Joseph's "Just My Thoughts"

The big difference is that business allows the transfer of wealth or value to be based on production, while gambling occurs without production. Sustained productivity creates added value . The system that drives the world in any country seeks to protect this productivity through legal or administrative power. If productivity does not improve, society will deteriorate. Interest represents the added value of the financial industry , serving as the price of time for lending money. Therefore, since interest is an abstract concept agreed upon by society, it does not create new values that did not exist through production activities. If interest leads to the transfer of wealth, someone inevitably experiences a sense of loss. There are two instances in which interest is permitted in the Bible : one is when nature’s productive forces yield fruit that did not previously exist, and the other is when the neighbor’s self-sacrifice is acknowledged. Thus, when interest is recognized as a price ...

The most difficult writing in the Bible that I’ve ever read is ‘Job.’ In introducing ‘Job,’ the Bible states that he was a rich man of strong faith and the head of a happy family, but it does not explain the origins of the blessings he enjoyed. As he endures indescribable hardships, the reasons for his suffering remain unclear. In other words, he was blessed without explanation and suffered without explanation. The first part of the book of Job, which describes his blessings, contrasts with the latter part, in which he loses everything and eventually recovers for the first time. Yet, there is no explanation for this recovery either. Job’s life serves as a profound example of human experience. For many, the most painful aspect is to enjoy blessings without reason and to lose those blessings without reason. Our lives compel us to confront this reality, and that is the essence of our existence. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

In the Old Testament, the books of “Esther” and “Ruth” are the only ones that express God’s glory without directly revealing His word and existence to humanity. Esther exemplifies how justice was established against evil, ensuring the survival of the nation even without a direct expression of God. The justice that prevented evil was a public achievement, while national survival was a more self-centered success. Although God’s presence is never overtly revealed, it is a remarkable event that balances public and private spheres. I believe Christian companies should reflect this. Even without explicit exposure to God, it is essential to adhere to laws and common sense necessary for achieving a balanced personal selfishness in maintaining a livelihood. When this balance is struck, Christian companies can reveal God to the world through indirect means rather than through direct revelation. This doesn’t occur simply because you worship at the company chapel. Instead, by not being overt but b...

Abraham, in the Bible, remained silent when God revealed that he should offer his only son, Isaac. However, when he rescued his nephew Lot from the doomed city of Sodom, he bargained with God. What is a “bargain?” In life, it is crucial to know with whom to bargain and when. If we bargain over what we shouldn’t or don’t do what we should do bargain, then our lives can become quite weird. Every day, we seek something to bargain for, repeatedly hoping for favorable outcomes or facing disappointments. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The most reliable path to wealth in this world is having foresight. Among the characters of the Old Testament, Joseph exemplified this; initially sold as a slave in Egypt, he eventually ascended to become the imperial premier, elevated from a prisoner due to his ability to foresee events. Fourteen years later, his foresight again led to the nation’s prosperity. For anyone to gain this foresight, they must gather information, analyze it, and put in substantial effort. However, there’s a key condition: the knowledge of the future must be kept exclusive to oneself. Moreover, it’s not enough to simply know; one must believe in and act upon one’s insights. Thus, both the wealthy individual and the prophet share a critical trait. Essentially, wealth stems from a unique grasp and monopoly on the future. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

A painting embodies both media and authority. The mural in the medieval cathedral catered to the illiterate, who could not read the Bible. Access to written information was granted solely to priests, representing a form of power. The Reformation diminished this authority. New forms of media transform power dynamics, either generating or redistributing power. This influence shapes our everyday experiences. Writing, photography, and graphics continue to affect power structures. To understand the shifts in power, you must engage in a blend of art and business. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

In the Bible, David was a shepherd when he ousted the beast with pebbles and a sling, but when he threw stones at the enemy with the same pebbles and sling, he became the king’s son-in-law. The ability and tools are the same, but his life changed completely when the objects and situations of using them changed. The way to escape the crisis depends on the abilities and the ability to grasp the object and situation to which it is applied rather than the replacement or improvement of the skills and tools. Of course, luck is also important. Because luck also creates a situation. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

She laughed when God said she would conceive a son to the old Sarah. However, Sarah was pregnant and gave birth to her son Isaac, whose name means “smile.” The prophet Nathan rebuked King David in the words of God. David wept. The same God's words, some laughed, others cried. If Sarah's laughter was absurd, David's cry was repentance. The Bible rarely records people's unresponsiveness to God. You are at least worth the life if you can laugh or cry at something. Smile a lot and cry a lot. Life is short. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”

The Bible's Solomon is called the “king of wisdom”. Solomon did not ask God for wealth and honor, but for “wisdom,” who knows how to rule the people and discern good and evil. This “wisdom” is called “rev showmea (לב שמע)” in the original text. Solving the meaning of this word means “listening mind” or “discerning heart.” Why do you want to hear and discern? To realize and practice. The mind is not seeing. It's to listen. There is no wisdom, wealth, and honor unless we hear and understand a person's heart and then take action. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”