Money and Morals: Can You Have Both?

By Charles Akujieze

Many are striving to have money without forsaking moral values. However, the results have been lamentably discouraging. Often times, those seeking wealth end up sacrificing moral principles and sometimes even their faith on the altar of Mammon.
No one becomes a financial star unless and until he engages in financial exercises. Greatness, like success is prepared for, not stumbled upon. Nobody succeeds by accident. To be a financial high flyer, you need some financial exercises. It takes the eagles game to become 10,000 feet high-flying eagle. Eaglets are born but eagles are made. If the eaglet is not trained to fly, it will die up there in the nest. Likewise, many people have "died" in their financial nest even when they have glorious and prosperous destinies. They have never exercised themselves into high-flying status of life. The demands of championship and being in financial rest does not reckon with praying and fasting but with rigorous financial exercises.
Engaging in this exercise entails discovering how to develop investment mentality and financial intelligence, knowing and using the power to create wealth, knowing and walking the pathway to wealth, knowing and using the vehicles of wealth creation, activating multiple streams of income, knowing how to activate generational blessing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481785921

Charles Akujieze

Charles Nnaemeka Akujieze is a freelancer, author, administrator, philosopher, political analyst and erstwhile lecturer in policy and administrative studies. He had his higher education at the University of Calabar, Calabar - Nigeria, and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan – Nigeria. He holds a Diploma, Bachelor of Arts B.A. (Hons), Master of Science M.Sc. (Hons), and he is an Associate Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (AMNIM). He is married to Juliet Akujieze and the marriage is blessed with four children - Shekinah, Shalom, Fortune and David.

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© 2013 by Charles Akujieze. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/12/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8591-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8592-1 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Dedication

Acknowledgment

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE

Money And Morals  (An Awkward Balancing Act?) 

CHAPTER TWO

Why Are People Poor?

CHAPTER THREE

The Power To Make Wealth

CHAPTER FOUR

Understanding The Covenant And How It Works

CHAPTER FIVE

Vehicles Of Wealth Creation

CHAPTER SIX

Developing Investment Mentality

CHAPTER SEVEN

Journey To Financial Freedom And Independence

CHAPTER EIGHT

Multi-Dimensional Sources Of Income

CHAPTER NINE

Activating Generational Blessing

PREFACE

Our society is perverse and permissive. Our society is morally sick and it stinks. Our desire for money, our crave for wealth is increasingly insatiable. We are no longer satisfied with our wages. We are living a false lifestyle in a vain society—a society where morons are barons, a society where thieves are chiefs, a society where monkey de work, baboon de chop.

Nothing agitates the mind of the natural man these days more than wealth. Money is indeed the necessary evil which no one can actually do away with because every activity is programmed around it. Money is a defense. It is a protection against problems associated with poverty. It gives one a voice. It is, at best, a means whereby we have our ends met. It is a medium of exchange. It is through it, with it and in it that most of our desires are satisfied.

On the other hand, morality has to do with the principles concerning right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Morality in turn is grounded in values and ethics. Values are expressions of preference, with some distinct moral overtone. It is all about ideas people have about what is good, desirable and important. They may be inferred from actual behavior of people in particular situation, or they may be stated directly in words. It could also be seen as conceptions, explicit or implicit, distinctive of an individual or characteristic of a group of the desirable which influence the selection from available mode, means and ends. The values that guides a man’s action and influence his decision making is therefore fundamental and deeply rooted. When translated into action, values can and do have a significant and sometimes critical impact on the nature and quality of our physical, psychological and social life. In short, values are real because they have real consequences. On the other side of the coin, ethics has to do with the question of what is right and good, and what is wrong and evil in human conduct. It concerns itself with judgments of approval and disapproval, judgments as to rightness or wrongness, goodness or badness, virtue or vice, desirability or undesirability, wisdom of actions, dispositions ends, objects or states of affairs. The primary concepts are ought, obligation, duty, right wrong, etc. The central question of ethics includes: how ought men behave? What is good? What determines the morality or immorality of actions?

It is therefore, germane and fundamental to observe the great difference between generally accepted ethical premises and day-to-day behavior of men (and women) which reveal their operating values. The behavior of individuals has certain inescapable normative components in the performance of their duties.

The relevance of the above to our central theme stems from the fact that every man is already a product of a worldview which he wears as a spectacle through which he perceives money and its acquisition. It is then a fact of life that every man pursues money with an element of bias. It is therefore in this important sense that one argues that every man (and woman) access money from a point of view or bias, a guidance or foreknowledge which influences his desire, love or lust for money. Many see it as an end in itself whilst a few rightly see it as only a means.

The love and crave for money has laid down many pathways—drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, armed robbery, bribery and corruption, prostitution, money making rituals, varieties of stealing, dishonest practices, dubious businesses etc. There is no evil that has a name that people do not commit in their quest to make money. We know what the problems these vices inflict on the society and yet we seem to be jinxed not to do much about them. It is as if we are cursed to bungle things more and more. But are we to keep on bungling things over as if we were villains by necessity and fools by heavenly compulsion?

Now, let us reason together: Is it really practical to be honest these days? Is honesty in our work or business a relic of the past? Are those who try to practice honesty doomed to failure? The pressure to be dishonest is indeed great. Consequently, those who try to be honest are subjected to intense pressure in many areas.

One of such areas is personal temptation. Who amongst us would not enjoy having more money or some additional luxuries? When presented with an opportunity for dishonest financial gain, how many of us can really resist?

There is this pressure to maximize profits. In recent years, businesses worldwide have struggled with poor economic conditions. They must also cope with rapidly changing technology and increased regional and global competition. Employees may feel that resorting to dishonesty is the only way to meet performance goals set by owners and managers.

Pressure from others present another challenge. Co-workers, or customers may at times suggest, or even demand, that you join them in dishonest schemes.

In some cultures, it is customary for business transactions to be accompanied by an exchange of gifts. Depending on the size and circumstances of the gift, the boundaries of honest business practices can easily become blurred. In many lands, corrupt officials demand money before performing their duties and willingly accept payment in exchange for special treatment.

Those who live in severe poverty or in countries where there has been a breakdown in civil order face the greatest pressure of all. In such environments, those who are unwilling to cheat or steal may be viewed as poor providers for their families.

To say that honesty has broken down in our time is so obvious even for the blind to see. Explaining vividly how honesty has a profound effect, a religious journal, Awake!, in its publication of January 2012, reveals that a survey of business managers in Australia reported that 9 out of 10 considered bribery and corruption to be wrong but unavoidable. According to the journal, those surveyed said they would be willing to ignore their morals to win a contract or benefit their company.

Accordingly, people often shortchange themselves as they present themselves as honest while they are really the opposite. However their self-image and their actual behaviors are irreconcilable. In this vein, Journal of Marketing Research complains: People behave dishonestly enough to profit but honestly enough to delude themselves of their own integrity. This results inexorably to people excusing, minimizing, or even justifying dishonesty in different ways just to ease their internal struggle.

It is common for people, in their bid to explain away dishonesty, to resort to describing it in terms that appears less morally offensive. For instance, lying or cheating, which the Scripture condemns as bad and evil is being seen and perceived as cutting corners or being competitive. A bribe is conceived, in this sense, only as a favor or an expediting fee.

For a majority of people, the very definition of dishonesty, as propagated by the Scriptures, has to be reviewed. Many even claim that dishonesty is necessary for success.

People’s perception of honesty has more to do with what they can get away with legally than with what is actually the truth. Tom works in one financial industry.

One David, a former business executive, as quoted in the aforesaid journal, said: Although dishonesty is frowned upon when exposed, it is viewed as acceptable if you can get away with it. People who get away with it are considered smart for their ‘creativity’.

Many, indeed, claim that dishonesty is necessary for success. Are those who try to justify dishonesty actually ‘deceiving themselves with false reasoning’ according to James 1:22?

Or, is it really necessary to resort to dishonest practices to succeed in business? The answer to the immediate question is a resounding NO!

As a matter of fact, dishonesty is self-defeating. This is because an essential ingredient for long-term success, TRUST, can only be generated by integrity. The value of trust, not only in our businesses and work, but in life generally, cannot be over-emphasized. It is a life treasure that MUST NOT be traded away.

In one way or the other, our reputation for honesty affects our successes—whether or not we are aware of it. Our business standards, as well as other aspects of our lives, ought to be defined and described by Scriptural (and/or moral) Standard. Rather than honesty hindering or hampering the success of our businesses, it actually brings them practical benefits.

However, I am not naive to the fact and truth that there will always be situations in which dishonesty appears to offer advantages. But, are financial rewards the sole measure of success?

Now, hear me: Honesty brings TRUE SUCCESS. The book of Luke 12:15, Jesus warns: Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

It is a necessity of life for us to earn income, for we have the onerous responsibility before God to provide for ourselves and our families. This implies that we need money as a MEANS to provide for our needs and those of our families and others. The problem lies when we conceive and treat money as an END, our sole purpose on which our lives revolve. Those whose sole aim is to acquire money and the things it can buy easily fall prey by resorting to dishonesty to get it. Not until it is too late would those individuals realize to their chagrin, that dishonesty actually robs them of their human values and true success.

Apart from having good money, success has some other indispensable ingredients that must not be traded away. These includes: A Good Relationship with God, Self-Respect, Peace of Mind, Family Happiness, Personal Satisfaction and Fulfillment. Success has to do with, not necessarily doing a good thing, but doing the right thing. Just as the best is the enemy of "the good", so also the enemy of the right thing is a good thing. It is dangerous, according to one of my mentors, Myles Munroe, to do a good thing at the expense of the right thing.

Having said this far, there are godly principles that every good and honest business MUST comply with. Granted, accepted standards of business ethics vary from place to place. However, Bible principles can be used as a solid foundation for ethical decision-making. For an honest business to have GOOD SUCCESS, the following characteristics need to be put in place:

1. TRUTHFUL

Principle: Lie not to one another… Colossians 3:9 KJV

2. DEPENDABLE

Principle: Just let your word Yes" mean Yes, and your No No.—Matthew 5:37 JWV

3. TRUSTWORTHY

Principle: Do not reveal confidential talk of another—Proverb 25:9 JWV

4. HONEST

Principle: And thou shall take no gift; for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. KJV

5. FAIR

Principle: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 KJV

6. LEGAL

Principle: Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Romans 13:7 KJV

Having been acquainted with principles of honest business, how then do we maintain integrity in our businesses?

* Determine Your Priority: What shall it profit us to gain the whole world at the expense of our right standing with God?

* Decide in Advance: Anticipate situations, circumstances and conditions that will challenge your honesty, and plan how to respond.

* Make Your Position Known: Before you start any business relationship, wisdom demands that you tactfully let others know your standards.

* Seek Support From Others: There is the need to seek quality advice periodically from others who share your values, whenever you are facing a temptation or an ethical dilemma.

Now in a marriage of biblical (and/or moral) economic principles and numerous wealth creation strategies painstakingly discussed in this book, the author brings a balance and delivers the goods that you can pursue material riches, in fact, become a financial high-flier and also be rich toward God. Happy reading!

DEDICATION

I dedicate this work powerfully to my tender-hearted son Fortune Ifechukwu (aka Soludo) and my angelic daughters, Shekinah and Shalom, in whose lives I see great destinies; to my jewel of inestimable value Juliet Ogechukwu Akujieze. And to you who pursue and access money in the right way.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Generations yet unborn are impatiently waiting to benefit from my existence on earth today. How, then, can I be a blessing to them if not by activating something that will transcend generations to bless them. As I refuse to be a contributor to making cemetery the wealthiest place on earth where unused talents, untapped potentials and misguided gifts were buried with their trustees, I strive to make a mark and be a