Bible Question: Are there any Bible verses that would direct an entrepreneur in a home based business to determine what percentage would be considered to be a reasonably ethical mark-up on merchandise? |
Bible Answer: Dear heseeshisson, I’m not so sure that you will get an answer that will be satisfactory to you. What you’re asking as it seems to me, is for direction from God’s Word on how to conduct your business, specifically with pricing merchandise. I don’t know that His Word covers such a subject but He does inform us of principles and virtues that are indicative of His own, showing all who look upon our dealings, business, personal or otherwise, that we belong to Him. These should be utilized when establishing how to conduct your business as well as with whom to conduct it and what product or service you will be marketing. The whole of God’s counsel should be taken into consideration, so to pinpoint a specific verse would be difficult I think. With that in mind however, please consider the following to be some really sound advice: Proverbs 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. “We must endeavor to live comfortably, and provide for our children and families, according as our rank and condition are, but we must not seek great things. Be not of those that will be rich, that desire it as their chief good and design it as their highest end. Covetous men think it is their wisdom, imagining that if they be rich to such a degree they shall be completely happy. Cease from that wisdom, for it is a mistake; a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. 1. Those that aim at great things fill their hands with business more than they can grasp, so that their life is both a perfect drudgery and a perpetual hurry; but be not thou such a fool; labour not to be rich. What thou hast, or doest, be master of it, and not a slave to it as those that rise up early, sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness, and all to be rich. Moderate labour, that we may have to give, is our wisdom and duty. Immoderate labour, that we may have to hoard, is our sin and folly. 2. They fill their heads with projects more than they understand, so that their life is a constant toss of care and fear; but do not thou thus vex thyself: Cease from thy own wisdom; go on quietly in the way of thy business, not contriving new ways and setting thy wits to work to find out new inventions. Acquiesce in God's wisdom, and cease from thy own.” – Matthew Henry 1Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. In the end my friend, conduct yourself, your business as a Christian is expected to. Stand in His grace, WOS |