourage you to dig a little deeper into each of these common business traditions and practices. Pray that God would prick your heart and show you where you are in violating Scripture. Then, pray for Him to guide you into alignment. He is faithful to help!

Do you see these beliefs and practices as violating Scripture?

Which of these are present in your workplace?

What do you need to do next to eliminate them?

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Dad’s Advice

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was heading out on a date in high school and Dad wanted to give me some final advice. His wise words still ring in my head some 25 years later.

Son, make your decision about what you will and won’t do right now. Whether is it drugs, alcohol, or sex, you cannot wait until the heat of the moment to decide. It will then be too late.

Of course, then I was too cool to let him know that I was listening! Fortunately, I was listening and made (mostly) wise decisions during those years. I knew he was wise then, but I had no idea I would still be following (and giving!) that advice these many years later!

Good Advice?

What makes this advice so good?

Well, in my mind it is ALL about timing. If we go through life waiting to make decisions until we face certain circumstances, then, as my Dad said, it will be too late. The emotions of the circumstances will override our logic and cause us to lean toward immediate gratification rather than deferred gratification. Making these decisions ahead of time allows us to think more clearly and to consider all consequences.

Example Situations

I think the picture was fairly clear in the high school example. Let me give you some examples of situations we may face as adult Christian business owners and leaders to illustrate what I am talking about.

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• If you have not decided ahead of time how much money you will give or how you will give it, then what do you think you will do when the profits start rolling in or your income increases?

• If you have not decided what you will do in advance, what do you think you will do if shown a “grey area” loop hole by your financial planner that he describes as “commonly used” by others?

• If you have not made up your mind beforehand, what will your response be when offered a chance to go alone to a business lunch with a very attractive rep from one of your vendors?

• If you have never planned your response to an opportunity to tell a little white lie to cover up a mistake you made, what do you think you will say?

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As you read through these examples, one or two of them probably stood out to you. You may have already faced these circumstances. If so, whether you made the right choice or not, you know what I am talking about. You also know that the likelihood of a good decision without advance planning is very low.

Applying The Advice

So how do you make the right decisions in advance?

You may be thinking that you cannot possibly be expected to anticipate EVERY potential circumstance when you would have to make such decisions. If so, you are right. I do not expect you to do that at all. In fact, that would be ridiculous.

No, I have a few simple thoughts that should put you on the right track. Take a look at these and see what you think.

1. Ask God to search your heart and show you where you are vulnerable. (Psalm 139:23-24)

It is very likely that you are stronger in some areas of your walk and weaker in others. If you will ask God to point these weaker areas out to you, He will be faithful to do so (Psalm 145:18-19). It is these areas where you need to focus your attention.

You do not need to worry about EVERY possible scenario in these areas. Take the most likely decisions you could face in each area and start with those.

2. Take these weaker areas and plan out your responses. (Proverbs 12:5)

Take these weaker areas that God reveals to you and think about potential pitfalls. What kinds of decisions could you face that might throw you off your game? What decisions would you want to make in each area if you could write the script? Now begin doing exactly that!

Make the decisions in these areas NOW so that you do not have to try to think about it when it is too late and you are under pressure (Proverbs 1:10-19)!

3. Use Scripture as the strong foundation for these decisions. (Psalm 119:11)

If your vulnerable decision is about giving more money even when the temptation is there to spend more on yourself, try 1 Timothy 6:17-19 or Luke 6:38. If your weakness is maintaining your integrity when preparing your taxes, then use Psalm 119:36 or Proverbs 11:3.

You get the idea. The point is to use an easy-to-remember verse from which to rally when put in a tough spot. Memorize the appropriate Scripture and call on it when challenged.

Do you remember similar advice from years back?

How does this advice apply to your work today?

What advice would you give to someone else today?