Proverbs 11:26 “People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.”
A strong application of this truth is the example of Joseph in Egypt.
Principle: Business practices and profits should consider social conscience issues.
Good marketplace timing is one thing but squeezing the maximum profit out of a product due to actual or artificial shortage is despicable.
When Joseph was Pharaoh’s assistant, he had God-given insights about the coming famine.
He bought grain at the current market prices and stored it for the future. The prices were probably on the low side due to surplus productivity. The coming famine was public information. People saw the granaries being built but they gladly sold produce to Joseph rather than store it up for themselves. When the seven-year shortage came, Joseph sold the grain back to the people. I assume Joseph set a fair price and covered the cost of goods, storage, labor, interest on investment and a fair profit. The people blessed Joseph for delivering them from death; however, it had penalties for them.
Today, huge companies that dominate a market segment benefit consumers, but they can also ultimately squeeze the life out of suppliers, competitors, employees and consumers. Produce from developing countries can come with a low price tag but create a dependency and sometimes destroy national self-sufficiency. Our government, under the free enterprise system, can take action to protect consumers from foreign domination and can regulate commerce to a degree. We must be vigilant to see to it that government operates but within limits. Big government and big business can both become big trouble.
Small businesses must also operate with integrity, discernment and social responsibility, focusing on profitability that provides survivability. All of us must vote, be pro-active in watching government and be discerning as consumers. It is to our benefit to guard and protect the free enterprise system.
Discussion:
1. How could your company do a better job of benefiting your customers, while also continuing to make a profit?
2. Where has your company put big profits over customer benefit?
