Ethical Business Based on the Bible

DOING BUSINESS BY THE BOOK

1. WHAT BOOK - The Bible 

2. WHY - BECAUSE GOD’S WORD IS OUR GUIDE FOR LIFE

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

3. WHY - BECAUSE GOD’S WORD SPECIFICALLY TEACHES ABOUT EMPLOYMENT 

THE WORK ETHIC

WORK IS NORMAL

WORK IS TO PROVIDE FOR FAMILIES

WORK EXISTED BEFORE SIN

Genesis 2:15 ‘to dress it and to keep it’ plus 1:28

2 Thess 3:6-12 - Verse 10 - If a man does not work neither shall he eat

4. PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS 

Faithfulness and Trustworthiness (Luke 16/Heb 3:2,5/2 Cor 4:2)

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much... 

Luke 16:11 Who will commit to your trust true riches. 

5. EXAMPLES OF BUSINESS

1 Samuel 25 - Nabal  - a bad example

Matthew 20:1-16 - On keeping your word

Luke 12:15-21  - Greed and forgetting God

Nehemah - Leadership (Nehemiah 4)

Moses - Jethro and Moses on delegation (Exodus 18)

Boaz (Ruth 2)

Ruth 2:4 The way he greets his employees 

Ruth 2:8 He had instructed the young women

Ruth 2:9 He had charged the young men

6. SPECIFIC PASSAGES ABOUT WORK

Ephesians 6:5-8 Employees

Ephesians 6:9 Bosses

Colossians 3:22-25 Employees

Colossians 4:1,2,5,6 Bosses

1 Timothy 6:1-3 Employees & Bosses

Titus 2:9-11 

HOW WE WORK IS A PROOF OF SALVATION

Titus 2:10 Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

PURLOINING - 3557. νοσφίζω nosphízō; fut. nosphísō, from nósphi (n.f.), apart, separated. In the NT, only in the mid. nosphízomai, to embezzle, keep back something which belongs to another (Acts 5:2, 3; Titus 2:10; Sept.: Josh. 7:1). Applied by Greek writers to embezzlement of public treasures.

Syn.: kléptō (G2813), to steal; aposteréō (G0650), to deprive by fraud.

Ant.: euergetéō (G2109), to do good.

FIDELITY - 4102. πίστις pístis; gen. písteōs, fem. noun from peíthō (G3982), to win over, persuade. Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness (though rare). Objectively meaning that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith.

7. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

James 4:13-17 If The Lord will

1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money

8. USING YOUR WEALTH

1 Timothy 6:6-8  Be content 

1 Timothy 6:9  Beware

1 Timothy 6:17  Trust God not wealth 

1 Timothy 6:18  Use your wealth for others 

1 Timothy 6:19  Invest in the future