Musing - "Whatever is Fair"

Hebraic Musing - "Whatever is Fair"

Many times in my life a set price or value could not be ascertained up front for a business transaction, in which case I would typically say to the other party "Whatever is fair."  Why has that expression worked so well for me? The onus is on the other party to be fair; or to know in his heart that he is not being fair. The choice is his to live with.

Fair dealings were both defined and advocated by God in Dt. 25:13-16 – “You are not to have in your pack two sets of weights, one heavy, the other light. You are not to have in your house two sets of measures, one big, the other small. You are to have a correct and fair weight, and you are to have a correct and fair measure, so that you will prolong your days in the land ADONAI  your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who deal dishonestly, are detestable to ADONAI your God."  CJB

Paul brought the issue of 'fairness' to us in Colossians 4:1 - Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.   This sounds like the Golden Rule!   Once, a man approached Hillel the elder and asked, “Tell me the entire Bible while I stand on one foot.” Hillel replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.”

A good friend and business colleague of mine shared an incident at what was to be the concluding prayer at a men's prayer breakfast. One of the men sat in the prayer chair and asked the fellows to lay hands on the contract he was presenting later that day. My friend, who always asks good questions, asked "Is this contract fair to both parties?"  The meeting lasted another hour as the men had to process the question and the answer.

Point to ponder

Can a business succeed by being fair in all transactions?

Will we sleep better at night knowing we have been fair in all our dealings?

Be fair.  
            Sleep well.  
                        Good night.  
                                    Shalom                                                February 19, 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd

Author “Hebraic Insights – 95 messages exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian faith”

Author “Biblical Marriage” (to be published in June 2012)

Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  to be added to distribution -- Yosef1@cox.net
www.InsightsByYosef.com