I know that this is a topic to bring up to the Reverend at lunch on Monday, but I would greatly appreciate prayers and any thoughts or advice. I'm in the very uncomfortable and awkward spot of being a married 28 year old man, who is unsure of his vocation in life (regarding work, not my call to be married). I loved studying theology, philosophy, and history when I was working toward my Associate's in Theology from Franciscan of Steubenville, and I would love to be called to do some work for God's Church, although for many various reasons, despite my desire I don't believed I am called to Holy Orders of any kind. I've often thought of translating various Christian books into Urdu, my second language, but in an odd turn of events I find myself selling antiques online. I love antiques, and every other weekend or so my wife and I are accustomed to make our rounds at our favourite antique stores, but now I'm trying to make a business of it, and while I do enjoy it, I find it bringing out some undesirable tendencies in me, such as greed, envy at more established and successful sellers, and constantly thinking of how cheap I can buy something, and how much I can sell it for, which obviously is essential in trading, but at what percentage does a mark up go from being good business to immorally overcharging someone? Since I'm in the situation that I'm in, and I honestly think the time has passed for me to go back to school, I'm determined to try and make this business venture a success, but I wish I could find some written, sound, Christian, work for men involved in business to help guide me to be a fair Christian businessman, and to not feel awkward begging Our Lord to prosper my work before an auction. I suppose this was more of a rant or unloading than anything, please excuse me for it, and please pray that Our Lord would guide me to His vocation for me, whatever it may be, and that I would receive grace to conduct the business I find myself in now in a manner befitting a Christian man.
A thing is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it (with the caveat that the seller should not be misrepresenting the item). Don't feel guilt over high markups. If someone else wants the item more than they want the price money, you have provided a fair transaction. I can understand the need to guard against becoming consumed by business matters to the extent that it changes your character or interferes with your walk of faith with our Lord. Only you are in a position to prayerfully evaluate where you are in that regard. The fact that you are concerned tells me your conscience is not seared and you desire to honor God; this is good. If your business ever were to really start to become an idol to you, I think you would need to get out and do something else; until then, continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Hopefully you can self-discipline and organize your time so as to involve yourself in some work of service to which you feel led... like this translation thing... in off-hours when you are not doing something more important (relationship with God 1st, relationship with family 2nd, work necessities 3rd).
Thank you for your reassuring reply. I did talk about it with the Reverend at lunch today, and while I still am not very convinced that this is my permanent vocation, we also discussed some things I can do for the Church beginning this Sunday, and I feel the more I can do such things, the better I will feel about the time I devote to trying to make this business venture succeed.