Lord, again today, the news is unemployment.

People without jobs, families with tight belts,

Young people waiting, older people searching,

Long lists, idleness, the dole, loss of dignity.

It's my turn now, Lord.

Business needs mean down-sizing,

And I'm looking for something else.

Why, Lord? I must ask the question.

Is commerce always honourable?

Where does faith impact?

The check list must be - contribution to society,

Livelihood and quality of life for our people,

Responsibility to shareholders,

Ethics and integrity,

But companies don't last forever.

Business and faith are often separated,

They don't need to be if we get the balance right.

Business with honour means employment with security.

"Stronger than that, my Son.

Profit resulting from hard work is legitimate. [1]

And it needs to be distributed equitably.

But you must at all times integrate faith into business."

Thank you for encouraging me, Lord.

Help me to do my part in reversing

this curse of unemployment.

1. Proverbs 14 v 23.

Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact