Abstract

Profit is a crucial quality pertaining to the economy in its broader meaning. Growing one’s wealth is an activity of a man who, due to his/her natural characteristics, is obliged to evaluate his/her moral conduct in the light of ethical principles and taking into consideration those ideals which, in a way, make up the purpose of any human action. Christianity offers a certain system of values and principles which allow us to pass a moral judgment on the economic aspect of the human life. The analysis of the profit based on Scriptural facts need to point at the value of labour and the idea of private property. The inspired writers emphasise the centrality of the human being in their account of the material aspect of the created reality. Therefore, every profitable activity ought to be subordinated to the well-being of the person. These economic systems which put in question the fundamental value of human dignity or absolutise the material side of things need to be, according to the Bible, deemed unjust or even fatal for all the human kind. On the basis of the revealed truth and taking into account the social encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XVI Caritas in veritate three criteria of the contemporary moral reflection on profit-making may be pointed out, namely personalising of the aspects of profit-making activity, enabling the wealth to produce social benefits it is bound to bring forth and referring to the common good. The positive evaluation of profit-making in the perspective of these principles makes it possible for the profitable activity to contribute to the genuine growth of every member of the community along with the whole of the society.