How To Avoid Violating Scripture By Eliminating These Beliefs

If you could take a look at the libraries of some of the more recognizable names in business, you would likely find that many of them have certain books in common. Great business classics like Good to Great, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The One Minute Manager, and In Search of Excellence – all would likely be there. The problem, as I see it, is that you would be much less likely to find the Bible on those same shelves. An even bigger problem is that many Christians in business put more stock in the business classics mentioned above than they do in the Bible, even at the risk of violating Scripture.

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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