CHAPTER SEVEN
Righteousness Begins Now
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luk.16:11)
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. (Prov.5:22-23)
These verses say it all, dishonesty, faithlessness, a lack of integrity in your business dealings will flow over into your family life and your social life. Every single aspect of your life will be affected, the result being an inherited lack of honesty in your spiritual life. Everything about such a person, attests to a warped vision, a person whose goals are confused or even non-existent, one who has no sense of direction and no love for others, a person who will sooner or later implode.
Many people start out in the business world with good intentions, determined to do what is right, but circumstances change, economics, politics, a wrong decision or an incorrect calculation can change everything and businesspeople find themselves in a desperate life and death struggle. All too often a bad situation leads to a bad decision and before long improper conduct becomes the norm, the way of doing things. When times are tough, and the economy, whether micro or macro, is in recession, often businesspeople resort to illegal, dishonest and sometimes heartless methods in an effort to keep afloat. The sad part about this is that once the door has been opened it is extremely hard to close. If you do, however, find yourself in this position, remember, all is not lost. One decision can change the direction of your life and your business.
During biblical times, tax collecting was a lucrative business. The tax collectors themselves were Jews hired by the tax “franchise” owner who had paid for the right to collect taxes in a given area. They were given targets to collect by the Romans which were then inflated and passed on to the Jewish tax collectors who, in their turn, added more for their own account. Little control was exercised over the tax collectors, as long as they met the demands of their masters. How they achieved these targets did not matter and each was left to work out his own methods. It is obvious that rough arm tactics, bribery and extortion were rife. Travelers were overcharged and they had no choice but to pay, otherwise they could not continue on their journey. Farmers on their way to market with their produce would have been particularly vulnerable as their very livelihood depended on their ability to sell their wares in town. Any amount, and this could change on a whim, the tax collectors manage to collect up and above the prescribed target was theirs to keep. It is easy to imagine them sitting in booths alongside the busiest roads, protected by a big, strong ruffian, wringing their hands with joy each time someone came along. It was institutionalized injustice and the Jews hated it. As a result the tax collectors were considered no better than traitors, social outcasts, misfits, shunned by both the clergy and the secular world for their lack of scruples and dishonest dealings. They had an attitude of take what you can while you can – and the more the merrier. Their only friends were those who knew them for money or favors. Unwanted, unloved, they bled the country dry, their only thought being the accumulation of wealth.
With their eyes focused so much on mammon, they had no time for spiritual things. Despised by the clergy, they took no care of their spiritual well-being, enjoying rather the ‘good life’ money afforded.
So many businesspeople find themselves in the same situation today. Mammon has not done what it promised and there exists in their hearts an emptiness that money, possessions and success cannot fill. No matter how much you have it never seems to be enough, there is always something missing. A rich man was asked, How much is enough?” His reply was, “One more dollar!” The wonder of it is however, that no matter where you find yourself, God will meet you there. Is your business corrupt, God will meet you there? Is your heart filled with greed, God will meet you there? Has love gone out of your life, God will meet you there?
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.(Luk.18:3)
And God heard his prayer.
A bad business can be turned around. When I say ‘bad’ I do not mean a business doing badly, but rather one that is sick at heart, one that is run without a care for people, run without any reason except the accumulation of wealth. In Luke 19, we read the account of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector who, during his meeting with Jesus, came to realize his precarious position both spiritually and in the community and made the decision to change.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (Luk.19:8)
He had come to understand that true wealth is not found in a bank account.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.(Luk.19:9)
It is never too late, your business and your life can be turned around but the decision rests with you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please forgive my practices of the past, as I place myself and my business at your disposal. Teach me how to profit without doing evil or causing pain. Fill me with Your wisdom that I may do no harm to others. Amen.