What role does integrity play in trade according to Ezekiel 27:18? Text Focus “Damascus was also a trader with you because of your many products and great abundance of wealth; with wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.” (Ezekiel 27:18) Backdrop of the Verse • Chapter 27 paints Tyre as a commercial powerhouse. • God lists each trading partner to show the breadth of Tyre’s influence. • The catalog is factual and historical, underscoring divine awareness of economic dealings. What Integrity Should Have Looked Like • Accurate weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-36; Proverbs 11:1). • Honest communication about product quality (Proverbs 20:14). • Fair pricing that avoids exploitation (Amos 8:4-6). • Dependence on God, not riches, as the ultimate security (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). What Went Wrong in Tyre • Pride in “great abundance of wealth” replaced humility before the LORD (Ezekiel 27:3; 28:5). • Commerce became a platform for self-exaltation rather than stewardship (Ezekiel 28:2). • The city’s later downfall shows that economic brilliance without moral backbone invites judgment (Ezekiel 27:27). Lessons for Trade Today • Wealth is a gift to manage, not an idol to worship (1 Timothy 6:17-19). • Integrity preserves both reputation and relationship with God (Proverbs 10:9). • A transaction is always public business before people and private business before God (Hebrews 4:13). • Lasting prosperity comes when honesty, transparency, and godly fear govern every sale (Psalm 112:5). |
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