Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
Pastor Herk continues: You may not rob a bank or shoplift from a store, but by the full definition of stealing we can see the ways by which we can abuse and disobey this Commandment of God and be guilty in violation by some form of theft. We cannot be a party to gain obtained through deception. We cannot be receiving by deceiving others to get them. We do not withhold information or facts. We do not manipulate or falsify truth. We don’t take or keep what is not ours. We don’t cheat to win or profit. We do not lie to obtain more than we deserve. We do not borrow and not repay. We don’t lie to have things go our way or to divert blame. These are the way of the godless world. Instead, we put in a good, honest full day worth of work for a full day’s pay (eight for eight). Why? Because it is right in the eyes of the Lord to do so. In Colossians 3:23, the Apostle Paul instructs us, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” It is expected that God’s people work hard. Slacking off is not an option.
Proverbs 21:2-3 “Every person’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord examines the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.”
I was in a management training seminar once where the hiring staff of Disneyland told us the number one answer to the question: “what job do you most desire to work at in the theme park? By far, the top answer was: “The job that pays that most money and requires the least number of hours.” Proverbs 10:4 proclaims, “Poor is one who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” I read an 1890 study on ethics with an emphasis on character traits such as honesty, gratitude, and responsibility. This early American textbook called attention to the critical importance of character development and the role of a well-formed conscience in making morally sound decisions. One subject focused on the virtue of "Industry"; meaning being an industrious person. The word “industry” is defined as: “Habitual diligence in any employment, either bodily or mental; steady attention to business; assiduity; opposed to sloth and idleness. Industry pays debts, while idleness or despair will increase them.”
In our weekly Small Group topical study, we are currently watching a video series on Ethics in America that was done at Princeton University. They discuss how greed, lust for power and selfishness are universal human problems that have plagued politics, society and economics since the Fall of Man. The government exists to form a more perfect union of the people, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, The public community (a body of citizens within a municipality) does not exist to provide solely for the individual family unit alone, but for the proper function of society, the common good, civic safety and economic welfare. Likewise, business does not exist purely to make money, but to provide products and services to the public to function, for which it is rewarded with profit. Individuals industriously work with diligence (steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity).
Jesus instructs us in Matthew 5:16 to: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Ethics is defined as: The doctrines of morality or social manners; the science of moral philosophy, which teaches men and women their duty, moral restraints and the reasons of it. A system of moral principles of right and wrong; a system of rules for regulating the actions and manners of men, women and children in society. These ethics are derived by the Moral Law of God found in the Bible, thus biblical morality and godly ethics are the virtuous standard. In Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul explains, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
The Professors in the Ethics video explain that in business and politics, products and services are to first and foremost be focused top to bottom on safety, quality, and the best interest of the internal and external customers, our fellow man in society and the common good of the community; not cut corners, fudging numbers, nor exploiting the employees or customers for irregular upward profits, special interests, shareholder value, and individual or corporate gain. Honesty, integrity and loyalty are key components of ethics. Integrity is defined as: Purity; the entire, genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings. Knowing the difference between “right and wrong”, then choosing to do what is “right” is essential. Without ethics, without moral restraints in the populace, the system will collapse.
Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on Christian Ethics in the next Post.
In Christ, Brian
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