For most of us, shopping is the most regular interaction we have with the world’s poorest people. Our lifestyle often depends on products such as coffee, fruit and chocolate, which are produced in the developing world. Our choices offer us a powerful opportunity to transform lives. God’s message about trade is simple: it should provide a fair deal to everyone involved.
As Christians we know that Jesus wants to have complete control of our lives. He knows that without His intervention, our lives will remain a mess in terms of our relationship with God, our neighbour, our environment and ourselves.
If as Christians the whole of our lives are under the authority of Jesus then we know He must be interested in what happens when we engage in trade - and go shopping.
Since Jesus asks us as Christians to love our neighbour as ourselves, and our neighbour is any other human being with whom we come into contact, when we shop we have more than our own needs to consider.
The Bible gives us a very real challenge to be Christ-like in the way we think and behave in the world of trade
This section will give you more info on the Bible and trade and you.