307 J Implementing bibical standards

MARKETPLACE FACTS Module 307 J

ARE YOU WILLING TO IMPLEMENT BIBLICAL ETHICS IN BUSINESS AND LIVE WITH THE FALLOUT? Mario Denton Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Overall purpose of this series on Marketplace To understand and learn from various marketplace facts so that you can: • Be more effective and anointed wherever you are in the marketplace. • Adapt and benchmark your marketplace practices and principles discussed in this series. • Use these material to facilitate the work of evangelism.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Gain or keep the competitive edge • In attempting to gain or keep the competitive edge, people often: - MISREPRESENT YOUR PRODUCT as to what it is capable of delivering - OVER PROMISE AND UNDER DELIVER to win contracts - UNDERCUT A COMPETITOR’S REPUTATION to gain the competitive edge Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Be ruthlessly ethical • Two reasons a person would be reluctant to be ruthlessly ethical: - First reason: FEAR that you can’t compete on an uneven playing field with folks who are bending the rules

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Be ruthlessly ethical • Two reasons a person would be reluctant to be ruthlessly ethical: - Second reason: FEAR of what people will think if you refuse to shade the truth

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Listen to God’s reassurance • “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out…

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”

(Proverbs 10:9; 11:3)

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Listen to God’s reassurance • “I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.”

(Psalm 37:35-37) Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Ask yourself • “Is competition Biblical?”

“Can I really love my neighbour as myself if I am in competition with him?

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

A Biblical perspective • Doing business focuses on EXCELLENCE and SERVANTHOOD rather than on COMPETITION. • Since God has already promised to meet our needs, why not simply serve the public with a top flight product and rest the results with Him? Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

A Biblical perspective • Choosing to do business God’s way may appear foolish in winning over one’s competitors.

• However, it opens the door for God to demonstrate His faithfulness to you, and gives you an opportunity to observe His program in dealing with the unrighteous.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Reflection time What is stopping you to be be ruthlessly ethical

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Proverbs 4:23 • Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

- Our hearts hold the key to life.

- Out of the condition of our hearts flows life or death.

- For this reason we need to guard and protect our hearts.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Proverbs 4:23 • A protected heart is a source or a spring of life!

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that You will help me to guard and protect my heart so that it will become a source of life, to me and to those around me. Amen.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Prayer Focus • Father, In the name of Jesus, I surrender myself to walk in the Word in the m arketplace. Your word living in me produces the Life in this world.

• The word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It makes my way plain before me.

• I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation – the Living Word of God! Amen Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Learning, application and commitment: James 1: 22-25

• “Do not m erely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

• Do what it says.

• Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the m irror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

• But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV)

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Learning, application and commitment • One of the principles that I have learned from this lesson was …

• I intend to apply this principle in my marketplace by: …..

• With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will begin applying this truth immediately.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Jesus said: Take what I have given you and change the world!

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Sources and acknowledgement CHRIST@ WORK NEWSLETTER • •

Copyright Notice FCCI- Limited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Copy is limited to member and/or FCCI small group use.

Unauthorized use of FCCI, Christ@Work, Crown Companies, their trademarks or logos is strictly prohibited.

• • •

The “Facts of the Matter” is also available through the Internet: www.factsofthematter.org. R. Dwight Hill.

Slides compiled by Dr Mario Denton.

Please commit yourself to inform us of the results regarding the effectiveness thereof should you wish to use this material.

Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards

Blessings from Mario Denton

Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive.

Let's network.

Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum. Â Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-m ail address:mario@crown.org.za Website: www.crown.org.za Marketplace facts: Implementing Biblical standards