Greetings. I'm seeking advice from more experienced Christians. So to start thing off I'm 21 and I'm a college student. I have a very small business buying and selling vinyl record albums online. I started it back in high school and have made good money. Actually I've never had a job and this is still my only income as a full time student. I either buy big lots of records and sell them individually or buy them individually at good prices because they have a rare label or rare sticker or what have you. So money used to be a big thing to me but I recently became a Christian. Since then I've been wondering if what I'm doing is ok or sinful or something in between. Here are my concerns about it (1) sometimes I'll buy an album from somebody that doesn't know what they have for cheap. For example, I might buy one with a rare label. Pay $10 for it and sell it for $100. So I'm afraid I'm taking advantage of these people? I don't try to be greedy but you've got to do this to make money. (2) I don't know all of the music on the records I sell but it's safe to say that some of it isn't music a Christian should listen too. I don't want to contribute to a sinful lifestyle or condone a sinful song. I do enjoy running this small business and it's my only money maker right now. But I'm wondering if I should continue. I've prayed about it but am not yet sure how God responds to prayers and I don't think I've got an answer yet. Can some of you please help me? Thanks so much and God bless!
So the first universal generic answer is, no running a business, small or otherwise, isn't evil. In fact I think people who do, can be used more greatly for Kingdom, than those like me who can't hardly earn anything. You can do things with your ability to make money, that the rest of us can't. Like fund mission trips, and charities, and provide real help to organizations that do ministry.
If you need more evidence, the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the new testament, was a tent maker. He ran a small business himself.
As to your specific concerns.
1. I don't think you are obligated to inform everyone of what they have. Your knowledge itself, is of value. You are not obligated to give that away.
What you can't do, and should never do, is defraud, or downplay something you know has value. Never say something that is misleading. "Yeah that's an old label no one has ever heard of. I'll take it off your hands for 50¢". Don't be doing that, obviously.
And don't intentionally low ball. Offer what you consider a fair price.
2. A great rule of thumb on this, is the apostle Paul on eating meat given to Idols. 1 Corinthians 10:27-28.
If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.
So how to apply that to you is simply, if you don't know... then don't ask. Conduct your business without worry or fear.
However, if you do know, and it bothers you, then have nothing to do with it. If you have already bought, and find out there is something bad in it, then don't sell it. Toss it away.