What Should Christian Business Owners Value?
This post is part of the Bible and Business series on Christian ethics for Christian Business Owners.
What values does the Bible prescribe for a Christian business owner to adopt and bake into his business? Happily, comparisons in the Bible teach us what to value. These values are presented as valuing one thing over another. The following table outlines that which all Christians - including Christian business owners - should value.
Value
Biblical Citation
Potential Core Value Names
Opposite Core Value Names
Faith more than money
1 Peter 1:6-7
Faith in God
Faithlessness Disloyalty
God’s commands more than money
Psalm 119:72; Proverbs 3:14, 8:10
Trust in God
Doubt Distrust
God’s wisdom more than money
Proverbs 16:16, James 1:5-8; Ecclesiastes 4:13
Wisdom
Ignorance Thoughtlessness
God’s kingdom more than wealth
Matthew 13:44-45
Eternal Perspective
Transient Temporary
Hard work over empty boasting
Proverbs 12:29;
Diligence
Sloth Laziness
Relationship with God over earthly relationships
Matthew 10:37
Stewardship
Carelessness Negligence
God’s praise over man’s praise
John 12:43
Humility
Pride Arrogance
Knowing Christ over achievement.
Philippians 3:4-20
Stewardship
Carelessness Negligence
Wisdom above all other desires
Proverbs 8:11
Wisdom
Ignorance Thoughtlessness
Obedience to God more than religious traditions
1 Samuel 15:22
Holiness
Wickedness
Being with God more than doing anything else
Psalm 84:10
Intimacy with God
Enmity
Fear the Lord over great wealth
Proverbs 15:16
Fear of the Lord
Pride Arrogance
Poor with loving relationships than to be rich with much hatred and strife
Proverbs 15:17
Honesty Integrity Authenticity
Show proper respect rather than extravagant revelry.
Poor with peace and quiet over wealth with strife
Proverbs 17:1; Ecclesiastes 4:6
Honest Peace
Strife Discord
Good name/good reputation more than wealth
Proverbs 22:1
Reputation
Ill Repute
Walk blamelessly and yet be poor than to be wealthy with perverse ways
Proverbs 28:6
Holiness
Wickedness
Contentment with what one has more than discontentment with what one does not have
Ecclesiastes 6:9
Contentment
Discontentment
Being killed than causing a follower of God to sin
Luke 17:2
Holiness Purity
Wickedness Impurity
Trust in God rather than trusting in man
Psalm 118:8-9
Trust in God
Trust in Man Trust in Self
Patience over a display of strength; self-control over domineering others
Proverbs 16:32; Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
Patience Self-Control
Impatient Impulsive
Diminishing oneself in the presence of the powerful than lifting up oneself in the presence of the powerful
Proverbs 25:6-7
Humility Respect
Pride Arrogance Disrespect
To not vow than to vow and not fulfil one’s vow
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Reliable Prudent
Unreliable Imprudent
Listen to the rebuke of a friend more than the praise of those who don’t know you.
Ecclesiastes 7:5
Teachable Coachable
Stubborn
Show proper respect than extravagant revelry.
Ecclesiastes 7:2
Respect Decorum
Disrespect Rudeness Impropriety