307 l compromising on ethics

Marketplace facts: Compromising on EthicsMarketplace facts: Compromising on Ethics

MARKETPLACE FACTSModule 307 L

Rationalisations We Often Make When Compromising Our Ethics

Mario Denton

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www.parentsreachingout.org/images/eagle.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.parentsreachingout.org/adobe/projectadobe.htm&h=195&w=160&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreaching%2Bdreams%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8


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.



Compromising Our Ethics

Compromise 1: We persuade ourselves that others are

doing it



We persuade ourselves that others are doing it.

That may be true, but we will still give an account to God



Account to God• Be happy, young man, while you are

young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment…For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.



Account to God• So we make it our goal to please him,

whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (Ecc. 11:9; 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10) (See Psa. 50:4; Rom. 2:5-11; 1 Cor. 4:5; Rev. 20:12-15)




Compromise 2: We tell ourselves that no one will

know.



We tell ourselves that no one will know.

Really?




• “For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths…The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good…My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.




• Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? …Do not I fill heaven and earth?…Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Prov. 5:21; 15:3; Jer. 16:17; 23:24; Heb. 4:13) (See Job 31:3; Psa. 11:4; Jer. 17:1 0)




Compromise 3: We convince ourselves that no one cares.



We convince ourselves that no one cares.

God does:



We convince ourselves that no one cares.

• “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time…The LORD was grieved…” (Gen. 6:5,6a) (See Eph. 4:30)




Compromise 4: We rationalise our compromise, treating it as a lesser offense than it really

is:



We rationalize our compromise, treating it as a lesser offense than it

really is

“Hey, cutting a few corners here and there is not that

serious.”



Cutting a few corners here and there is not that

serious. Guess again:



Guess again:

• A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free… no one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” (Pro. 19:5; Psa. 101:7) (See Psa. 52:3; 101:7; Pro. 19:5; Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15)




Compromise 5: We talk ourselves into believing we deserve favoured treatment that allows us to bend the

rules



We talk ourselves into believing we deserve favored treatment that allows

us to bend the rules:

• Hey, I was shafted...” “They didn’t uphold their end of the bargain.”

“Because I did all the work on the project, I am the one who should get compensated – not them!”



Jesus sees it differently

• “…Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it.



Jesus sees it differently

• And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously…” (Matt. 5:39b-42 – Msg) (See Lk.6:27-36; 9:23, 24)



QUESTION:

Are you committed to uncompromising Biblically-based ethics, whatever the

cost?



Jeremiah 18:6

• As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand.

- God wants to work in our lives.- As a potter works with clay, so God wants to work with us.



Jeremiah 18:6

• The question is: will we allow God to work? Entrust your life to God and He will work things out!

PRAYER: Lord, I place my life in Your hands. I pray that You will work in me so that something wonderful will be produced. Amen



Prayer Focus• Father, In the name of Jesus, I

surrender myself to walk in the Word in the marketplace. 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



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

• “Do not merely 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 mirror 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)



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.



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



Sources and acknowledgementCHRIST@ 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.

http://www.factsofthematter.org/



Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network.

Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum.

Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-mail address:[email protected]

Website: www.crown.org.za

Blessings from Mario Denton


307 l compromising on ethics

Documents