Greed In Business = Trouble In The Family!

“Greedy people bring trouble to their families, but the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.” (Pr 15:27)(NCV)

The relentless drive to acquire the elusive “American Dream”, is what fuels many business professionals. To many, in pursuit of the world’s definition of success, means “getting more and more”, “climbing the corporate ladder at all cost”, or perhaps it means “the end justifies the means, no matter what!” This kind of ill-advised pursuit requires that a person disconnect other areas of life that makes significant demands on their time and attention. One way to separate these distractions is to departmentalize them.

Highly motivated entrepreneur and business professionals often compartmentalize their professional interests from the rest of their personal lives. Many “go-getters” tend to divide their lives into these different compartments and make decisions as if they are not interconnected. For many, their thoughts about church, religion, matters concerning God and the Bible, or even their family, have little or nothing to do with their day-to-day business decisions and activities that are required to be successful. They rationalize that these different compartments neatly and separately co-exist. For instance, one might;

• Define things as being secular versus spiritual;
• Make clear distinctions between that which is personal as opposed to the professional matters;
• Or draw a big distinction between their family life and their business life.

The truth of the matter is that God does not view our lives as being compartmentalized. A Biblical view sees the secular as spiritual and our professional and personal lives co-existing in the same space. The actions and the decisions that we make at the office effects what happens at home. Whether a person realizes it or not, decisions and practices in the work place have a direct impact on what happens back on the home front.

The relentless drive to get more and more in the workplace is called “Greed”. Greed is flaw that ultimately brings distrust and dishonor to all those involved. A person in pursuit of unmerited gain is a continuous source of grief for themselves, as well as their families. Greed and covetousness leads men and women to habitually want more than their share. As a results, the progressive overflow of greed leads to bribes and the kickbacks. Bribes and kickbacks are a perversion of justice, a misrepresentation that ultimately breeds distrust and dishonor to all those that are involved including all family members who bear their name. Those who refuse to be involved in these ungodly practices will find longevity and prosperity.

There is energizing freedom and great gratification in honesty that translates into the idea of establishing a legacy. Businessmen and businesswomen that strive to operate an honest business not only live well themselves, they also leave a proud heritage to their children. Conversely, the foolish and fraudulent leave an inheritance of misery.

“The good people who live honest lives will be a blessingto their children.” (Pr 20:7)(NCV)

A family’s religious passion will produce the family’s long-term qualities. In other words, the children of ethical parents are the recipients of the divine favor of God. The family traits model behavior that is mimicked by the children, and ultimately the advantages or the hazards are experienced by the next generation. When there are models of godly parents who live out their Christian beliefs, the children are challenged to become wise themselves.

Thoughts to Ponder

1. Have you ever considered your business decisions would directly impact your family?
2. What legacy are you preparing to leave your children or family?
3. Have you considered the long term generational effect of your business practices?