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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Enron, Tyco, Andersen Acc. "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." ImClone, World Com, Freddie Mac. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." Televangelist Jim Bakker and CEO Ken Lay. "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)
The list of corporations being charged with improprieties and their CEO's arrested on criminal charges seems endless. Practices once winked at, such as faulty record-keeping, financial fraud and perjury are now taken seriously as the 'white-collar' crimes they are. Buy-outs, pay-offs and hostile take-overs are big news; as are the corresponding lay-offs, benefit cut-backs and depleted retirement funds. Ethical behavior has been lost in the mad rush to make, save and make more money ; leading some to lie, cheat and steal from their own as well as other companies, the government and their employees through inflated earning reports, hidden sales, disguised losses and cut-throat business practices and negotiations.
They would do well to heed Christ's admonition to, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."; as he bemoaned those who had, "...neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness." (Luke 12:15 and Matthew 23:23) They epitomize Paul's description of, "...people (who) are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites." (Romans 16:18) As many of their companies suffer dire financial problems they revel in expensive lifestyles with multiple homes, cars, and jewelry - personal millions. They take advantage of their company, their employees and their customers while expecting someone else to bail them out. They use people; who actually work for a living, depending on their salary and benefits not to live in excess but often to merely survive. (Proverbs 16:8) declares, "Better is a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice."; the means of personal contentment Paul alluded to in Philippians 4:11, 12.
The demand for justice and fair-play - on both sides of the money issue - is dealt with strongly throughout scripture. Many problems and much misery could be avoided if people heeded John's admonition of, "Do not love the world or anything in the world... For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the father..." (1 John 2:15, 16)
As Christian employers or employees, our ethics should revolve around, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men." (Colossians 3:23) The issues of corporate expectations and workers' rights can be deduced from Paul's instructions to slaves and their masters; not condoning slave labor but resolving it from within by changing the attitudes that made slavery profitable or desirable as an enterprise. Slaves (workers) must respond with respect, sincerity and diligence in doing their best - just as they would obey or work for Christ; not only to win approval when attention is focused on them but working hard at all times in an honest attempt to please and produce. They were to serve wholeheartedly, realizing that their reward for such work might not come fully from their master but from the Master. (Ephesians 6:5-8) Peter added that we should always offer our best not only to the good and considerate "employer" but to the advantage-taking, harsh one as well. (1 Peter 2:18) On the flip-side of this issue - the master (employer) was to treat their "workers" in the same way; as if serving Christ, being considerate, non-threatening, even supportive. For all of us has a Master to answer to, who will reward everyone according to how they serve him. (Ephesians 6:9 and Colossians 3:24)
There has always been an issue of convincing men - especially those in positions of power and influence to, "Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight,..." (Deuteronomy 6:18) Why is that? As a result of our sin-nature or inclination to sin, we are often selfish and are tempted to manipulate, take advantage of and use people as things; willing to, "...with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice." (Isaiah 29:21) Fairness is dealt with repeatedly in scripture; (Proverbs 11:1) declaring that, "The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight."
There is a recurring theme of judgment on those who are dishonest, unjust and oppressive; depriving the poor their rights, workers their wages and the fatherless and widows adequate care. (Isaiah 10:2 ; Amos 5:11, 12; Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24: 14, 15) In God's eyes these activities are considered on a level with those practicing sorcery, perjury, adultery, etc. (Malachi 3:5) In the New Testament, Christ asserted that, "...the worker deserves his wages." (Luke 10:7 and Matthew 10:10) Paul reaffirmed for the church this principle, citing Deuteronomy 25:4; stressing as well the principle of believers doing their best and working hard as he declared, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10) That however was tempered by compassion and generosity, prompting careful investigation into the difference between people who can not - for a variety of reasons - work and those who will not do so.
Proverbs declares that one of the benefits of Godly wisdom is acquiring the ability to do what is right, just and fair. (Proverbs 1:3) Jesus challenged men who chose to use the law to their advantage, practicing the letter of the law while ignoring its intent; to promote justice, mercy and faithfulness. (Matthew 23:23) This challenge to the status quo of the law was not as radical as it at first seemed. God had long before spoken through his prophets saying, "...I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6) They had failed to understand that the spirit of the law was meant to inspire them to go beyond mere obedience in the practice of the legalities of the sacrificial system and to acknowledge that justice will prevail, we all need mercy and that faithfulness to God will enable us to be gracious to our fellowman.
In fact, James believed that our religion is based at least in part on our intent to care for others, especially those who can do little for themselves; such as widows and orphans. (See James 1:27; Deuteronomy 14:29; Matthew 23:14) We can achieve a balance between being financially productive citizens who aren't, "...dependent on anybody.", and living in such a way that our "...daily life may win the respect of outsiders..." We do this by learning, "...to devote (ourselves) to doing what is right, in order that (we) may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives." (1 Thessalonians 4:12 and Titus 3:14)
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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