Overview
This is a 2 part post. One is the initial discussion and the second is a response to the same topic. Ensure initial post and response is in APA format.6th edition, no more than 200 words and has in text citations and references.
Week 8 Discussion Topic: tax compliance is crucial to every business. However, the desire to save on taxes can sometimes lead businesses into unethical practices. As a Christian leader, how do you balance the pursuit of profit with the obligation to pay what is owed to the US government. Is there a higher mission in this balance to consider?
Respond to the following post from William
“As a Christian entrepreneur, I would argue that the pursuit of profit as well as our obligations to pay our taxes to the US government need to be weighed in light of our obligations to live in accordance with God's kingdom values. We are first and foremost citizens of God’s kingdom, and we are stewards of God’s good creation. When we seek to profit in our businesses, that should come as a result of our good work of stewardship. When we pay out taxes to the government, we should do this in light of our obligations “to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar” (Mark 12:17, King James Version), a direct command of Christ.
The profit motive is important and indeed powerful, but it is not the most important consideration by long shot. As Upsilon argues, “A Christian business leader doesn’t just chase profit. They cultivate purpose. They build people. They influence culture. Christian business leadership creates an atmosphere where employees thrive, clients feel valued, and ethical practices are prioritized over expedient shortcuts.” In fact, it is when we forget our obligation to live according to God's kingdom values and to be his good stewards in this world that we can get into serious trouble and can engage in unethical practices in our businesses.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Links to an external site.
Upsilon, J. (2025). “How to Lead with Christian Values in Business?” Accessed October 7, 2025. Leading with Christian Values in BusinessLinks to an external site.
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