THE
CORPORATE COMMUNITY
©
Morris Ruddick
These
are serious times. Serious times call for something more.
In
early 1996 I wrote:
"A
time is coming soon when there will be changes in the infrastructures
of the world's systems that will create reversals resulting in
discontinuities such as the world has never seen. In the same
manner that Joseph the patriarch was sent ahead to prepare for
what was coming to the earth, God is today sending individuals
ahead to prepare for a time of great change that will precede
the shift of all ages. These will be individuals who clearly hear
God's voice and who possess a unique understanding of the times,
who will be thrust into positions of influence within the economic,
governmental and business infrastructures that guide the course
of world events.”
A
dynamic unique to our times points to the “something more” that
is needed. Fifty three of the top one hundred economies in the
world are corporations ( Global, Inc ., Gabel and Bruner,
2003, The New Press, New York ).
With
a handful of corporate giants controlling most of the
world's energy, technology, banks, industry, food, and media,
this means there are corporations that function as kingdoms, with
amazing resources at their command.
In
view of the political, social and economic framework that we unconsciously
depend on for our future, this dynamic unlocks a remarkable dimension
to understanding the role of this generation's emerging Josephs.
It represents an extraordinary potential to navigating through
challenging times.
As
Egypt served during a time of great famine in the days of Joseph,
so there will be economic-community havens immune to the prevailing
disruptions. They will be driven by unconventional alliances,
not unlike what operated between Pharaoh and Joseph. They will
function as communities of refuge and serve overriding Kingdom
purposes.
The
Corporate Community Model
At
turning points to the destiny of God's people, the Lord has appointed
oases, places of refuge that facilitate His overriding Kingdom
purposes. Select corporations, the size to be an economy, will
align with modern-day Josephs and conform to the age-old biblical
model of community to become gateways and shelters from the storm.
The
secular-Kingdom paradigm between Joseph and Pharaoh is a model
for times of change. The combination of righteous influence (tz'dakah)
and the power of self-sustaining enterprise-communities will bring
increase and blessing that extend far beyond their own boundaries.
They likewise will provide safe-havens for Kingdom pathways in
otherwise hostile environments.
What
is frequently referred to as the “global community” has embraced
its political, economic and social assumptions on a top-down model
that has become increasingly isolated from its bottom-up foundations.
From an organizational and market stance, this is a source of
mounting instability.
The
Word of God clearly outlines a bottom-up foundation. When an entity
loses touch with its bottom-up foundations, it will begin to wobble.
Economically, the imbalance created by an unhealthy top-down focus
will eventually destabilize the entire system.
The
dynamic of corporate community is key to stability. Stability
that stands strong against the destructive forces of change will
result from a healthy top-down, bottom-up balance. Entrepreneurship
provides that balance. Key elements of God's DNA, to create, innovate,
build and bring increase, are at the heart of God's gift of entrepreneurial
community. When entrepreneurship and community are rightly aligned
and God-centered, they represent the relational and economic balance
through which God's blessings are allowed to flow in a societal
context.
Many
multinational corporations are community-minded, but far too often
swayed by politically correct spheres of influence. The influence
needed to navigate the turbulence of our day will come from Joseph-type
alliances. When combined with the bottom-up framework of rightly
aligned, smaller, self-sufficient support enterprises, then the
top-down shelter of corporate community will result.
When
it does, it represents the basis for the proactive response to
times of famine and change: the “safe havens;” the ability to
bypass disaster; and the approach to bring increase and blessing
in spite of the adversity.
The
Pathway of the Undefiled
There
was a reason Joseph was chosen from among his brothers to be sent
ahead. Despite his status when a slave and then a prisoner; Joseph's
heart was always that of a king. Joseph was undefiled by the iniquities
gripping his brothers. What he took to Egypt was a pure heart
that heard from God. What the Egyptians saw was a man, who despite
the adversity of his situation bestowed the blessings of God on
those he served. When Joseph was a slave in Potiphar's household
he was described in this way:
“The
Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man; and everyone
saw that the Lord was with Joseph and made all that he did to
prosper.” Genesis 39:2-3
Joseph's
pathway to the palace was one of humility, an identity in God,
service to the community and excellence. Joseph was one clearly
counted among the tz'dakim,” the righteous who are recognized
as making a difference for the community.
This
community dynamic of “tz'dakah,” charitable righteousness, became
the basis on which the granaries became the source of life during
the famine, for not only Egypt , but the world around them. In
the process it also became the sanctuary for the birthing of the
next step for what the Lord intended to do through His chosen
people.
Issues
for Influence
There
is no question that we face a time of preparation as the assumptions
guiding the global community teeter. Persecuted segments of the
Body can offer great insight into the priorities and strategies
that enable God's people to first survive and then find opportunity
in times of crisis. Joseph's influence in Egypt progressively
reflected the wise combination of key alliances, new mind-sets,
trust, resource application and God-anointed leadership.
Alliances
. The choice of alliance will always allow God at the
center, without promoting religious convention. The God-centered
focus will pivot on the practical benefits to those directly involved.
Given full reign, this type of alliance will spill over to bless
those around it. In short, these are alliances that operate on
the basis of community as God intended, with realignments from
the hindrances of business as usual.
Mind-Sets
. Jesus taught that unless we become as little children,
we will by no means enter the Kingdom of God . In addition to
humility, children think outside the box. The wonder of life remains
such that for most small children, nothing is impossible. Faith
begins with our thinking, our mind-sets.
Prevailing
mind-sets will be challenged by pathways that may appear as unconventional.
Joseph's alliance with Pharaoh was an unorthodox departure from
the way Jacob's community had previously operated with the world
around them. So it is that we've entered a time that will separate
man's doctrines from God's principles.
Trust
. A major factor operating for Joseph was trust. Joseph
was no doubt creative and innovative. Yet he was a most unlikely
candidate to be entrusted with the level of authority he was given
at each stage in his tenure in Egypt . There was more to it than
his character or abilities. Joseph earned the trust of the Egyptians
by consistently releasing the blessings of God to the benefit
of the community around him.
Resources
. Community cannot function properly without the self-supporting
flow of resources. There existed an antagonistic response to outsiders
by both Jacob and Joseph's brothers. While called to be a light
shining in the darkness; to be blessed to be a blessing, they
fell short. God's extraction to place Joseph in the heart of Egypt
was totally out of sync with the prevailing religious mind-sets.
Yet, it placed Joseph amid a people with whom he had great favor,
along with the resource- and power-base needed for the coming
crisis.
Leadership
. A significant part of Joseph's role was demonstrated
by his God-centered leadership. Joseph always found the common
ground from which God was openly acknowledged and released in
his service to the Egyptians. Leadership involves influence and
influence is based on trust. True leadership is the ability to
turn insight, inspiration and intention into reality without controlling,
manipulating, domineering or forcing. At each stage during his
time in Egypt , Joseph broke the mold in the way he mobilized
people and resources to the benefit of those around him. When
the opportunity presented itself, Joseph demonstrated the leadership
needed to mobilize the entire community of Egyptians for a time
of crisis.
The
Corporate Community Mantle
During
the middle-ages power rested in the hands of the few. The feudal
system of those days was based on a view that the populace were
sheep to be herded and then shorn in due season. Three classes
of people existed: the nobility or ruling class; the clergy; and
the common folk. The nobility were men who had a duty to protect
the others; the clergy served to maintain the souls of the members
of society; and beneath both were the commoners, whose role it
was to labor and by their efforts to feed the others.
Within
the world today is a parallel. It thrives on the premise that
if given the freedom, most people will imitate someone else. Yet,
blind obedience is not the standard for God's people. Contemporizing
God's truth to "become like everyone else" will only
cycle into falling short. God's intention for His people has long
been to make them "the head rather than the tail." His
purpose for His own is to "lend to many nations and not borrow."
The
Kingdom of God will not be built apart from community and enterprise.
Weathering the winds of change will not happen apart from defining
the identity and leadership needed for the corporate community
mantle.
Before
us are cyclic times that foreshadow great change. Simultaneously
the shift underway will unveil gateways to unusual alliances that
excel against adversity in the face of the gathering storms.
For
us to assume our role as the people of God there is a clarion
call for the Joseph-Daniel type of leadership, along with understanding
and applying the biblical framework for community. Both pivot
on the admonition from Exodus 15 that provides the key to bypass
destruction: “ Listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your
God and do what is right in His eyes… ” From Noah to Joseph
to Moses to David to the first-century believers, each of whom
gave birth to the new thing God was doing for their time, the
leadership they exhibited pivoted on hearing the voice of the
Lord.
So
it is today. Leadership will be defined by those who hear. Community
will be defined by those who lead. Those who hear and those who
lead will restore the age-old biblical foundations and the true
identity and calling that we, as God's people, will use to form
alliances and extend God's blessings to the staggering world around
us.
“Then
the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord
and he shall reign for ever.” Rev.21: 10
_________________________________________
Morris
Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God
in the marketplace. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling"
and "Gods Economy , Israel and the Nations," which address
the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to
impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available
from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets.
Mr.
Ruddick is also the founder of the Global Equippers Entrepreneurial
Program, which imparts hope and equips economic community builders
where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world.
To schedule a speaking engagement, sponsor a workshop, make a
donation or to get more information on how you can help, contact
Global Initiatives at 303.741.9000.
2009
Copyright Morris Ruddick - info@strategic-initiatives.org
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is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor.
Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has
mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level
issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous
posts or more information on SIGN, check:
http://www.strategicintercession.org
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