Bible study

SUB THEME/3:  CAUSES OF UGLY SITUATIONS

TOPIC:  Business Related Sins

TEXT:   Deut 25:13-16; Amos 2:6-8.
AIMS: To
i. identifycertain attitudes in business transactions which God abhors;
ii. shudder at some of the consequences of business-related sins;
iii. explain how these sins contribute to the ugly situations in the land.

INTRODUCTION:
Business-related sins are attitudes, behaviours and strategies in business which are contrary to the standards set by God. These have thwarted the original divine purpose for earth’s inhabitants to live comfortably. Greed and selfishness have driven the world into the path of economic strangulation.
Greed and excessive materialistic tendencies have driven some business persons to dine with the devil,only to gratify their selfish interests. Since godly business ethics have been scorned and subverted, is it any wonderthat some Christiansparticipate actively in such and still maintain that they are keeping their testimony.

STUDY GUIDE:

1. a. What are business-related sins? Prov. 11:1, 26; 20:23; Amos 6:5, 6.
   b. Identify attitudes and behaviours which constitute sin in business cycles fromLev. 19:13; 25: 13-17; Deut.25:13 - 16; Psa.37:21.

2. What are some of the consequences of business related sins? Deut. 25: 15, 16; Isa. 33: 1; Amos 2: 6.
3. What divine remedies are there to deal with the ugly business trends in our nation? Mic. 6: 8; Heb. 13: 5, 6.
4. Considering the endemic corruption that has eaten very deep into the fabric of Nigeria, what hope is there for her economy? Prov. 11:10, 11; 29:2; 14:34.

CONCLUSION:
Nigeria has continued to experience endless economic woes; because of the pervasive incidents of corruption among the business class. Lying, cheating and cutting corners have continued side by side of religious bigotry. Key figures in Government where policies to regulate businesses are formulatedhas been compromised and biased; some have become parochial in the discharge of their responsibilities and so, they are unable to save the situation. May God make you a solution to this problem!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:Believers should or need to enter theworld of business to salvage the situation.

MEMORY VERSE: Prov. 29: 2.