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    Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business
    Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business
    Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business
    Ebook90 pages1 hour

    Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business

    By Wayne Grudem

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    About this ebook

    Can business activity in itself be morally good and pleasing to God? Sometimes business can seem so shady-manipulating the "bottom line," deceiving the consumer, or gaining promotions because of whom you know.

    But Wayne Grudem introduces a novel concept: business itself glorifies God when it is conducted in a way that imitates God's character and creation. He shows that all aspects of business, including ownership, profit, money, competition, and borrowing and lending, glorify God because they are reflective of God's nature. Though Grudem isn't naïve about the easy ways these activities can be perverted and used as a means to sin, he knows that Christians can be about the business of business.

    This biblically based book is a thoughtful guide to imitating God during interactions with customers, coworkers, employees, and other businesses. See how your business, and your life in business, can be dedicated to God's glory.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrossway Books
    Release dateNov 6, 2003
    ISBN9781433516832
    Author

    Wayne Grudem

    Wayne Grudem (PhD, University of Cambridge) is Distinguished Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary. He is a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and the author of over twenty-five books.  

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    Reviews for Business for the Glory of God

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    • 5/5
      An excellent little book on a most important topic. Dr Grudem argues that business is not morally neutral nor is it a necessary evil. Rather it is a legitimate sphere of creation which is honouring to God. He shows that it is solidly grounded in God's created order and when engaged in properly, it is a calling as spiritual as being a pastor.
    • 5/5
      Clarified some ideas regarding working and business as "ministry" for life.
    • 4/5
      "Business for the Glory of God" by Wayne Grudem is adapted from a paper he wrote entitled "How Business in Itself Can Glorify God". Grudem refers to business as "a neglected way to glorify God". He argues that the central aspects of business are fundamentally good and pleasing to God. He discusses 11 business aspects:1. Ownership2. Productivity3. Employment 4. Commercial transactions (buying and selling)5. Profit6. Money7. Inequality of possessions8. Competition9. Borrowing and lending10. Attitudes of the heart11. Effect on world povertyThe basis of Grudem's argument is that Christian's have 2 choices, to be pleasing to God by imitating him (Ephesians 5:1) or to displease God by sinning. It is within the frame work of these choices that business can become good or bad.He frequently references familiar scripture to make uncommon arguments. For example he writes "When God gave the command, 'You shall not steal' (Ex. 20:15), he affirmed the validity of personal ownership of possessions." It's a long leap from not stealing to affirming the validity of personal ownership of possessions. The commandment against stealing only shows that possessions are owned by entities other than yourself, while it doesn't validate personal ownership it also doesn't eliminate personal ownership of possessions. In nearly every chapter Grudem defends his thesis that a given business aspect is good by appealing to the Christian calling to imitate God, in the chapter on Money (chapter 6). He writes "If money were evil in itself, then God would not have any. But he says, 'The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts' (Hag 2:8)." It does follow that if the Lord posses silver and gold (which were and are used as money) they cannot be evil. What doesn't follow is that Christians can and should imitate God in every sense; after all didn't God send a flood and cause the plagues?In each chapter he returns to the concept that “We will find that in every aspect of business there are multiple layers of opportunities to give glory to god, as well as multiple temptations to sin.” This is perhaps best seen in the employment chapter; employees can be a great blessing and can be blessed or one of many other combinations, it’s easy for an employer to exploit and mistreat employees but employees can also exploit their employment and mistreat their employer. It’s also easily seen in his argument on the aspect of profit; profit can be used to help others and multiply resources or it can be used to glorify self. Grudem frequently returns to the argument that the proper use of resources results in the betterment of society and blessing from God. This is seen is the definition of profit “profit is thus an indication that I have made something useful for others, and in that way it can show that I am doing good for others in the goods in services that I sell.” This argument borders on a prosperity gospel message; if my business betters society God will bless it with profit. Business that don’t do good works may also prosper, the factory that exploits workers may still turn a profit but it is not “doing good for others” it is doing evil and justifying it under the definition of profit. Regardless of the potential flaws in the arguments "Business for the Glory of God" is an excellent starting place and launching pad for further study into Christian business. Since the book was first presented as a paper it lacks completely defined and supported arguments, while this may turn some readers away it will drive more to study the business aspects and arguments on their own or in small groups, which is perhaps the best use of the book.
    • 5/5
      Great book! short, concise, shows very important misconceptions about business in the christian world. Really helped me a lot!
    • 5/5
      Brilliantly written book. Very understandable language, excellent content. Loved it

    Book preview

    Business for the Glory of God - Wayne Grudem

    A thoughtful review of the purpose and meaning of business and a fresh way to look at honoring and glorifying God in doing business.

    —C. WILLIAM POLLARD

    Chairman Emeritus, The ServiceMaster Company

    What a great reminder that your business life can be a critical part of how you serve God and impact lives for eternity!

    —DAVE BROWNE

    former CEO, LensCrafters;

    current CEO, Family Christian Stores

    In the often challenging integration of the world of business and a life of faith, Dr. Grudem’s book provides helpful, easy-to-understand grounding for business leadership.

    —JAMES FELLOWES

    CEO, Fellowes, Inc.

    Too often Christians feel guilty about self-interest choice, acquisition of private property, and the profit motive. Wayne Grudem makes clear how they are part of God’s plan for moral lives. What remarkable insight!

    —STEPHEN HAPPEL, PH.D.

    Professor of Economics, Arizona State University

    Dr. Grudem clearly shows us how our business activities provide unique opportunities to glorify God. His conclusions are insightful, invaluable, and convicting. I’m putting this on my once-a-year refresher reading list to motivate me to a Colossians 3:23-24 work ethic.

    —MIKE SEARCY

    Managing Director, Ronald Blue & Co., Phoenix, Arizona

    Effectively refuting the claims to ownership of the sphere of human business activity by corporations, governments, and ideologies, Wayne Grudem succinctly details how business is God’s design for His glory and our good.

    —DAVID PAYNE

    Economist, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.

    This book should be required reading for all pastors who love the business practitioners God has placed in their midst. . . . And all business persons will be blessed and encouraged by reading Wayne Grudem’s enlightened application of God’s Word to the enterprise of business. The book’s content is saturated with God’s glorious intentions for those called to serve the Lord in business.

    —RICHARD C. CHEWNING, PH.D.

    Distinguished Scholar in Residence, John Brown University

    A brilliant look at the interconnectedness of economic life with spiritual life, and an essential antidote for those who doubt business as a God-honoring and God-glorifying activity.

    —BARRY ASMUS, Ph.D.

    Senior Economist, National Center for Policy Analysis

    123

    Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business

    Copyright © 2003 by Wayne Grudem

    Published by Crossway Books

    a division of Good News Publishers

    1300 Crescent Street

    Wheaton, Illinois 60187

    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

    Cover design: Josh Dennis

    First printing 2003

    Printed in the United States of America

    Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

    Used by permission. All rights reserved.

    Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

    Grudem, Wayne A.

    Business for the glory of God : the Bible’s teaching on the moral goodness of business / Wayne Grudem.

    p. cm.

    Includes bibliographical references and index.

    ISBN 1-58134-517-8 (alk. paper)

    1. Business—Biblical teaching. 2. Business—Religious aspects—Christianity. I. Title.

    BS680.B8G78     2003

    261.8'5—dc22

    2003021248

    LB              13     12     11     10     09     08     07     06     05     04     03

    15     14     13     12     11     10     9     8     7     6     5     4     3     2     1

    To my father,

    ARDEN E. GRUDEM,

    who honored and glorified God in his life in business,

    and to my mother,

    JEAN C. GRUDEM,

    whose generosity, kindness, and

    faith have been an example to all who know her

    CONTENTS

    Preface

    Introduction: A Neglected Way to Glorify God

    1 Ownership

    2 Productivity

    3 Employment

    4 Commercial Transactions

    5 Profit

    6 Money

    7 Inequality of Possessions

    8 Competition

    9 Borrowing and Lending

    10 Attitudes of Heart

    11 Effect on World Poverty

    Notes

    PREFACE

    FOR SEVERAL YEARS I have taught classes and done research on the Bible’s teachings about a wide range of economic questions—topics like wealth and poverty, saving and giving, work and leisure, buying and selling, borrowing and lending, employers and employees, and use of the earth’s resources for productive purposes. The Bible says much about these topics, and a thorough treatment deserves a much larger book than this, one that I am still in the process of writing.

    But while my larger book was still unfinished, Ted Yamamori, past president of Food for the Hungry, persuaded me to read a paper on the way some of these topics apply specifically to business activity. I agreed and read a paper called How Business in Itself Can Glorify God at the Conference for Holistic Entrepreneurs, which Dr. Yamamori convened at the Regent University Graduate School of Business, October 3-5, 2002. This book is an expanded version of that paper.¹

    I wish to express thanks to many people who have contributed to my thinking or made suggestions on this manuscript, including Barry Asmus, Jerry Brock, David Browne, Diane Hakala, Stephen Happel, David Payne, Steve Uhlmann, and many former students in class discussions. Special thanks is due to David Kotter, a wise and gracious former student (and adjunct faculty member in economics at Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois) whose knowledge and experience in economics and business have made numerous contributions to my thinking and have significantly influenced what I have written. Yet I have not taken every suggestion from these helpers and friends, and they should not be blamed for any of my mistakes that remain!

    I also wish to express appreciation to the administration and boards of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (where

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