My education is in business, an interesting field, but not necessarily for good reasons.
Simple business is when you find something that people want, build or buy it, add in your other costs (rent for your store, salaries, etc.), and determine a selling price. In an ideal world, both you and the customer leave a transaction reasonably satisfied.
Today, many people are in the business of cooking the books. By using creative accounting, tax loopholes or other corporate they make a significant profit without actually providing anything of value.
When you read history, you may see Spain, Great Britain, and the Netherlands as great explorers opening new sea routes and discovering new (at least new to them) places. What happened to their power and prestige?
Generally they became banking and finance experts. In other words, they became experts at moving money and making a profit without providing anything of value.
Profit is not a dirty word – it encourages us to succeed. To invent. To build. But profit should actually be earned.
When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples, He told them that the worker was due his wages.
His parables often utilized the rich master as a metaphor for the Father. The good steward invested the master’s money and made a profit.
He also taught that we should build up our wealth where moth or decay won’t destroy it.
That’s the kind of business advice that we can live by.
sfnowak 