The Ten Commandments of Business part 1
Part two will be released next week...stay tuned!
Photo and Graphics By: Kate Couch with Canva
Written By: Tony Sprando
How can we incorporate Christianity into how we do business? There are lots of ways we can and should carry the way we govern ourselves according to Christ into the way we do so in business. Can the ten commandments relate to business?
The first week we’ll do part one, the first 5, and the following week we’ll do part 2, the following 5.
No.1 Show respect for authority.
This first principle is based on the first commandment which says, "I am the
LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me." This means that God should be put before all others. This respect for authority can be shown in the workplace as God is the authority over all we can relate that to. Who are we authority over and who is the authority over us? How can we make that employee and employer relationship model the respect that God calls us to have not only for him but for other authorities?
No.2 Loyalty
Derived from Exudos 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” ESV
There are two things to extract from this and apply to our workplace: Stay loyal to your current employer and keep your eye on the customers you already have for they are loyal to you, so keep them that way.
No. 3 Use effective communication.
Take it from the creator of the universe and use effective communication in word and deed. The third commandment says, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." This means that God's name should only be used with respect. Similarly, you can relate this to how you talk about your boss, coworkers, or customers using derogatory comments or less than savory words. Though it may be healthy to express your frustration or have some fun with sarcasm, it’s important to keep your language as professional and uplifting as possible.
No.4 Provide proper rest, reflection, and recreation.
We Americans have destroyed this one and now are responsible for its carnage. You are now
experiencing the aftermath of not resting, the great thief has entered your house, its name is stress. The stealer of life and joy. Let me just say this, disregard the overwhelming feeling to get money in the bank, obligated to your family and customers to "produce". If you don’t put on the right perspective to rest and breathe, you will only perpetuate the pattern to those around you causing unsettledness. Two things will help put this into perfective and urgency; #1 God does not give grace to a workaholic but allows him to fall. (Ecc 2:10)
#2 Your body will try to deal with it in ways it knows how to, drunkenness, sleeplessness & destructive dreams but it will eventually fail and it will only be your fault. (Ecc 5:3)
Simply put...grab your life and make it do what is right in the eyes of God and not man. Get unstuck! Wake up! The fourth commandment says, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it, you shall not do any work….wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." This means that the day of God Sunday, the Sabbath day should always be remembered and observed.
No.5 Show respect for elders.
The fifth commandment says, "Honor your father and your mother:
that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God giveth you." This is God
telling his people that they should always respect their parents. This is any feasibly transferable one as in addition to doing exactly what it says it’s important to carry respect for people around us at all times including employees, employers, and clients.
The next 5 commandments of business will be released next week in part 2
*This article is Tony Sprando of AV Bends intellectual property. To use or reference this article please contact: Tony@avbend.com*
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-couch-a7318220a/
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