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

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with a disability as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity," including those who have record or are regarded as having those disabilities, but don’t actually or currently have a disability (ADA National Network). While Christians are called to be merciful and gracious, we are provided with the God-given ability to question and use intellect in decisions on giving. Matthew 10:16 says, "behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves". Just as Grudem explains the government’s lack in providing a free market for businesses, the government has been extremely flexible in providing unjust reimbursement and protection to individuals under the welfare net.

Next to claims about governmental safety nets, Grudem also makes a broad statement in regards to the wealthy which not only stands against his economic stance throughout the book, but can also be considered imprudent from a biblical perspective. Analyzing 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Grudem states that "those who are right have more opportunities and also have more obligation to give generously to the poor" (Gruden, W., 2003). Without a doubt, this statement does hold some logical merit; however, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 speaks more to the temptations of the heart and motives of the wealthy, reminding them to be generous and avoid becoming prideful. In terms of economics, Grudem broadly portrays trickle-down economics as a means for improved standard of living for all levels in an economy and preaches the position of business owners and competition among them as drivers of economic productivity. A theory of trickle-down growth and development outlines the method of wealth passing down the classes and explains that "as more capital is accumulated in the economy more funds may be available to the poor for investment purposes" (Aghion, P., & Bolton, P., 1997). With a higher percentage of money taken from the wealthy for welfare purposes, in terms of taxation, less money is available for these corporate incomes to reinvest back into business ventures; ultimately, this reduces competition, innovation, and overall economic well-being. Knowing this, it is important that the wealthy not be "discriminated" against for their wealth, but from a biblical perspective, wealthy Christians are called to a higher financial responsibility with the greater financial blessing they have received from the Lord.

Throughout In Business for the Glory of God: The Bible’s Teachings on the Moral Goodness of Business, author Wayne Grudem provides common sense examples to explain what the Bible says about often disputed elements of business. These include ownership and possession of personal property, productivity, employment relationships, commercial transactions of buying and selling goods and services, the righteousness and effectiveness of profits in a business, the love of money, inequality of possessions, competition in the economy and among individuals, and the misconceptions and biblical perspective on borrowing and lending. Concluding his analysis of these business themes in a biblical and economical point of view, Grudem explains how God is looking to the motives of our hearts in business and that our goals should align with God’s purpose and guidance in our lives. Secondly, he makes a compelling case for business success as a means to alleviate world poverty and describes the obstacles businesses face that prevent this long-term solution. Ultimately, Grudem’s simple explanations proved almost entirely Scripturally based, and most of Grudem’s economic theory aligned with my beliefs. For example, he made a great position on productivity, profitability, and competition as positive effects in raising the economic well-being and providing the means for individuals to pursue their God-given gifts; in addition to this, I agreed with his final case for the removal of government barriers to business success. On the other hand, some statements made by Grudem were arguable; for example, I refuted his claim of governmental place to be a "safety net" for incapable individuals with a call to question the "need" of those claiming welfare to ensure we give to those who actually need it. Secondly, I called out the contradiction in his claim that the wealthy are obligated to give more with biblical context and economic stance on trickle-down economics as a means for overall economic success.

Works Cited

Grudem, W. (2003). Business for the glory of God: The Bible’s teaching on the moral goodness

of business. Crossway.

What is the definition of disability under the ADA? (n.d.). ADA National Network. Retreived

from https://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada

Lewis, W. W. (2005). The power of productivity: Wealth, poverty, and the threat to global

stability. University of Chicago Press.

Lewis, W. W. (2005). The power of productivity: Wealth, poverty, and the threat to global

stability. [Abstract] University of Chicago Press.

Aghion, P., & Bolton, P. (1997). A theory of trickle-down growth and development. The Review

of Economic Studies, 64(2),