Now, another great British company, GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical giant, has been fined $3billion in the US, for cheating in the sales in their costly drugs.
And there were times when we thought bankers were honest and decent, and that doctors and others committed to helping us recover from sickness were to be trusted.
But greed has done for both - and they have been caught out too!
Both companies will no doubt claim that 'everybody is doing it', which may be shown to be true. But that doesn't make it OK.
St. Paul had some sharp words to his friends in the early Christian communities in Galatia. 'Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.' (Galatians 6.7-10)
Those whose job it is to monitor and investigate the behaviour of large companies have a difficult job. The processes which they use may or may not reveal the truth behind corporate cover-ups. But Paul reminds us that we cannot mock the justice of God.
While we may watch in astonishment to the charges against these large companies, we must also take care with our own lives. Paul helpfully sets out what we must do to be sure of reaping a great harvest, that glorifies God and is good for those around us.
Today, all of us can set out to live to please the Spirit - which involves us keeping on doing simple acts of goodness, whenever we have the opportunity. Then we can trust God with a good Payback Time.
Best wishes,
Richard
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