1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Ignorant though Stewart was of every technicality in trade, he was a man of undeviating truth and uprightness. He was aware that unjustifiable profits were made by shopkeepers, and that they had no conscience whatever about practising deception in order to place a fictitious value upon their goods. All such false ways he utterly abhorred, and he was determined to try his own plan. At all risks, he made up his mind that he would not look for more than ten per cent. profit, and that he would never deceive a buyer as to the prime cost of any article in his store. "Ten percent, and no lies" — that was Mr. Stewart's motto for doing business. But it is a curious instance of the repugnance of the trade to carry on business on such terms that the salesman, who could not have suffered in any way by this arrangement, became irritated against his employer, and at the end of a month or so resigned his situation. He declared that he could no longer be a party to sell goods by such rules — that, in fact, Mr. Stewart was giving them away to the public; and, with very significant emphasis, he added, "Before another month is over you will be a bankrupt." Mr. Stewart's business, however, gradually enlarged, until, after being in business half a century, his property and stock was worth twenty million pounds, thus proving that "honesty is the best policy. (Memoir of Stewart, the Millionaire.) Parallel Verses KJV: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. |
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