The Marketplace Psalm
Are you a man or woman of integrity? I’m not talking about do you agree or disagree with everything others have to say, but are you a person that can be trust to do the right thing regardless of the circumstances?
I remember my wife coming home from a collage class many years ago and telling me about a discussion they had about values. The teacher asked the class if they could get away with stealing something, i.e. not get caught, would they do it? With the exception of my wife and 1 or 2 other students, they all raised their hand. Let that sink in for a moment. What you will realize is there are far more people in life who would not do the right thing when no one is looking.
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” C.S. Lewis I pray the Lord always shows me when I’m not acting like the son He wants me to be.
Blessings
The Marketplace Psalm
by Os Hillman
“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” (Ps 15:1).
In February 2001 Sales and Marketing magazine did a survey and found that among those surveyed:
58% cheat on expense reports
50% work a second job on company time
36% rush closed deals through accounting before they were really closed
22% list a “strip bar” as a restaurant on an expense report
19% give a kickback to a customer*
If Psalm 15 were the core value of every business plan and purpose statement and reviewed with every employee before hiring, the workplace would be a very different place. What type of person can live in the presence of God? The psalmist tells us:
“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken” (Ps 15:2-5).
Are you blameless in your approach to your work life? Are you truthful in all your dealings? Do you treat customers, vendors and fellow employees as your neighbor? Do you say what you do truthfully and do what you say? Do you follow through even if the outcome may not be positive? Will you lend money without usury to a friend and refuse a bribe? If you can say yes to these questions then you are a Psalm 15 man or woman and you can dwell on God’s Holy hill.
Friend, pray that God makes this psalm a part of your life and begin to ask God to show you how to live this chapter in all you do. Amen