Confronting problem of unreasonable pricing biblically
As a nation desiring change, we seem to make a poor attempt towards that goal.
In the matter of economy and trade, measuring the value of an item or service is based on factors, such as, demand, interest and popularity.
In other words, what may sell today may not sell tomorrow, and as we have seen in past events, it is not going to change.
But I want to confront this negative pattern of behaviour from a biblical standpoint.
In establishing a unique nation, different from the rest God instituted laws and regulations, among the many laws on hygiene, relationships and religious practices, one that particularly stands out is pricing of goods and services.
In Leviticus 19:35-37, the Lord sets the tone of economic activities by saying, “You shall not do injustice in judgement, in measurement of length”.
The symbol of economy was a scale because that was the means to determine the value of an item.
Food items, such as barley, were measured on a weight to determine pricing, but what some did was to use scales and weights that were unbalanced and that was an offence to God.
But as economies evolved, we no longer use weights and scales, but determined pricing based on market value.
In recent times, some even use international currencies such as the dollar to determine the pricing of goods and services.
The issue here is when those selling goods and services skyrocket the value, making purchases unbearable.
There can be laws passed to punish those who set unreasonable prices.
From rent to the selling of land, cars, household items, etc.
The scriptures state that those who get their riches by not doing right are like a partridge that sits on eggs, but does not hatch.
It further states that wealth gained by ungodly means will leave suddenly.
What a damning verdict! Many cannot retain money because money recognises those who are greedy and sets a covenant never to stay with such people.
Return
This is a call to return to the right way of generating wealth and using wealth gained to serve humanity, not just by doing charity, but by setting the pattern for honest pricing.
The scriptures predict what happens when economic famine sets in.
The book of 2 Kings 6:25 details the dire situation of Israel’s economy when the head of a donkey was sold for eighty shekels and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver.
In today’s market, that would be worth $25 dollars, and so scarcity causes an increase in pricing as we see in scripture.
The lesson learnt in scripture is that economically desperate people can do anything just to get by and so our actions can have ripple effects on others.
It is for that reason that God instituted such laws to restrain the power of greed and selfishness.
When boundaries are not set to govern selfishness, the full extent of human nature runs unchecked.
Restrain
Governmental agencies are instituted to restrain negative human behaviour that leads to these issues.
Their task primarily centres on being God’s watchdogs against behaviours such as we have witnessed in scripture.
The dire consequence for failing to perform that function leads to Revelation 6:5-6.
Even though that passage is for the time of the end, it also reveals how God sends judgement to nations that have economic gatekeepers that practice greed.
We see the symbol of scales highlighting economic woe.
The price increase is the state of the greed of humanity, and as such, we must insist that individuals do the right thing.
There is more to money than hoarding in an offshore account. It must be used in the service of humanity.
I expound more on these in my book THE STAR AND THE CROSS.
You will discover Mosaic principles that most companies must practice to increase sustainability.
The writer is the author of The Star and Cross
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