Ethical Decisions in a world of Grey

Ethical_dil
I have pondered this topic greatly over the past several weeks and this post has actually changed in both direction and content several times.  It seems that the decisions that most often come back to bite us are the ones we don’t even remember making.  This is because it is the small breaches in our judgment that lead to a cascade of events that overshadows the real misshape.

In our modern business world most decisions that involve business judgment calls are complex or "Grey" that is a given.  But what I think we fail to recognize is that if we subjected these “Grey Areas” to scriptural guidance the answers arrive in vivid color.

So what is a simple yet effective test for judgment calls in the business world that will keep us on the narrow path?  The bible is a massive text with many stories, lessons, laws and commandments, right?  How does one take a modern problem and quickly assess if it is in good Godly accordance?  Well, I am sure that this could be a subject of great debate and I would leave that to debate to men much smarter and wiser than I.  For me I like to keep it simple and I think that is what Jesus was doing when he said there are only two commandments that need to be kept and by keeping them you will not breach the others.  So lets do the same with our current decisions in the business world. 

1.  Does your possible solution/direction/decision glorify God?  Does it bring glory to God?  Many decisions may at first pass not have much to do with God.  But this is a simple question to which there is only a yes or no answer.  I think in many cases it may be easier to say does this decision have possible outcomes that in any way disgrace or bring dishonor to God?

2.  Does your possible solution/direction/decision show love, kindness and compassion for your neighbor?  Or maybe this is easier to answer by asking does your decision in any way NOT show love, kindness and compassion for your neighbor or fellow man.

This may seem overly simplistic but before you dismiss this I would challenge you to try it.  Remember, a reasonable profit is not dishonoring God nor is it unkind to your fellow man.  A healthy profit may not be either depending on the circumstances or situation.  Opportunistic profit though would have a hard time passing either of the above criteria.  The key is analyzing your motivations and defining if you are in line with the Will of God or the Will of You?

New International Version (©1984)
He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'"Luke 10:27