Integrity in Business

By the Grace of God, I practice this creed every day of my life and strive to apply it to my business and personal life. Thanks to “Facts of the Matter” for putting these words together in a way that expresses how I try to run my business and why I choose to do so.

Six Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Practices in Business

The common perception among people in business is that if you operate with total integrity, the playing field is no longer level. Because the odds are stacked against you, you can’t successfully compete with those who bend the rules. So, the natural reaction is to live in two worlds: The “religious” world one day a week, and the “real” world six days a week. By so doing, we demonstrate our stubborn refusal to trust God in operating our business. And we negate His ability to miraculously intervene on our behalf. For example, if we would allow Him, God would:

• Impress customers to respond to our initiatives when it is appropriate.
• Plant creative ideas for business in our minds.
• Move in the hearts of good men to assist us in our endeavors.
• Shield us from those who are bent on doing us harm, etc., etc.

Perhaps these six questions will help us determine in which world we are operating:

1. Do I trust God to move in the hearts of people on behalf of my business? Or do I find myself manipulating circumstances and people to accomplish my ends? “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a water course wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1) (See Proverbs 16:9; 20:24; Isaiah 14:24; Daniel 4:35)
2. Am I profoundly influenced in my decisions by the fact that God knows my motives? Or do I rationalize the gray areas, assuming compromise doesn’t really matter all that much? “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2)
3. Do I understand that God values my obedience over religious “sacrifice”? Or do I mask questionable business practices with a “Christian” facade? “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:3) (See 1 Samuel 15:22)
4. Am I continually checking my heart against insidious pride? Or do I ensure the fact that one way or another, I will get the credit? “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4) (See Proverbs 8:13; Isaiah 2:11, 17; Luke 18:14)
5. Do I realize that there is no substitute for old-fashioned hard work? Or do I let things slide here and there when no one is checking up on me? “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5) (See Proverbs 10:4; 27:23-27)
6. Do I truly believe that integrity lies at the very foundation of a healthy business? Or do I cut corners and shade the truth when it is to my advantage? “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” (Proverbs 21:6) (See Proverbs 13:11; 30:8; Jeremiah 17:11)