Business people in Jesus’ day did not have government organizations to watch over the way they marketed products, the labels used on food products, or claims made about the products they sold. But that certainly doesn’t mean the Bible is silent on the subject of biblical principles for marketing.
Jesus took offense to men who were selling animals for sacrifice at the temple for usury prices. He strode up to them, overturned their tables, and drove them out of the temple area, saying, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’” (Matt 21:13). Even in those days, there were marketers anxious to take advantage by making false product claims to make huge profits at the expense of others.
Before we get too far, we should understand what role marketing has in business. Ask the person on the street, and the answer you’ll get is often “selling” or “advertising.” More than a few corporate employees will offer the same answer.
While these answers are not completely incorrect, they are only a part of the marketing function. Simply put, marketing is the sum total of the efforts needed to bring a product to market. The American Marketing Association established a more formal definition:
“Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promoting, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges which satisfy individual and organizational objectives.”
Clearly, marketing is more than just “selling” or “advertising.”
Getting Started
The best way we can meet God’s standards is to understand the basic Biblical principles that apply to marketing. Here are twelve principles you can use as marketing guidelines:
Love God and Serve Him
The primary question we should ask ourselves is, “Is what I am doing bringing honor and glory to God?”
A Pharisee lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” To which Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and all your heart. This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matt 22:36-37).
Obey the Law
Many scriptures relate to the way we are to obey man’s law. Paul instructed the Christian church in Rome to submit to the governing authorities because “they are also God’s servants.” Paul went on to say that we should pay taxes if we owe them and to give respect and honor where due (Romans 13:1-7).
In the Sermon On the Mount, Jesus said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matt 5:41). It was the custom in those days that a Roman soldier could require a citizen to carry their loads for a mile. Jesus is saying that we should not only accept this first mile but go an additional mile.
Love Others
Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:6-7).
Paul does not make an exception for customers or clients. We are to love everyone. And that love should manifest itself in the way we treat others. Customers should be able to trust the claims we make for our products. They should have faith in our guarantees.
Finally, love perseveres. This means that you should care about the people you do business with, not just at the moment of sale, but all the time, for the long term.
Be Honest
Leviticus says clearly, “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another” (Lev 19:11).
The commandments not to steal or lie are pretty clear and come as no surprise, but the area of deception is a little tougher to deal with for the marketer.
For example, we should not make claims that are difficult for our customers to understand.
We should not downsize the weight of a package of goods while leaving the package the same size. This practice has become very prevalent in the food industry. Haven’t you ever wondered why that bag of potato chips doesn’t serve as many people as it used to? Simple. The product weight keeps getting reduced to keep the retail price at a certain point.
Don’t Show Partiality
Proverbs 28:21 says, “To show partiality is not good.” Paul commands Timothy to “keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism” (1 Tim 5:21).
For the marketer, this means allowing all customers equal access to products and making sure that promotions are available to all customers on fair and equal terms.
Be at Peace With Others
Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “Live in peace with one another” (1 Thess. 5:13).
For the marketers, this means that we should do all we can to resolve differences between us, our customers, and our suppliers.
Fill Others’ Needs
Ephesians tells us to be “imitators of God” (Eph. 5:1). Jesus instructs the disciples saying, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matt 6:8).
As marketers, we should try to fill the needs of our customers. Not perhaps the wants, but certainly the needs. That means that we should build safety into products: seat belts, 5-mile-per-hour bumpers, airbags, dolls without metal parts, etc.
Be Compassionate
Colossians 3:12 tells us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
As marketers, we should be sympathetic to our suppliers’ and customers’ situations. Therefore, we should not take advantage of the difficulties of our suppliers or customers. If a company is struggling financially, we should not take advantage of them but deal with them with a heart full of compassion.
Don’t Love the Things Of The World
John writes, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:12).
As marketers, we need to consider the role we play in developing and preparing products for the market. Are we making products that meet people’s needs or are we developing products that influence customers to store up treasures on earth rather than in heaven?
Develop A Ministry
Paul wrote to Archippus, “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord” (Col. 4:17). Jesus commanded the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19).
Jesus granted no special exemption to marketers. The Great Commission applies to all of us.
Therefore, we should make our work our ministry. As business people, we have the opportunity to do the work that the Father gave us every day as we provide a living testimony of our faith.
Ask for Wisdom
There are many areas of business in which it is difficult to know how to apply a Biblical principle.
In these cases, we need to ask for God’s wisdom. James wrote, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). The verse does not say you will get wisdom sometimes or occasionally, but that God will give it generously to all who ask. It is a comfort to know that even if we have gotten ourselves into trouble, we can ask God for wisdom in dealing with this and every other situation.
Have a “Right Heart”
James writes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). While the world may suggest that you should always look out for number one, the Bible provides many exhortations against being selfish, lovers of self, or double-minded.
As marketers, we must avoid worldly values and focus on being selfless, lovers of all people, and doers of the word.
One Final Thought About Marketing
Christian marketers have a responsibility that goes far beyond man’s law and the rules of professional associations. It is incumbent upon us to always be a light to the world. We must consider everything we do and the impact that action has on all the people around us. It is an immense responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly.
But there is satisfaction in knowing that we run our business being responsible to God for our results, and this thought should guide us through every day.
Bonus Whitepaper
If you would like a broader discussion on this topic, download the free 5-page whitepaper, “The Temple Moneychangers–A Biblical Guide to Marketing” It includes a bonus discussion of seven important areas in which biblical principles can be applied to our marketing.
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you encountered deceptive or unbiblical marketing? How did it make you feel as a professional? As a consumer?
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Category: Skills | Quality/Excellence
If only so many of today’s marketers would heed the advice you’ve shared here, Ron! Thanks for another thoughtful article.
I am a marketing major, thus this post directly applied to my future career. I found these twelve principles very reasonable and not difficult to achieve. Once I graduate, I plan to enter into the advertising industry. Advertising has been known to be deceptive and has a negative connotation. I do not want to advertise in this unethical and unchristian like manner. I belief these twelves principles are guidelines I can incorporate in my future work and current studies.
I have experienced false and deceptive marketing. This has caused me to not trust the company that used false and deceptive marketing. Thus, I do not buy products from that company. My family also does not purchase products from the company. This company has lost my family and I as customers due to their deceptive marketing actions.
I think there certainly is unbiblical marketing everywhere we look. Those who are not Christians are not held to as high of a standard as we are and the marketing world suffers because of that. As a professional I am disappointed in the methods non-Christians use to market to people, however it does not surprise me. It is not expected of them as Jesus said to go the extra mile. I wish everyone thought that way and made sure all advertising and marketing were seen through the filter of Christianity. As a consumer, I am also not surprised of the marketing I see around me. Unfortunately I have almost become numb to the ways I have been marketed to and expect no more. This means that we as Christians have an even bigger responsibility to put forth our best Christians efforts as business men and women.
I read this blog post in perfect timing to the season that my mom is experiencing right now. As a strong women of God, she hopes to bring His love everywhere she goes, specifically work. Currently, she has been in the beginning stages of opening up her own business. However, she has been caught multiple times being persuaded that she is not fit for the job, or that other franchise companies do it better. I always tell her that I disagree. As you mentioned, some of the top principles in marketing involve honesty, love, compassion, and a ministry, which is something the average business cannot give. I believe that if she abides by these points she will be successful and end up having a life fulfilling job, rather than one that is just used to make money.
I recently wrote the summary of an article on the verse you presented having to do with moneychangers, in the temple. As well what a moneychanger may look in today’s world. One thing I found interested was they initially is was not their intention to deceive people, but overtime that changed. Going back to the topic, I enjoyed how you connected business morals with the Christian belief. This is a great example in the argument where you can be a successful business person alongside a devout Christian. Integrity is huge, to be trust and if you are transparent with people they may go towards you more.