Who is the Christian : 1 Pet 1:1 – God’s elect – strangers in this world . 2 Corinthians 5:20 – ambassadors of Christ … reconcile a fallen world to God. Therefore as Christians we are God’s people living in a world that is not Christian. We are in the world but not of the world. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people ….. called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. But we do not live away from this world – we live here and are “the light of the world and the salt of the earth”

Work or engagement in business is not the secular side of our lives but part and parcel of our vocation from God. We are ministers of God in business and our places of work. Examples of children of God in business :- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Jesus, Peter, Andrew, Mathew, Luke, Paul, etc. Col 2:23-24 ‘And whatsoever you do. Do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.

Straightforward ethical challenges for Christians in business or in the workplace:

Dishonest business dealings.
Theft from company supplies.
Active promotion of false, pornographic or anti Christian literature.
Tax evasion or avoidance or whatever.
Fraud, embezzlement and theft
The key here is a heart that truly honours God, obeying God’s word clearly and unequivocally.
Complex and not easy to solve ethical challenges for the Christian in business or the work place:-
Promoting a product with integrity
Determining what is reasonable profit
Fair play with respect to competitors
Balancing responsibilities at work with those at home.

GUIDELINE FOR CHRISTIANS IN BUSINESS AND IN THE WORK PLACE.

Do a heart check
Study the word of God – meditate on the word of God daily – reflect on its message for the individual and the corporate body.
Have faith in the everlasting goodness of God. He never fails. NEVER. Rom 8:28
Pray through all decisions.
Do not seek confrontation, misunderstanding and quarrels but seek understanding and peace. Heb 12:14-15.
Loves conquers all – 1Cor 13:1-9.
Iron sharpens iron – Encourage and support one another.
Observe the Golden rule – Matt 7:12
Be a servant leader
Look to Jesus for your example
Do not seek short cuts to get ahead
Do not be afraid
Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Do not envy evil doers
Always be faithful
Hold all Godly virtues dear
Work in humility – Remember that it is by grace that you are saved