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Summary
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Chapter 6
Justice In The Marketplace
Justice And Fairness
“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (PROVERBS 1:2-3).
“With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (MICAH 6:6-8).
WHAT DOES THE LORD require of us? What does it mean to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God? Many Christians have wrestled with the meaning of these passages, especially with what it means to be right, just, and fair. Most often they have been thought of in the context of making judgments about a person’s guilt or innocence, or in connection with appropriate retribution whenever harm is caused. But have you ever considered them as synonymous with Scripture’s idea of righteousness? By that we mean doing what the Lord wants and in the manner He wants it done. The words justice and righteousness both derive from the same Hebrew root word. From this we must conclude that the Lord requires us to do what is right (i.e., godly) everywhere, including the marketplace.
Yes, in the marketplace too! The prophet Micah specifically addressed people who were involved in marketplace activities. But it was really God, through Micah, who addressed the injustices He saw as men and women went about their daily occupations and commercial tasks. Read, for example:
“Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance” (MICAH 2:1-2).
God then shows His concern for economic justice by asking, “Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?” (MICAH 6:11). The next (seventh) chapter begins, “What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave” (MICAH 2:1-2).
But Malachi also cried out in God’s name “. . . against those who defraud laborers of their wages” (MALACHI 3:5). Reference here is made not to the unemployed but to those who were paid competitive market rates but continued to live in poverty even after receiving their wages (while at the same time the owners grew wealthy). Amos was burdened with similar concerns. He reported,
“This is what the LORD says: ‘For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name‘” (Amos 2:6-7).
“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, ‘Bring us some drinks!”` (Amos 4:1).
“. . . you who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground” (AMOS 5:7).
“You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine” (AMOS 5:11)
“Hear this you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’ – skimping the measure boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat” (AMOS 8:4-6).
Scripture speaks over four hundred times of justice and righteousness, frequently calling for them in marketplace contexts. Because it is obvious that the meaning and the implications of these concepts of justice and righteousness are extremely important to God, we want to explore the applications to eight types of business relationships. However, we must be aware that true righteousness (i.e., doing justice) frequently produces mixed reactions from those with whom we work. On the one hand, our superiors may admire and respect us for righteous conduct, while at the same time our peers may dislike us because the very standards we set and uphold by our conduct convicts them of their own (substandard) conduct. This is precisely why Cain slew Abel, and it continues to be one of the primary reasons the world hates God’s children.
“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? (Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brother, if the world hates you” (I JOHN 3:11-13).
Justice Towards Employers
Work
Most employers will tell you that a good employee is a delight in the work-place. By that they usually mean employees who work hard and are effective. The tradition of working hard had its genesis in a biblical ethic. Max Weber dubbed it the Protestant ethic, but what it stood for was espoused already by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (COLOSSIANS 3:23).
”He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returened to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living” (ROMANS 14:6-9).
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (CORINTHIANS 10:31).
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (COLOSSIANS 3:17).
Halfhearted work qualifies as theft; habitual tardiness and early departures are forms of stealing as is taking advantage of sick-leave policies and wasting time talking with other employees. All are violations of the eighth commandment that speaks to the matter of stealing. Also improper is evangelizing on the job or during business hours when both parties should be doing what they were hired to do. Being right, just and fair to our employers means giving a full day’s work for a full day’s pay.
Stewardship of Resources
Employees have many opportunities to practice responsible stewardship of assets entrusted to them — from selection of hotel accommodations and food on business trips to careful preparation of a capital budget that will eventually compete with other requests for a company’s limited resources. There are those who believe that there is nothing wrong with taking business supplies home for personal use. However, it is absolutely unethical to use business materials at home without explicit permission. We need to be faithful in small things in order to be trusted with larger responsibilities.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'” (MATTHEW 25:21).
Since many such illustrations exist to serve as reminders of our stewardship responsibilities, it is usually not hard to figure out what is right, just, and fair with regard to use of business property.
Obedience Policies
A general biblical principle applicable to submission tells us we are to take seriously our obligation to do what those in authority over us ask, so long as the request does not contradict God’s expressed will.
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (EPHESIANS 5:21).
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him” (EPHESIANS 6:5-9).
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (COLOSSIANS 3:22).
“All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them” (I TIMOTHY 6;1-2).
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king” (I Peter 2:13-17).
Owners or managers have a responsibility to determine policies that will help their businesses reach established goals most effectively. Such persons often have the authority to establish policies in different areas and in varying degrees. One might be establishing a dress code for reasons of safety or the projection of a business image.
Another important policy could be in requiring a certain attitude or demeanor with customers / clients in the office or store. The Apostle Paul addressed this:
”Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe …” (PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15).
Loyalty
In the Bible, loyalty and faithfulness are closely related. When you choose to work for people in an organization you become obligated not only to respect and protect their good name but to avoid personal conduct that might undermine either their or the business’ reputation in the marketplace. Making derogatory remarks about an employer is unrighteous conduct. Accepting employment with an organization that has a quality training program, with the intention of leaving after receiving the training benefits, is both deceitful and disloyal. Carelessness with proprietary information or the intentional use of such information to secure employment with a competitor is also unethical. These are just a few illustrations of what it means to be right, just, and fair to one’s employer.
”A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need ” (PROVERBS 17:17).
”He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor” (PROVERBS 21:21).
”Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?” (PROVERBS 20:26 NAS).
”For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice” (HOSEA 6:6 NAS).
Justice Toward Employees
Compensation
Although the free market system has done more to enhance the physical standards of living for a greater proportion of western society’s population than any other economic system, it is not without compensation injustices. Although Israel enjoyed a predominantly free market during biblical times, the prophet Malachi was prompted by God to pronounce imminent judgment on those ”who defraud laborers of their wages” (Malachi 3:5). The gap continues to widen between those who are in the top fifteen percent of the income scale and those in the bottom fifteen percent. Executives in the United States, for example, earn approximately ten times what the country’s average employees earn, while Japan the ratio is about four to one. When it comes to influencing the market, these differences reflect each nation’s pervasive ethical values rather than some natural economic law.
Compensation discrimination occurring along sex and race lines reflects both entrenched and perverted values. The same may be said for compensation packages offered far more frequently to top executives than to those in lower echelons. Although on the one hand profit sharing and stock option plans should be as readily available for one class of workers as another, equity in the marketplace should not be determined by economics alone.
Stewardship Of Ideas
Our economic system tends to reward managers and discriminate against laborers monetarily because managers are viewed as innovators and risk bearers while laborers are believed to have little more to contribute than their physical and technical skills. This view however is not realistic when one examines organizations that encourage and reward employees for creative ideas and responsible conduct. Those in the lower ranks seem to be as capable of innovative thinking as the managers. Supervisors wanting to glorify God would do well to look for ways to encourage and release creative abilities of their subordinates, enabling them to make the greatest possible contribution and develop to their highest potential. Every good steward needs to provide opportunities for those in subordination to grow and assume meaningful responsibilities.
Health And Safety
God’s precepts assert that:
”When you build a new house, make a parapet around your roof so that you may not bring the guilt of bloodshed on your house if someone falls from the roof” (DEUTERONOMY 22:8).
This statement and other similar ones lead us to conclude that health and safety should be extremely important to us since in the mind of God they are equated with blood-guiltiness. We do not violate the intent of God’s Word by carrying this concern for health and safety to the point of including stress in the workplace and its effect on the health and well-being of the worker and his or her family. For example, too much overtime work, though financially rewarding in the short run, can be detrimental to health and family needs over a longer period of time. To be right, just, and fair to employees therefore demands a sincere concern for their health and safety on the job.
Discrimination
Discrimination is an inherent component in the natural order and essential to making choices. Everyone must make decisions that involve some sort of selection, which means choices made are automatically discriminatory. Because moral judgments involve discrimination, there is the danger of utilizing inappropriate criteria to make these moral judgments. It is the unjust discrimination that results which is at the heart of society’s historic concern over this important issue. Unjust discrimination reveals ungodly forms of favoritism and rejection that violate biblical norms.
”For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (DEUTERONOMY 10:17).
”Then Peter began to speak: ’I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism’ ” (ACTS 10:34).
”For God does not show favoritism” (ROMANS 2:11).
”And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him ” (EPHESIANS 6:9).
”Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism” (COLOSSIANS 3:25).
”My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Iesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ’Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, You stand there’ or ’Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” (JAMES 2:1-9).
”Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (1 PETER 1:17).
The first line of defense against unjust discrimination is to realize that the ”old nature” becomes automatically protective and defensive when our psychological comfort level is threatened. Thus, discrimination has its roots, and generally reveals, one’s personal insecurities or false pride.
Justice Toward Peers
Building Up, Tearing Down
The apostles, in giving Joseph of Cyprus the name of Barnabas which means Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36), recognized his propensity for building up his fellow workers. He was able to enhance lives and elevate people’s self-worth by encouraging good in them, while at the salon time covering their sin and deficiencies with love. Barnabas did not abandon John Mark when Paul refused to let him go on the second missionary journey.
”Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ’Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailedfor Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches” (ACTS 15:36-41).
Love covers a multitude of transgressions and problems.
”Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered ” (PSALMS 32:1).
”Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs” (PROVERBS 10:12).
“… remember this: Whoever turns a sinner form the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (JAMES 5:20).
”Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins ” (1 PETER 4:8).
Love encourages the best even in the midst of inadequacies. Such things as
personal insecurity, bitterness, jealousy, and an unforgiving spirit frequently
generate gossip. They can promote distrust through fault finding and disput-
ing another’s reputation. God hates these things. Justice calls for the spirit of
Barnabas; it repudiates that which tears others down. We are to build up our
peers in honest constructive ways.
Crediting Others
Plagiarism is not confined to the academic world or to the writing profession. Taking personal credit for good ideas or for results for which others deserve recognition is rampant in the business world as well. For example, it is easy for a group leader to imply to a supervisor that positive results emanating from the group ought to be credited to the leader rather than to those in the group who actually made the specific contributions. Implicit in the biblical model, however, is a sincere concern for interests of others, not just for our own.
”We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (ROMANS 1521-2).
”Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others ” (I CORINTHIANS 10:24).
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others ” (PHILIPPIANS 2:4).
Stealing credit is just that — stealing. Justice demands that credit be accurately attributed as surely as it requires careful placement of blame.
Helping
Bearing one another’s burdens is a vital part of the law of love. For example, helping peers who may be overwhelmed by work at a time when we are free to offer assistance. Being of help (sharing their burdens) can run from stuffing envelopes to performing computer tasks at your own work station. Righteousness expressed in this way accomplishes two things. It lightens the load while reducing pressures, and it is an expression of interest and concern for the person being helped. Moreover, it contributes to what is right, just, and fair in the marketplace. ”Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (GALATIANS 6:2).
Justice Toward Customers
Telling The Truth
At a point of sale, when sellers and buyers meet face to face, there are opportunities to be ”less than candid,” particularly when attempting to make sales offers appealing. Such practices as stretching the truth, exaggerating performance expectations, or being silent when less-than-positive facts ought to be shared, answering questions with half-truths, or making promises that cannot be kept all serve as temptations to unethical practices. Rationalizations that accompany such behavior are generally based on the conviction that statements made merely to ”smooth the way” are insignificant. However, if people truly believed such behavior was insignificant, they would be more apt to avoid it in order to build their reputations on impeccable integrity which God desires. God cannot ignore such self-promoting behavior, for He hates lying in any form. Broken promises also violate His will. King David once asked and noted,
”LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the
truth from his heart … who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (PSALM 15:1-2, 4).
Quality/Price
Tampering with a product’s quality while maintaining its price (or perhaps
raising it) without disclosing the intended change is likened to harlotry by God.
”See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water” (ISAIAH 1:21—22).
In this world of material abundance where markets are not only highly competitive but face ever rising costs, the opportunities to adversely alter quality while maintaining existing price structures is always present. If a product can be re-engineered to reduce costs without adversely affecting the quality, that is good stewardship. But reducing a product’s quality while maintaining its price is deceitful. God always knows intentions of the heart. We must therefore avoid self-serving rationalizations and do what is right, just, and fair in the marketplace where our customers are concerned. God requires standards of behavior that do not give even the appearance of deception or dishonesty, and we should require these same standards of ourselves as well.
Service
With many economies rapidly becoming more service-oriented, the matter
of being right, just, and fair will be even more ethically significant. It is of utmost importance to meet the expectations for service generated at the time of the original sale. To do less would be to perpetuate injustice. For example, the quality of replacement parts used when servicing products should be of major concern to persons offering such service. Customers need to know their choices where quality of replacement parts is concerned, and the extent of the service to be made available. To illustrate: if a new, fully-warranted (e.g., three years) electric motor costing $785 is available as a replacement, or a rebuilt motor with a ninety-day warranty is available for $350, the customer should be fully informed of both options, and allowed to make the choice. Otherwise, there may be an appearance of deception or the possibility of other problems in the future. Suppose the owner assumed the new motor had been installed when in reality the cheaper one had been substituted which subsequently broke down within 250 days. The potential for misunderstanding in such a case is obvious.
Although customers sometime bring disappointment on themselves by “sharp bargaining” or generate their own false expectations, Christians in the workplace should make every effort to clarify arrangements up-front to minimize the possibility of allowing this kind of situation to develop.
Justice Toward Competitors
Pirating
Various efforts to secure proprietary information from competitors occur in many industries. This is merely another form of stealing. Such activity may be intentional, as when personnel are hired away from a competitor, or when attempts are made to purchase inside information from willing informants. Attempts may be made to collect pertinent information by searching through a competitor’s trash. Or a competitor’s product may be taken and given just
enough minor alterations to avoid encroaching on an existing patent or copy-
right. Such competition is really an admission that the perpetrator is incapable, for whatever reason, of being personally creative and therefore needs to cheat to gain an advantage. But this kind of stealing is as wrong as robbing a bank.
Intentional Attacks
Does the Bible ever encourage or permit the intentional hurting of anyone?
Can God ever delight in one human being trying to tear down another? No! For we are told, ”Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him ” (PROVERBS 24:17-18).
Employing ”misinformation” and intentionally fanning harmful rumors are
ungodly behaviors. Scripture warns us not to take delight in another’s troubles. Any angry competition between people in the marketplace is called ”foolishness, chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:4). Scripture never suggests we try to get ahead of our neighbors. Instead, we are admonished to use our imagination, creativity, our resources and abilities to glorify God while we serve others. Although competition is a fact of life in our fallen world, for Christians it should not become the sole motivating force or objective of a business.
Respect
Because we are commanded to love our enemies (that is, to commit to acting
in a godly way for their best interests), what does it mean to love those who
work beside us in the marketplace? Does it not mean regarding our competitors as fellow sojourners who are also attempting to exercise dominion over the created order? We are to respect them, to avoid all conduct that is demeaning and disrespectful, and in fact avoid anything that could affect them adversely. We are to be kind, even to the point of building up their self-worth when it is in our power to do so.
Acknowledging another’s success, complementing (encouraging) another’s
integrity, and handling our own successes gracefully in the presence of our
competitors are all part of doing what is right, just, and fair in the marketplace. Indeed, our service for Christ calls us to do no less.
Justice Toward Government
”Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (ROMANS 13:1-7).
”Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men” (mus 3:1-2).
”Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 PETER 2:13-17).
Obedience
A careful reading of the above makes it abundantly clear that God estab-
lishes governments. He established them to be His ministers for good, and we are to obey and live in submission to the governing authorities providing their laws do not contradict God’s expressed will. Moreover, we are to pay taxes, observe sanctioned customs, honoring and fearing those in authority. We are to obey the laws in the marketplace, even when we disagree with them.
In most cases, the standards of Christian business people should exceed government’s standards. Christians should assure themselves that God’s standards of doing what is right, just and fair are being met. In such cases it will be unlikely that standards set by the government will be higher than those they select voluntarily.
Justice Toward Society
Community Responsibilities
Christians in the marketplace should become motivated to take the lead in
efforts to encourage social responsibility. They should be prepared to seek the public’s assistance to bring about justice in the marketplace through incentives (first) or, by legal mandate if necessary. Someone needs to look out for the general public’s interest. It would be gratifying to see small business leaders working together in the forefront demonstrating Christ’s exhortation found in Philippians 2:4-5: ”Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Iesus. . . ”
Often companies tend to avoid public involvement in social issues. But Christian business communities should speak with a loud voice on issues of social or economic justice whenever they discern its absence. All Christians must learn to take seriously the reality that ”Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked” (Proverbs 25:26). Christians everywhere should lead the way in calling for justice and righteousness whenever they see perversions.
Conclusion
The examples discussed here of doing and being all that is right, just, and
fair — to employers, employees, peers, customers, competitors, government, and society — are just an introduction to what is inferred in calls to righteousness, justice, and fairness in the marketplace by Solomon and Micah. However, they are a beginning. Christians engaged in marketplace activities should, with God’s help, further explore (through Bible study, prayer, and perhaps fellowship in a Christian accountability group), what is involved in God’s call to do what is right, just, and fair, regardless of where they work.
Being “salt” and ”light” in the marketplace depends on whether attitudes, motives, and actions manifest a loving concern for accomplishing righteousness, justice and fairness. Our love must be expressed in a way that genuinely reflects God’s love and communicates His intent to those affected. ”In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven” (MATTHEW 5:16).
Ultimately, all of us are accountable to God and will have to acknowledge
before Him that we are without excuse for occasions when we resisted actions that were just. To do justly requires a considerable amount of wisdom that, according to Scripture, we lack only when we fail to ask God for it, because He delights in providing it.
”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him ” (JAMES 1:5).
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Chapter 6: Justice In The Marketplace
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