The Ten Commandments for Business: Commandment Six

In this series, we’re pondering the Ten Commandments and how they can relate to our business life. I first thought connecting the sixth commandment to work would be challenging.

Then I read an article that reported how the Christian Medical and Dental Association sued the Biden administration. The Department of Health and Human Services recently pronounced that doctors had to perform elective abortions in emergency room situations, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Our government was demanding that doctors, who believe abortion is murder, perform an unthinkable act against innocent unborn babies.

In Exodus 20:13, the sixth commandment says, “You shall not murder.”

Fortunately, the courts so far have ruled that these doctors cannot be forced to perform elective abortions against their conscience. These brave doctors took a stand and preserved lives.

Fortunately, few professions run the risk of being forced to murder someone, but Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount that if you hate someone in your heart you are the same as a murderer. If you find yourself welling up with hatred at someone in or through your workplace you need to remember Jesus' directive to love others even your enemies.

Questions for Reflection

• Killing is fairly extreme, but it is essentially the devaluing of a person. How else are people devalued? How are people objectified or commodified? How have you felt devalued?
• How does your business interact with the public? Are your customers treated like customers or statistics? How about your employees? Do they feel appreciated? How is your turnover rate? Could that be signaling a problem in your business?