Business ethics

Today: Deuteronomy 24-27

Business ethics have been a big topic in the news lately, particularly in my current industry--financial services. Most people have heard about Bernie Madoff, an investor who took millions
of dollars and swindled people out of their life's savings. You may have also heard about Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, who reportedly said that his company is "doing God's work." Really?!? I think most of America would beg to differ.

The stories of these two men makes me wonder, "How does someone get to a place where they think these attitudes and actions are okay?"

The answer? Slowly. I think most deception (including self deception) starts "small." We delude ourselves into thinking, "Well, this is actually good for the company and most of society" or "I deserve this." But truth is truth--and sooner or later, it always comes to light.

In today's passage (another one with mostly Old Testament laws), I found this excerpt on business ethics interesting in light of our culture:

Don't carry around with you two weights,

one heavy and the other light,

and don't keep two measures at hand,

one large and the other small.

Use only one weight,

a true and honest weight, and one measure,

a true and honest measure,

so that you will live a long time on the land that God, your God,

is giving you.

Dishonest weights and measures are an abomination to God, your God—

all this corruption in business deals!

As a bit of background, I think most of the Israelites paid for things (and were compensated themselves) by weight. For example, if a farmer grew wheat, people paid him by the weight purchased. If a wheat farmer had a faulty scale, he could overcharge his customers...without their knowledge. This passage is encouraging business people (like our hypothetical wheat farmer) to be fair--to use measurements that are accurate, so that customers have a fair understanding of what they're buying and actually get what they pay for.

Did you notice that the verses mentioned two scales--one heavy and one light? I wonder if that has something to do with favoritism. For example, sometimes we may be too light on ourselves, our friends, our families or just people we like versus the heavy measures we may use to judge others we don't like or know as well. I like that this passage encourages fair and honest measures for everyone.

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. who we're celebrating today, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Like Dr. King, I dream that we will live in a world where my children will not be judged by their color, gender, age, economic status or nationality. I dream that they will be judged by the content of their character--and that character will shine full of the love and light of Jesus. I hope that their hearts will be guided by God's heart, that they will live lives that honor Him--in their homes, jobs and communities.

Thank you, Dr. King!

Tomorrow: Deuteronomy 28-29

Creating opportunities for the poor

Today: Leviticus 19-21

Last night I saw my church's annual production Scrooge the Musical for about the billionth time (no lie--I've probably seen it annually since I was about four--back when my family didn't even attend the church that produced it!). Like many of Charles Dickens' works, "A Christmas Carol" tackles issues like poverty, greed and the exploitation of the poor (in Dickens' writing, it's often children--ala Tiny Tim).

Have you ever thought about how the poor are exploited today?

I realize that's a big, loaded question. But I think that, like in Dickens' time, it's because of greed. It's greed that causes companies to think so much about the bottom line that they outsource labor to people (sometimes children) in developing countries, paying pennies on the dollar for hard work. It's greed that keeps people saying, "I don't have enough to give" to non-profits (and the people who benefit from their donations), while simultaneously filling their homes with more "stuff" they don't need. And it's greed that keeps many of us from thinking about how we can really help the poor...not just through donations, but by creating jobs for those who are able to work.

I thought this part of today's reading was interesting:

When you harvest your land,

don't harvest right up to the edges of your field

or gather the gleanings from the harvest.

Don't strip your vineyard bare

or go back and pick up the fallen grapes.

Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.

I am God, your God.

This idea is interesting for a few reasons--God was teaching His people to be unselfish, to leave a portion of their crops (their wealth) for the poor to harvest. However, the poor weren't given the grain that the owners had already harvested. They had to go out and glean the fields themselves.

If you own a business or work for one, think about what the "gleanings" from your organization could be. What's a task or an untapped revenue source that could be an opportunity for the poor? I believe that if you (or your company) think creatively about what you can do to innovate and build opportunities for others, you will reap some rewards. The rewards might come from God in eternity or in other areas of your life. But once you start thinking creatively, I think our Creator is big enough to give you other ideas to build your business...

Tomorrow: Leviticus 22-23