In his book, “Business for the Glory of God” Wayne Grudem discusses why business and making a profit from it is not evil and can be used for the glory of God. While this book is not an in depth analysis, it does provide a brief overview of why the author believes that business can be and should be used to glorify God. In the book, the author starts off by posing the question of whether or not business itself is good or evil. Of course, business by itself is neither good nor evil it is the people involved in the business that make it what it is. A person’s morals and ethics will shape how their business operates, whether for good or ill. If we use our business to show people the glory of God, than our business is doing good for the …show more content…
This leads some people to believe that we can never really own anything because it already belongs to God. While this is true in a sense I agree with the author when he says that God created us with a desire to own things so that we could imitate his sovereignty that way. Another article I read concerning property ownership says, “Those who wish to deny private property, and thus, the biblical mandate of stewardship, fail to recognize God’s order for society” (Demar, 2010). When God made us He gave charge over the Earth and everything in it and having been given charge of it we assume ownership of it until we leave it. The example that I have heard a lot for this is the parable of the unfaithful steward. In this parable, a nobleman left the country to receive a kingdom for himself, leaving ten of his servants each with a mina to look after while he was gone. While the other servants did something to increase the possessions they were given one hid it so it would be safe. When the nobleman returns and discovers this he takes the mina from the poor steward and gives it to another. This infers ownership of the mina that each servant was given because he takes what the one steward has and gives it to another. He doesn’t keep it because the charge of it has been given over to the servants. Insights like these in the Bible help to prove the fact of personal ownership. The second aspect that the author discussed that I agree with is that of
The collection of private, commercially oriented organizations, ranging in size from sole proprietorships to large corporations is referred to as
In the seventh chapter of Why Business Matters to God, Van Duzer asks readers to answer some questions to see if they have an understanding so far on how they then should do business? Some of the questions included on what the proper purpose of business and what are some of the convenient limit to the practices of business. Some of the major points are the answers to the three questions that were introduced about the summary of business framework. The first main point within the novel is the purpose to serve. The author states that to understand why business matters to God, you have to understand the role that God plays in wanting to profit companies within our world.
The provision and use of personal protective equipment could include using gloves, glasses, earmuffs, aprons, safety footwear, dust masks.
Wayne Grudem wrote the book ‘Business for the Glory of God,’ this book is based on biblical teachings. The book discusses issues such as ownership, productivity, employment, commercial transactions, profit, money, inequality of possessions, competition, borrowing and lending, attitudes of heart and effect on world poverty from a biblical standpoint, each are “fundamentally good and provides many opportunities for glorifying God but also many temptations to sin.” (Grudem, 2003, p. 19) Grudem claims that business can glorify God. He states “I am going to argue that many aspects of business activity are
“Though the earth, and all inferior creatures be common to all men, yet every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has any right to but himself. The labour of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his. Whatsoever then he removes out of the state that Nature hath provided, and left it in, he hath mixed his labour with, and joined to it something that is his own, and thereby makes it his property”. “From all which it is evident, that though the things of Nature are given in common, man (by being master of himself, and proprietor of his own person, and the actions or labour of it) has still in himself the great foundation of property;...” (Locke, 1978
There are many different paths people can take throughout their lives. In the novel, Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, the main character, Dunstan Ramsey, takes the path of the Canadian hero. There are many different steps to be taken by the hero and Dunstan Ramsey follows his path by completing each step.
According to Duzer (2012), In pursuit of God’s purpose, people need to understand the ethical limitations embedded naturally in design of the God’s creation. It is not enough too simply align our businesses purposes with God earthly design, without limitation we still fall short of Gods expectations. God’s creation purpose for business includes businesses that serve the community in a positive way that strides to serve all citizens according to God’s plan. For example, a business might be able to produce more goods and services that would enable the community to flourish. It might create more vocationally rich jobs for its employees by disregarding its duty to provide return to its shareholders (Duzer,
Another aspect of business activity that Grudem inquires about is profit. When people think of profit the first thing that comes to mind is making money and a famous saying usually follows that train of thought; money is the root to all evil. This saying is derived from the Bible but the scripture is reworded and taken out of context. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. Because some people feel that money is the root to all evil, they view making a profit as being evil. Grudem explains that making a profit not only helps others, but also corresponds with God’s teaching to subdue the earth in making use of the earth’s resources. Therefore, profit is an indication that I am making good and efficient use of the earth’s resources, thus obeying God’s original “creation mandate” to “subdue” the earth
Through these nine key concepts, Dr. Grudem illustrates how a variety of business techniques, when implemented in a Godly manner, allow those to pose certain characteristics of God. Grudem isn’t naïve, though. He does, after all, explain that in every aspect of business there are multiple layers of opportunities to give glory to God, as well as multiple temptations to sin (Grudem, 2003, p. 17). He is also aware about the easy ways these activities can be perverted and used as a means to sin ("Business for the," 2003). This book is tailored to echo God’s glory in relation to correlation with employees, co-workers, customers, and other businesses involved in the business unity. Furthermore, it does not only promote a positive impact within the business realm, but also in the personal realm of one’s life in business.
People are created in the image of God and by design all people belong to God. The people who have chosen to accept God’s promise belong to God forever. Psalm twenty-four is a praise to God, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it”. Everything belongs to God, our life, materials, business, relationships, absolutely everything. God cares deeply about our wealth and health. However, the sin that corrupts our bodies and minds, and there is no guarantee that the Christian business person will prosper. The core of true life is in
Just Business: Christian Ethics for the Marketplace. By Alexander Hill. IVP Academic; Revised edition (January 10, 2008), 276pp., $11.29 Paper. Chanel Mahone
1. What factors contribute to the rapid pace of change in business? Is the pace likely to accelerate or decrease over the next decade? Why?
“...how any one should ever come to have a property in anything: I will not content myself to answer, that if it be difficult to make out property, upon a supposition that God gave the world to Adam, and his posterity in common, it is impossible that any man, but one universal monarch, should have any property upon a supposition, that God gave the world to Adam, and his heirs in succession, exclusive of all the rest of his posterity.”
Business plays a major role within our society. It is a creative and competitive activity that continuously contributes to the shaping of our society. By satisfying the needs and wants people cannot satisfy themselves, businesses improve the quality of life for people and create a higher standard of living.
1. The most significant challenge to business success you see in this rapidly changing global economy;