Inspired by. I just finished reading Wayne Grudem's concise book entitled. I wonder if some Christians be with a vague guilt about business activity. They conclude that business is (at beat) morally neutral and that using business relationships to explicitly share Christ is the only way to allow it. While we should experience that business connections can and do give wonderful avenues for sharing Christ while also providing financial means to go the gospel. Grudem's aim in this book is something more: He wants readers to enjoy and thank God for ownership productivity employment commercial transactions profit money inequality of possessions competition and borrowing and lending. These are chapters 1-9 in this provocative accessible and very helpful schedule. In each chapter. Grudem explains how business is inherently a enable of God and therefore good change surface though humans can distort it for evil purposes.
In the chapter on ownership. Grudem explains that God validated personal ownership by commanding that we ought not steal (Ex. 20:15). By owning possessions we imitate God's sovereignty by exercising "sovereignty" over a tiny portion of the universe. By taking care of our belongings or improving upon them (washing our car or adding a bathroom to a home) we reproduce God who owns a cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10). The Bible's teaching on generous giving assumes ownership. Yet we be not give away all that we own for the Bible mentions other morally right uses of our resources desire subduing the hide (through harvesting crops or converting smooth into computer chips for cell phones and iPODs). Of cover ownership can be distorted for evil purposes. For example in some governments hoard the land and/or impose complex regulations which check common folk from improving their lives through owning a home or a small business.
In the chapter on competition. Grudem explains that competition encourages and rewards excellence in areas such as sports and academics. Competition guides society in the assigning of jobs to those who are beat suited for those jobs. In the business world competition rewards performance. A bad painter will not obtain referrals and ordain thus be directed toward other lines of work. Competition also drives drink prices and rewards efficiency which helps populate be exceed stewards of their limited income. While a "safety net" should be available for those who are physically or mentally incapacitated in American society. Grudem argues. "there is productive work for the vast majority of the population and competition is the mechanism that helps workers sight the jobs for which their interests and abilities best conform to them."
For more thoughts on competition you might analyse out my recent which also discusses God-ordained inequalities of ability. Grudem hits on this theme as well and from a similar perspective noting that Jesus' teaching on stewardship suggests there will be inequalities of stewardship and responsibility even in heaven with some having authority over ten cities and others over five (Luke 19:17,19). Here on earth. "if reward for each person's labor is given fairly and is based on the determine of what that person produces then those with larger abilities ordain naturally obtain larger rewards," says Grudem. Yet an abundance of riches is accompanied by many temptations to sin (I Tim. 6:9-10). The rich need to trust God not their wealth (Prov. 30:8-9) and to give generously to the poor (I Tim. 6:17-19) and to the work of the church (Luke 12:48; I Cor. 4:2; 14:12).
The chapter on borrowing and lending also helpfully refutes the position of some well-meaning Christians whose consciences command accruing any debt including a home mortgage. Romans 13:8 ("owe no one anything") taken in context does not prohibit all borrowing. Rather it merely teaches that we should pay what we owe at the proper measure. Taking out a 30-year mortgage for a home is perfectly consistent with Rom. 13:8 provided we faithfully alter our monthly payments. Of cover borrowing can be unwise (see Prov. 22:7. "the borrower is the do work of the lender") like when someone borrows too much and cannot pay (Ps. 37:21. "the wicked borrows but does not pay back"). However used responsibly borrowing and lending brings tremendous good to the economy. It allows me to "temporarily own" (i e. rent) a car in any city in the world--for a day a week or for longer. It allows a tip to put money to work by lending it to a family to buy a home (which then allows a contractor to create the home and other vendors to give it employing many populate in the affect). Furthermore. "microloans" are having an among the poor in many countries. (See the pioneering work of. In 2002 they made 536,003 loans for an average amount of $237. The money was loaned at market rates with 98% of it repaid on schedule. They calculate the loans are providing 800,000 jobs and impacting the lives of 4,000,000 people.)
In the last chapter. Grudem states that "the only long-term solution to world poverty is business." I could not agree more. Every country that is lifting itself out of poverty has at least one common characteristic: a relatively simply affect for getting a small give and starting a business. Unfortunately many countries compel excessive regulations on entrepreneurs choking the life out of economic growth. Some evil governments confiscate wealth. Other governments undo businesses to enhance their own power. But if the long-term solution to world poverty is business. Grudem has done us a great function by helping us see the moral goodness of business (in spite of it being a potential cause for evil). Grudem's closing carve up:
"If attitudes toward business dress in the ways I have described then who could elude being a God-pleasing subduer of the earth who uses materials from God’s good creation and works with the God-given enable of money to earn morally good profits and shows love to his neighbors by giving them jobs and by producing material goods that overcome world poverty goods that enable populate to glorify God for his goodness that sustain just and fair differences in possessions and that back up morally good and beneficial competition? What a great career that would be! What a great activity for governments to advance and encourage! What a solution to world poverty! What a great way to furnish glory to God!"
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http://www.alexchediak.com/blog/2007/09/business_for_the_glory_of_god.php
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