THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT; Or Our Business Dealings with Our Fellow-men.
By Eld. D. T. Bourdeau
This is one of the negative precepts which not only condemns the sin of unjustly taking from our neighbor property that we are not entitled to, but also as strongly enjoins the contrary virtue, namely, to interest ourselves in rendering to our neighbor property that justly belongs to him. This precept, like the rest of those that relate to our neighbor, grows out of the precept to love our neighbor as ourselves. To keep it in our business deal, 1. We should follow the golden rule, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” We should place ourselves in their position, and look for their interest as well as for ours. “Look not every man on his own things,” says the apostle, “but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. 2: 4. This is not generally done. Men generally look at their own interest first, and in their deal seek to get the best end of the bargain. This sin is almost universally practiced. There is perhaps no commandment that men are more liable to violate than the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” 2. We should give an equivalent for what we purchase, and take only an equivalent for what we sell, unless those with whom we deal are disposed to favor us. This principle is often disregarded in having divers weights and measures, which are said to be an abomination unto the Lord. Prov. 20: 10. Very few articles, nowadays, come up to the recommendation given them. This is often emphatically true of patent medicines, and most of those articles that are patented. How much anxiety and perplexity would be saved us, if we were always sure that the articles we buy were genuine, and if we did not have to look upon most men as upon rogues. 3. We should always tell the truth in buying and selling, and should not speak too highly of the articles we sell, or undermine what we wish to buy. How few there are who will tell the whole truth here. Like Ananias and Sapphira, they will keep back a part of the truth to advantage themselves. “It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.” Prov. 20: 14. Men will lie as well as steal in their deal, and frequently this is done within the pale of the church. And because this is done within the bounds of custom, it is thought by many to be all right. But he who through poverty will steal five bushels of corn of his neighbor, is less guilty in the sight of God than the covetous professor who will take five dollars of a man in a trade, in getting the best end of the bargain. 4. We should not banter to get articles under their real value; but should keep posted on prices, and leave the impression that we are honest, and not penurious. What a sad thing it is to have professors become a proverb for their littleness in bantering. Angels must weep over this. I know that many who feel for the cause do. Frequently, the time that is lost in bantering is worth more than what is gained, and what a loss the cause of truth sustains! 5. We should not engage in speculation as practiced by most of speculators. This is not based on principles of equity and justice. Advantage is taken of the poor and uninformed. Men will advantage themselves to the loss and disadvantage of others. This is generally exhibited in selling patent rights, &c. While in Kentucky, last winter, a man came from California, who had made twenty-four millions of dollars in two years by selling patent rights that he had, in gold mines. He was lauded to the heavens by his old acquaintances. But from the facts that I gathered, I thought the man was to be pitied; for he did not obtain his fortune through strict honesty, and how small his chances to obtain eternal life and a right to the immortal inheritance. There is, in the masses of this age, an infatuation after money. Men are crazy after wealth. All their strength runs in the line of acquisitiveness. Many do not love industrious labor, and in their great anxiety to get rich in a short time, will engage in speculation, whereby many are made poor. Such should “profess honest trades” (Titus 3: 13, margin), and “steal no more, but labor with their hands the thing that is good,” &c. Eph. 4: 28. 6. We should be prompt in paying our debts on time. Says Paul, “Owe no man anything.” Rom. 13: 8. In the previous verse he says, “Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due,” &c. When a tax is due it should be paid; so in regard to other debts. Those who have debts that should be paid, and are slack in paying them, and apply their means in advantaging themselves, while those to whom they owe are suffering pecuniarily for not having their just due, are guilty of breaking the precept, “Thou shalt not steal.” They have the use of means that really belongs to another. Some may excuse themselves by saying, “Oh! it is a brother, and he can wait.” But perhaps the brother may be terribly cramped; and here is a cause of perplexing trials. We have no right to contract debts unless we see a way to pay them. And should we meet with unexpected reverses, it is due our creditors that we should tell them, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” And in the eyes of God, no just debts become outlawed. 7. All important business should be done straight and square, in black and white. There should be a thorough understanding in all business transactions, whether with brethren or unbelievers. This helps the memory and saves trials, preserves peace and good feelings. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 8. When there is a misunderstanding between parties, making a difference of cents or dollars, each should cultivate a yielding spirit. Each party may feel that they are losing. It may be a sacrifice for both to yield. So one party must not act as though they did all the sacrificing. Here a little yielding may pacify great offenses. Better lose a little, or much, in settling a difficulty in the bud, than to contend stiffly for one’s right to a cent, or within a few dollars, and lose much more in good feeling, and very often in dollars and cents, by going into lawsuits, &c. Paul’s example is worthy of imitation, when he says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient,” and, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Cor. 10: 23; 9: 22. Though we should even lose in point of means, our example is worth a thousand times more than all the money in the universe. Christ did not contend for his rights when he died on the cross for poor sinners. The poor have claims upon us. This is emphatically true of the worthy poor. Some are made so by the Lord to try the church, in giving them a chance to manifest true benevolence. Such are humble, grateful, and willing to help themselves. When such serve you, they can be depended upon. They are faithful in labor, and show a willingness, as far as in them lies, to give an equivalent in labor, &c., for what they receive, and would not extort from the wealthy. God bless the worthy poor, and help us to be a blessing to them. He has lately opened the way for us to bless them, in contributing for the poor fund in our various missionary societies. While the poor have conditions to comply with on their part, while they should be humble, honest, willing to receive advice from those who have had success in pecuniary matters, and willing to be helped to help themselves, we should not wait till they are perfect to relieve them. Let us have broad feelings, sympathizing hearts, and an inclination to “condescend to men of low estate.” In the execution of the Judgment, what we have done in relieving the poor will be accounted as having been done to Jesus. Matt. 25. If Jesus were passing by in poverty and want, we would perhaps shudder at the thought of being indifferent to his wants, of letting him pass by us naked and hungry. Well, there is danger of our neglecting Jesus in the persons of the poor. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” Ps. 41: 1–3. Also, read Isa. 58: 6–12, with care. Brethren, let us not forget the poor, withholding from them what God has lent us to bless them with. Dear brethren, we can now see the tremendous bearing our business deal has upon the cause. Perhaps nine-tenths of church trials grow out of lacks in business deal. Our business deal is a channel through which we can let the Christian graces shine and lead others to glorify our Father who is in Heaven. We can win souls to the truth by promptness and honesty in deal, or we can shut them out of the kingdom by slackness and closeness. And the more extensive our business, the greater our influence for or against the truth. Some will not listen to the truth, who can be reached through our business deal. We profess to keep the commandments. Let us keep them all, the eighth included. We can reach many through this commandment. All are prepared to measure us by it. Let us never be small and close in deal. Closeness begets closeness, and benevolence begets benevolence. Better, far better, lose one hundred dollars, if need be, to set a good example, than to gain one cent through covetousness. Several cases have come under our observation, illustrating the truth that “honesty is the best policy.” One was that of a farmer who, previous to his conversion, had not always given a full measure of wood, &c., in his deal with a blacksmith; but after embracing the commandments, Zaccheus-like, he tried to redeem the past by giving more than a full measure, and by overpaying the blacksmith every time. The result was that the blacksmith, by seeing the change in his customer, was convinced that there was a reality in religion, and went to keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Another case was that of an intelligent and enterprising young man, who was converted to the message from the world. Where he thought he had made sharp trades, he showed a willingness to make restitution. This won the confidence and affection of sinners, and several of his acquaintances, by watching his consistent life, were led to embrace present truth. He now sleeps in Jesus, to reap a rich reward in the morning of the resurrection. Though dead, yet he speaketh. When he was laid out, one of his Catholic neighbors came to see him, and she feelingly broke out in the following manner: “Dear man. He was a good man, a wise man, and a just man.”