Hoarding and Profit

Pro 11:26  He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

This is interesting.  Our modern thinking links the generosity of the previous verse to giving things away for free.  But the context here is not in favor of what we would call welfare, but is against hoarding to drive up the price of things.  The godly, generous man “sells” (7666) the grain he has and remember that the earlier verses talked about fair scales.  This implies selling at a fair price and not cheating people.  It does not demand that we give everything away, at least not in this verse.

Some people try to put you on a guilt trip if you make a profit.  It is popular to demonize business.  Obviously every part of life has its stinkers and business is no exception.  But get it right.  Get it Biblical.  Paul told us we are to work and earn so that we can have something to share with others.

((Ephesians 4:28 KJV)  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

You can’t share if you have nothing.  You won’t stay in business long if you don’t make a profit.  You cannot continually give out if you do not take in.

So don’t be afraid to do good work and earn a profit for your work.  At the same time, make sure that you are asking a fair price and not manipulating the market to the hardship of others.