Part 1: Business Virtues
Virtue is the conformity to a standard of right; a particular moral excellence; a commendable quality or trait
Whether you are running a business, engaging in business, working in a business, or partaking in business ventures, as a Christian… there is a standard.
The Bible lists six business virtues:
Diligence
Fidelity (faithfulness)
Honesty
The giving of just weights
Industry
Integrity
Let’s look at business through the lens of Christ.
Diligence is defined as steady, earnest, and energetic effort: devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking.
The Bible says this about being diligent:
Proverbs 10:4 - “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”
Proverbs 13:4 - “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”
Proverbs 22:29 - “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
2 Peter 3:14 - “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
As believers, we must be diligent in all that we do (no matter what others surrounding us are doing). When we work, it is unto Christ. The Bible says in Colossians 3:23 that whatsoever ye do, do it heartily unto the lord, and not unto men. We can’t be slothful or slack. Even Christ told his mother and father that he must be about his Father's business (Luke 2:49).
So, what does being diligent in business mean? Once God has given you permission, It’s time to GET AFTER IT. It’s time for action, work, and to put sweat into what God has given you. Don’t be lazy... God doesn’t like that.
(Other scriptures about diligence: Romans 12:8, Hebrews 6:11, 2 Peter 1:10)
Fidelity (faithfulness) - The quality or state of being faithful; steadfast in affection or allegiance; firm in adherence to promises or observance of duty.
Steadfast - means to be devoted, reliable, dependable
Adherence to promises - means if you say that you will do something, you keep your word.
I cannot tell you how wonderful it is to work with someone faithful…makes you spend up all your money because of how they operate. The Bible gives examples of what fidelity (faithfulness) in business looks like.
In Genesis 39- Joseph was put into the home of an Egyptian master and God blessed him with favor. The master knew this and made Joseph overseer of all that he owned, and all that he had was left in Joseph's hand.. and Joseph was faithful. When you are faithful in business, you can be trusted.
2 Kings 12- speaks about the workmen under the priest Jehoiada. The priests were instructed by the King to collect money to repair the temple. The money collected was few and not put to the proper use, so the King reproved the priests and charged them with collecting the money in a public chest and delivering the payments directly to the workmen who did not have conflicting priorities. The workmen faithfully bought the materials and did what was intended for the money that was raised.
2 Chronicles 34:10-12- speaks of the men, artificers, and builders, who were given the responsibility to rebuild the temple, and how they were faithful in the work that they oversaw.
1 Corinthians 4:2 says “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Fidelity in business is: Show up, be dependable and reliable, and do what you say you will do.
Honesty - When I looked up honest - it said to be free of deceit and untruthfulness, to be sincere.
Wow. You would think this is simple, but there are so many business practices that I can think of that are deceitful. Christ says we are to be sincere in what we do!
A lot of the scriptures given under honesty are examples of the Giving of just weights. This is another virtue, so we can do them together.
Leviticus 19:35 - “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure”
Proverb 11:1 - “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.”
Back in the days of the bible (and now), a balance or scale is what was used when you measured and weighed to find the cost of things such as wheat or grain. An unjust balance would be used to cheat people out of their money. Because this was so common, God had to reiterate to his people that this was unacceptable in his sight.
Romans 12:17 - “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Just so we are clear…unjust weights is stealing.
This happens ALL THE TIME and is not limited to you owning a business.
If you are looking to be deceitful when paying for services… it's an abomination to God. You can’t receive a service and then look for a way to not pay or pay less than what is owed. That is deceit and it is not of God.
In short: Be honest! Pay what you owe, charge what is right/fair, and work in sincerity.
A really good book to read about all of the virtues above despite deceitfulness is Genesis chapters 29-31! (comment if you read it, and let me know your thoughts!)
Industry-
Industry is systematic labor, especially for some useful purpose or the creation of something of value
OR
diligence in an employment or pursuit, especially steady or habitual effort
Industry is applauded in the Bible.
These were the scriptures listed under industry -
Proverbs 6:6 “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”
Proverbs 10:5 “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.”
Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.”
Proverbs 20:13 “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread”
Romans 12:11 “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
All of these scriptures show me that hard work is necessary for industry. You cannot operate a business properly if you are lazy.
Integrity- Having strong moral principles; moral uprightness or conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong
Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
Proverbs 19:1 “Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.”
Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”
Do things that are right in the eyes of God and not man. Humans are wishy-washy and do what benefits their flesh! Their moral standard is changed when it is convenient to them. Laws change, regulation shifts, and strategies change based on people's version of right.
As Christians, the moral principles that we must uphold are higher than the world. We know that God is watching and our actions are unto him. We represent him on the earth. We DARE not confess with our mouths that we are his child and then walk like everyone else.
A good biblical example of integrity is in 1 Samuel 12: 1-7
Samuel testifies of his integrity towards the people.
vs 4 says “And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.”
An example of how to not operate with integrity is Matthew 23! when the Sadducees and Pharisees were operating in hypocrisy. The Bible says in vs 2-4 that they told the people instruction after Moses’ law, but did not follow it themselves.
So, there you have it. God wants us to work with diligence, to have faithfulness, to be honest, to give just weights, work hard in industry, and have integrity in business.
These are just virtues!
Remember to keep a look out for Part 2: Business Engagement and Cares!
With Love,
SOS