Commerce
1. Offer honest value for goods and services. Don’t try to cheat people. (Proverbs 1:1; 11:1; 16:11; 20:17, 23;) Give a full measure for the customer’s money. Don’t cut corners on the job even if it means suffering some loss. God finds those who behave dishonestly detestable. Returning to God involves the maintenance of love and justice and placing one’s hope in Him (Hosea 12:6-7). Therefore, the merchant who loves to extort with dishonest scales is leaving God, practicing hatred and injustice and placing his hopes in the false god Mammon rather than Yahweh (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13-14). Note carefully that the Pharisees who were lovers of money, listened to Jesus’ teaching on the matter and scoffed. Very shortly they perjured themselves, hired false witnesses, broke numerous laws, and had the Messiah crucified. Dishonesty in business is thus tantamount to idolatry. Such people can expect nothing but blows from God and utter desolation for their sins. They will eat but not be satisfied; acquire but not save; save but lose to war; sow but not reap, press olives but not enjoy the anointing oil; tread grapes but not drink the wine. They will end up being an object of contempt and scorn. (Micah 6:10-16)
2. Be a competent worker. Hire only competent workers (Proverbs 22:29).
3. Offer a fair wage (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18). Pay people for the time, effort, skill and resources that they bring. On the other hand, those who fail to work should not be rewarded. The one who will not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In this sense we use their appetite to work for him because his hunger or desire urges him on. (Proverbs 16:26)
4. Do not delay paying. (Deuteronomy 24:14-15; Proverbs 14:31)
5. Do not unfairly change the terms. (Genesis 31:6-7, 38-42)
6. Do not surround yourself with rubber stamping “yes men” (Proverbs 23:23).
7. Ensure your deals are publicly verifiable (Genesis 23:10-16).
8. Haggling and bartering and the accompanying minimization of benefits are allowed (Proverbs 20:14)
9. Avoid all get-rich-quick schemes. Instead focus on simple diligence. (Proverbs 13:11)
10. Do not jump quickly into schemes. Carefully research all the relevant issues and seek out wise counsel (Proverbs 24:6; Luke 14:31). Do you have enough resources to not only begin but continue the endeavor? Do you understand the market and your product’s role and future in that market? Who is your competition? Who are your allies?
11. Avoid getting into business with Lowlanders if possible. If that is impossible avoid getting into business with unethical people in general (2 Corinthians 6:14). This implies that you have to ask for references, go actually contact the references, and do as much background checking as you can before making your decision. This goes along with the rule of “not jumping quickly into schemes”.
12. Do everything you can to free yourself from your creditors (Proverbs 6:1-5; 22:7; Habakkuk 2:7). Do not allow your personal feelings to lead you into guaranteeing loans (Proverbs 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27). If it’s not good business then don’t do it.
13. When you loan money to another; if another who is in business with you contracts a debt; ensure that you have some type of collateral (Proverbs 20:16).
14. Pay attention to the details. Don’t allow little problems to grow into big problems. Nip them in the bud. (Song of Songs 2:15; Proverbs 17:14) Take enough little steps and you’ll soon be far down the road. Many small wins lead to a major victory. This goes along with the rule about being a competent worker.
15. Diversify. Do not “put all your eggs in one basket.” (Proverbs 31:13-19)
16. All the resources of the land come with the land. (Genesis 23:17-20)
17. Ensure that your earnings are used to actually enhance the total human experience rather than squandering them on sin. (Proverbs 10:16)
18. Invest in your workers and co-laborers. Educate them. Train them. (Proverbs 9:9)
2. Be a competent worker. Hire only competent workers (Proverbs 22:29).
3. Offer a fair wage (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18). Pay people for the time, effort, skill and resources that they bring. On the other hand, those who fail to work should not be rewarded. The one who will not work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). In this sense we use their appetite to work for him because his hunger or desire urges him on. (Proverbs 16:26)
4. Do not delay paying. (Deuteronomy 24:14-15; Proverbs 14:31)
5. Do not unfairly change the terms. (Genesis 31:6-7, 38-42)
6. Do not surround yourself with rubber stamping “yes men” (Proverbs 23:23).
7. Ensure your deals are publicly verifiable (Genesis 23:10-16).
8. Haggling and bartering and the accompanying minimization of benefits are allowed (Proverbs 20:14)
9. Avoid all get-rich-quick schemes. Instead focus on simple diligence. (Proverbs 13:11)
10. Do not jump quickly into schemes. Carefully research all the relevant issues and seek out wise counsel (Proverbs 24:6; Luke 14:31). Do you have enough resources to not only begin but continue the endeavor? Do you understand the market and your product’s role and future in that market? Who is your competition? Who are your allies?
11. Avoid getting into business with Lowlanders if possible. If that is impossible avoid getting into business with unethical people in general (2 Corinthians 6:14). This implies that you have to ask for references, go actually contact the references, and do as much background checking as you can before making your decision. This goes along with the rule of “not jumping quickly into schemes”.
12. Do everything you can to free yourself from your creditors (Proverbs 6:1-5; 22:7; Habakkuk 2:7). Do not allow your personal feelings to lead you into guaranteeing loans (Proverbs 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27). If it’s not good business then don’t do it.
13. When you loan money to another; if another who is in business with you contracts a debt; ensure that you have some type of collateral (Proverbs 20:16).
14. Pay attention to the details. Don’t allow little problems to grow into big problems. Nip them in the bud. (Song of Songs 2:15; Proverbs 17:14) Take enough little steps and you’ll soon be far down the road. Many small wins lead to a major victory. This goes along with the rule about being a competent worker.
15. Diversify. Do not “put all your eggs in one basket.” (Proverbs 31:13-19)
16. All the resources of the land come with the land. (Genesis 23:17-20)
17. Ensure that your earnings are used to actually enhance the total human experience rather than squandering them on sin. (Proverbs 10:16)
18. Invest in your workers and co-laborers. Educate them. Train them. (Proverbs 9:9)
