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Chapter 3
FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES
IT HAS BEEN SHOWN that Proverbs is a source of wisdom for business, and that the Old Testament law provides a framework from which to derive marketplace principles. With these first two chapters as an introduction to the business values found in the Bible, it’s time to lay a broader foundation of biblical principles regarding work, economics, and the nature of God and people.
Principle I
God created people to work and have dominion over the created order (see GENESIS 1:26; 2:15; II THESSALONIANS 3:10; PROVERBS 31:10, 16-18).
This truth, though not the exclusive reason for human existence, was set forth before the Fall and was restated after the Fall. When coupled with the fact of innate human capacity and desire to be creative and relate it to inherent social characteristics, one soon realizes that God created people to both engage in and enjoy the functions and rewards of economic, social, and intellectual exchange. Work is thus ordained by God and is a part of His intended will. Theologian Matthew Henry concludes this in his commentary on Genesis 2:15.2: God has declared all of this to be “very good,” and He has imparted instructions to help carry it forward.
Principle II
God calls many Christians to work in the economic arenas of life and be His agents there (see EPHESIANS 4: 1-2, 11-13; ACTS 19:1-4; PROVERBS 31:10, 16-18).
God has given clear directives on establishing and maintaining families, undertaking work, and fulfilling needs for rest and worship, all of which are referred to theologically as the “creation mandates.” God has also commanded His people to evangelize the world and make disciples of all who give their allegiance to Christ. Those redeemed are set apart as a special people who are to know God and thereby become holy in character and righteous in behavior, even as He is. Through God’s providence every believer is given gifts to a greater or lesser degree, “and [these gifts] were intended for the good of His church, and in order to advance his kingdom and interest among men.” No matter what our gifts or where He calls us to use them, we are commanded to labor for God’s glory. If God’s call is to work in the marketplace, then “your life must correspond to your creed. Heavenly calling, demands heavenly conduct.” The application of this principle in the marketplace has the same requirements as for those working for Christ anywhere:
(1) Have the mind of Christ formed in them so they are enabled to think and behave as Christ would in the marketplace;
(2) Strive to constructively influence those with whom they work so that the group’s behavior will be more righteous; and,
(3) Pray and work for the synergistic transformation of society so that the creation mandates have a greater overall impact on culture.
Principle Ill
There is parity between and within the teachings of the Old and New Testaments (see ROMANS 4:18-24, 10:11, 15:4; II TIMOTHY 3:15-17).
Because so much of the Old Testament was delivered in the context of an established theocratic state, more of it than the New Testament is devoted to civil and community matters. The Old Testament precepts are neither superior nor inferior to the civil and community matters discussed in the New Testament. In the same way, it can be fairly stated that Christ’s teachings were predominantly focused on the attitudes, needs, and behavior of individuals and less focused on civil and public matters. However, His life and teachings neither negated nor overshadowed the Old Testament revelations pertaining to personal ethics. Christ calls believers to a higher level of personal sacrifice when He calls them to follow His personal example in fulfilling the intent of God’s expressed will, but the ethic He taught is the same one found in the Old Testament. From this, one concludes that the Old and New Testaments together comprise the whole counsel of God and that they shape understanding of God’s intentions for the marketplace.
Principle IV
“God’s holiness affects every aspect of our lives — economics, politics, athletics, romance — everything with which we are involved.” Thus God calls us to be holy as He is holy. (see LEVITICUS 11:44; JOSHUA 24:15; PROVERBS 10:9; HEBREWS 12:14; I PETER 1:15 & 16).
The perfect and absolute will of God is revealed in its unchanging form in the Law of God and disclosed in its dynamic and living form in Christ. Christians frequently experience real tensions, though, when they try to be obedient to the absolute will of God. They know that their fallen nature precludes them from being perfectly obedient, and they are completely dependent on the inner work of the Holy Spirit to enable them to manifest the will of God in their character and behavior. They are also aware that the absolutes of God are to be applied in situations requiring subjective moral judgments because:
(1) Contemporary situations are often not perfectly analogous to biblical ones;
(2) The absolute under consideration frequently applies to an abstract aspect of godly character (God is holy; therefore, we are to be holy), which makes it difficult to apply the absolute in a changing situation; or,
(3) Human finitude and imperfections render individuals relatively inept.
Christians must realize this principle that while God’s Word is absolute in character and truth, we must take responsibility to apply it to situations not directly addressed in Scripture. This reality should not undermine our belief in absolutes or diminish our resolve to seek God’s help in becoming holy and righteous so that our business practices can more perfectly reflect His will. Instead, this reality should stimulate one to seek a closer personal relationship with Christ and acknowledge complete dependence on His grace and mercy.
Principle V
People make moral choices with moral repercussions, and are morally responsible for their decisions and actions (see GENESIS 3; the book of LEVITICUS; ECCLESIASTES 12:13-14; MATTHEW 12:33-37; ROMANS 2:5-16; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-20; II CORINTHIANS 3:14, 4:4).
People who reject Christ are as responsible before God for their moral choices as persons who love and obey Christ. But they are not motivated by His loving character and behavior, and they do not seek to glorify Him in what they do. Scripture clearly reveals that the evidence of God’s existence, His attributes and His nature and power are truly understood by them, but they mentally suppress these realities (ROMANS 1:18-20). This truth leads us to a threefold conclusion:
1. Human Depravity
All people, apart from the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit, are truly dead in their sins, which renders them mentally, volitionally, and emotionally incapable of having the godly motive so essential for any act to be truly righteous. The unregenerate reside in a state of utter depravity (ROMANS 3:942; I CORINTHIANS 1:18-20; II CORINTHIANS 4:4).
2. Human Conscience
All people innately possess a sense of right and wrong (ROMANS 2:14-15). They may be approached forthrightly in the marketplace and called on to do what is universally understood to be right on the grounds of natural law. In fact, they can be approached on any one of three unethical levels:
(a) People are obligated to try to try to enhance the well being of their neighbors, even when doing so may require self-sacrifice on their part;
(b) It is good to be prudent (sound, discreet, circumspect, wise, informed, practical) and to seek those actions that produce mutually beneficial results;
(c) People have the minimal obligation to respect and obey the laws and cultural mores of society when they are not in conflict with God’s standards.
3. Common Grace
To prevent civil anarchy due to the full-blown consequences associated with the first point above, God has created, by common grace, a moral climate that is able to incorporate godly principles into society (ROMANS 13: 1-5).
Principle VI
Those things that make an economic system compatible with God’s revealed will and with the created order can be known (see LEVITICUS 25; EXODUS 22:1; JOSHUA 24:15; PROVERBS 31:15-18).
God did not bestow a label such as capitalism or socialism on an economic system to reflect His preferences, but He has revealed many things about attitudes, capacities and characteristics, interpersonal relationships, the need to work, and other insights to help people know what a godly steward ought to be and do. It should be acknowledged, however, that over the centuries God has sovereignly ruled the universe in a way indicating His willingness to allow His image bearers to accept or reject His discernible will. He has done this with regard to the type of economic arrangements that will serve human needs more effectively. He has further done this through His kindness and patience in giving people ample opportunities to walk in His ways or to go their own way until natural temporal judgments fall on them (JOSHUA 24:15).
A society must first discern and then speak out for the type of economic processes that ought to be in place if a business system is to reflect God’s normative will. People should work hard to bring about understanding and behavior that foster the advancement of economic arrangements embodying God’s normative standards, namely:
- Personal freedom to exercise responsible moral choice;
- Economic and social responsibilities to be productive, creative, and responsible;
- The right to own private property.
Principle VII
Inner attitudes and outward actions are equally important to God (see SAMUEL 16:7; COLOSSIANS 2:18-23; JAMBS 1:22, 2: 26).
The fall of humanity gave rise to human misperceptions and perversions and, most of all, for the creation of attitudes that are self-serving (not God honoring) and inappropriately attached to the things of this world. For this reason, Christian ethics is concerned with the thoughts, attitudes, intentions, and motives of people. People look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. This is why Scripture says that the rich should not be arrogant or put their hope in riches, for these reflect attitudes of the heart (PROVERBS11:28; LUKE 16:13).
When one understands the significance of attitudes to God, they can.recognize why God would want people to be free of the temptation to establish righteousness through self-made religion that takes delight in self abasement, personal accomplishments, self-righteous acts, status, and wealth.
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence” (COLOSSIANS 2:18-23).
Instead, people are to delight in Christ’s righteousness and its imputation to us. They are to see everything in the light of God and praise Him who has given everything for human enjoyment. One ought to appreciate and thank God for the value of gainful employment, the beauty of the operation of a successful business, the benefits of material wealth, and the place of an appropriate temporal self-interest, for they are compatible with His intentions for people and are His gifts. Scripture does not reveal a dichotomy between the sacred and the secular. God made everything and declared it to be very good.
Principle VIII
Private property is central to the ideas of stewardship and personal moral choice, and it is an integral part of God’s intended will for us to fulfill the creation mandates and carry out the Great Commission (see GENESIS 34:10, 47:11-12, 27; EXODUS 20:17, 22:1-14; NUMBERS 27:5-7; I CHRONICLES 9:2; NEHEMIAH 20; MATTHEW 28:16-20; LUKE 15:12, ACTS 5:1; HEBREWS 10:34).
A major biblical principle associated with stewardship is the necessity for the existence of personal property and the concomitant opportunity for stewards to exercise their free moral choice with regard to the administration of their personal property has they care for their families, churches, and others. This is another reason why the biblical principles are so important to this development of a healthy economic system. When people are denied opportunities to legitimately acquire and administer personal property, they are going to be retarded in their personal development. This observation should not surprise anyone, though, for the majority of adults spend the greatest portion of their waking hours engaged in some form of exchange producing, selling, buying, consuming and these practices allow us to make a strong moral declaration about what we value and cherish the most, God or mammon. For this reason, we should want everyone to have the best opportunities possible to gain in a responsible way a reasonable amount of ’\personal wealth.
Principle IX
People are individuals with responsibilities toward their neighbors (see EXODUS 12:4, 20: 1647; LEVITICUS 19:15, PSALM 15:3, MATTHEW 5:43; LUKE 10:29-37; ROMANS 13:9-10; HEBREWS 6:10).
Some biblical truths seem to compete with one another. But they are really intended to be kept in balance in the purposeful tension God designed for them so that heresies (partial or imbalanced truths) can be avoided. A number of these tensions are either explicitly or implicitly involved with the foundation principles we are reviewing. For example, tensions can exist between the creation mandates and the Great Commission; the emphases of the Old and New Testaments; the adherence to absolute truths and the necessity for subjective judgments; the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of men and women; the spiritual and the temporal; and human equality and inequality. Christians must deal with the tension of being morally responsible individuals (see Foundation Principles 5, 6, and 8) who are simultaneously members of a community with responsibilities toward family, church, business, city, or nation.
Christians have responsibilities toward family, other Christians, and people in the wider community in that order. There are at least five occasions in the New Testament where it is stated “love your neighbor as yourself.” Many scholars have noted that Scripture speaks of persons in positions of ruling authority (and individuals like Job) coming to the aid of the afflicted, needy, oppressed, orphaned, poor, and widowed. In addition, those who govern have the God ordained authority to tax and use the revenues for the good of the governed.
Principle X
God created people with motivational characteristics (see GENESIS 1:26 – 4:8; PROVERBS 10:4; ECCLESIASTES 10:18; HEBREWS 6:11-12).
When God created Adam, He immediately gave him a job to do. It is not God’s desire for people to be idle. Much creative energy is either released or shut down by the level of one’s motivation. People are also constituted so that they are capable of being influenced by both external and internal motivators: external rewards and punishments; internal desires, drives, and felt needs that activate or constrain the will. One is repeatedly confronted with temptations and opportunities to either try to manipulate others for their own self-serving ends or identify godly motivators and set them before people in an open and fair manner.
To ignore or misunderstand this motivational nature of people is to risk creating an environment that fosters apathy and lethargy or that stimulates ungodly desires promoting self-centeredness. When this biblical principle is combined with the previously discussed principles of work, moral choice, private property, and personal responsibility, one quickly realizes just how integral this dimension of our humanity is to God’s intentions regarding the creation of an economic system. An economic system must motivate those in it, or it will eventually fail.
Principle XI
Christians are to manifest Christ’s love in all aspects of life whether in the family, body of Christ, community, pursuing leisure activities, or working in the marketplace (see EXODUS 1:20-21; PSALM 68:6; ECCLESIASTES 3:1-13; MARK 5:19, 6:31; JOHN 13:34; I JOHN 4:16).
A fundamental biblical statement is this: “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (I JOHN 4:16). Love, the commitment to seek the good of another person or group even at the cost of self-sacrifice, is the highest expression of godliness. Christ has placed this calling before us all. In issuing the call to love, Christ shifted the standard from “love your neighbor as yourself” to “love one another, even as I have loved you” (JOHN 13:34). He identified this as a new commandment because the standard was shifted from self to Christ. There is no more evident principle in all Scripture. We are called to love our neighbor even as Christ has loved us. This absolute call applies seven days a week and in everything we do. We are not to conceive of the commandment to love others in some restrictive way, for Christ loved us when we were still His enemies.
Principle XII
God intends for us to have the “mind of Christ” and thereby acquire a true Christian view of life and the world (see MATTHEW 6:33; ROMANS 12:1-2; I CORINTHIANS 2:16).
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (I CORINTHIANS 2:16). Being Christian doesn’t automatically or necessarily give us an accurate or godly view of life. A Christian’s interpretation of Scripture influences his or her world view and an individual’s world view is crucial. A mature Christian world view is developed incrementally by the Holy Spirit through the use of biblical precepts impressed on the heart. These precepts are in turn integrated with one another and our observations of the world until a larger and more complete understanding of reality is generated, enabling us to act according to God’s expressed will. Those who have matured to this point are people of wisdom, and we know that wisdom comes from truly knowing and relating to God. Such a relationship results in our being like Him in character and conduct. This being true, we ought to seek God as the true “End” of all life.
The Principles Are Established
The twelve foundational principles named here are not an exhaustive list of biblical principles that could have been identified. Furthermore, much more could be said about our creation in the image of God or our fallen nature; these realities also yield significant foundational principles. But these twelve principles are sufficient to establish that God wants His children to have the opportunity to exercise responsible moral choices in every area of life, including the economic realm. Our need to be free to exercise responsible moral choices points to a central aspect of our nature. This human quality should deeply influence our thinking about business and the economic arrangements nurturing it. People need the freedom to be able to serve others, create, and produce without being artificially or unjustly cut off from those aspects of life that would help them to mature so they can participate in the fulfillment of the creation mandate. Unemployment for those who are willing to work and capable of working, regardless of their relationship with Christ, is probably one of the most dehumanizing economic conditions persons can encounter on earth. We were created to work, and to be kept from it, for whatever reason, is to attack our very identity and thwart part of the reason for our existing. People need to be able to work, sell, acquire, trade, succeed, fail, change jobs, and do a host of other things related to choice making. In addition, those who work in the public sector have an obligation to foster the things mentioned above and to act to eliminate every man-made obstruction hindering genuine, responsible freedom in the marketplace.
NEXT: Part II: Business Objectives
PREVIOUS: Chapter 2: The Civil Law Of Israel
Chapter 3: Foundation Principles
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