Set Ethical Priorities
Aug 31
CFO, EntreLeadership, Part-time, Virtual Biblical, Budgeting, Business, Business ethics, CFO, EntreLeadership, Ethics, Fraud, Part-time, Planning, Priorities 1 Comment
A few of the more common areas of business ethics violations are taxes, fraud, and misuse of company assets.
- Taxes. Nothing represents a businessperson’s spiritual values more clearly than that person’s attitude toward paying taxes. Nobody likes to pay taxes, but to actually cheat on income taxes or any other tax is a sin, and sin separates us from God. Unless you believe that your relationship with God is the most important asset you have in this world, sin can easily ensnare you.
- Fraud. Consistently, the most acceptable kind of fraud is practiced against insurance companies. Take a look at your salespeople and sales practices. Are you deceiving your customers? Are customers being charged for service work that was never actually performed? Clearly, God’s Word says that a deception will always be found out. (1) If a business can’t survive in total honesty, then it’s time to do something else.
- Misuse of Company Property. Business owners tend to believe they can treat company assets as their own personal property. Some of the more common ways company property is misused:
- Company Vehicles. Most company-supplied vehicles are also used for personal purposes.
- Telephone Use. Many people don’t hesitate to make personal calls on the company telephone.
- Copy Machines, Pens, Pencils, and Paper.
Business owners and managers need to set their guard against little acts of dishonesty, so that bigger ones won’t end up being a problem later. (2)
Business planning is essential for business prosperity. Businesses, like people, don’t plan to fail – they fail to plan. If you would like to learn more about business planning from a biblical perspective or how I can help transform your business using the Bible as our guide, email me at commonsensecfo@yahoo.com or call Kirk at 402-658-7340.
(1) The honest person will live in safety, but the dishonest will be caught. Proverbs 10:9 (NCV)
(2) Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Proverbs 4:14 (NLT)