Ideologies are unbelievably seductive. Political ideologies- socialism, liberalism, libertarianism, capitalism, free-market systems, etc, are ideas that propose ways of conducting business. The reality is that they are ideas, and not concrete facts. However, when we measure those ideas, and their outcomes fair-price capitalism emerges as a great idea off the back of highly exploitative cultures that bartered with unfair yardsticks that often took advantage of the poor.
‘The barter system dates back to 6000 BC, making it the oldest mode of transaction. The Mesopotamia tribes first introduced it, and later, the Phoenicians embraced it as a form of trading. They bartered goods to diverse people located in various cities across the Nile and beyond. For instance, commodities were swapped for weapons, food, and spices.’- https://study.com/academy/lesson/bartering-systems-definition-lesson-quiz.html
Still today, the greedy use the notion of supply and demand to exploit people for personal gain rather than using education to teach people to be selective about the choices they make. Instead, marketing, entices consumerism that is a hollow pit of endless validation-seeking through brand supremacy.
‘IMF Live’ describes the differences between fair competition, monopolies, and how fair-price capitalism derives its ideal, and how exploitation happens, to quote, ‘The key outcome of a monopoly is prices and profits that are higher than under perfect competition.’ – https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/Series/Back-to-Basics/Supply-and-Demand
Religious pluralism is another ideology purported but is an absolute lie. A concept of God is not God, just as a chemical dopamine high in a “spiritual” environment is not a spiritual encounter with The Living God of The Holy Bible. ‘Reasons To Believe’ explains why religious pluralism is a false notion. To quote, ‘Many faiths do share some common beliefs and moral values. However, fundamental and irreconcilable differences divide them on many crucial issues, including the nature of God, the source and focus of revelation, the human predicament, the nature of salvation, and the destiny of humankind.’ – https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/profound-problems-with-religious-pluralism
With the backdrop of understanding the exploitative nature of ancient cultures, the bias of their spiritualised false beliefs that enabled exploitation through monopolistic dictatorships, we find some profound lessons on character in Genesis 23.
Genesis 23 vs 1-17 there is a magnificent account of opportunistic culture exploiting for personal gain in a situation where Abraham’s need is taken as a business opportunity. To note is the false kindness of gesturing generosity to Abraham.
How often have you accepted a gift only to discover later it is used as a hook to force a favour in return?
This distinct lesson about ethics in Genesis 23, is a remarkable beacon of God separating His Way from the corrupt pagan culture of the day. We find this concept of ethics beautifully explained in Proverbs 11 vs 1-2, Amplified Bible.
God wants us to do things the right way, for the right motives, especially because as the creation made in His Image, who once a follower of Christ we bear the inheritance of His Name as Children of Light, we must conduct ourselves as salt of the earth being just.
Money is NOT the goal.
The goal is to do business God’s Way for the purpose of enabling God’s Church to reach lives to share The Truth about Jesus so lives can be saved from the pit of hell. Our heart, focus, and ethics in business should be glorifying Jesus.
Afterall, The Holy Bible, Revelation 22 vs 15, tells us that deceitfulness is not acceptable to God, “Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating),” Amplified Bible).
AMEN
#Hayibo 