different business plan
Religion isn't my strong suit. But I figure I'd archive this here so I could reflect on it sometime.
A different business plan
by Marissa Marasigan
Business World Online - www.bworld.com.ph
Thursday, March 24, 2005, Manila, Philippines
In our MBA Program, we teach students how to make and implement business plans. In fact, one of the final requirements of the program is for the students to prepare a strategic plan for the organization that they work with or that they own, so that the plan becomes more meaningful, and the chances of its being implemented increases.
As we take a break from the busyness of our work this Holy Week, I would like us to consider a different kind of business plan -- God's business plan, which He prepared long before MBA programs and management gurus came into being.
A business plan always stems from the mission and vision of the organization or the person. A mission states the overall purpose -- what an organization or person does for the benefit of someone -- while a vision describes that organization's or person's future if the mission is accomplished.
God's mission has always been to enjoy an open, loving relationship with us. This was the kind of relationship He enjoyed with Adam and Eve before they were tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. In such a relationship, Adam and Eve experienced fullness of life. They knew God personally because it was their habit to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. (Gen. 3:8) They enjoyed prosperity in the garden, where all kinds of trees grew out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food -- and through which four rivers flowed. The gold of the land was good; aromatic resin and onyx were also there. (Gen. 2:8:14)
After the fall, however, sinful mankind was separated spiritually from a holy God. Thus, God's vision, as the psalmist David wrote, is for all the ends of the earth to remember and turn to the Lord, and for all the families of the nations to bow down before Him. (Ps. 22:27)
A business plan is also prepared after the environment has been analyzed, and after the threats to, opportunities for, weaknesses of and strengths of the organization have been identified.
After the fall, God saw that man's wickedness on the earth had become great, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Gen. 6:5). The Israelites, God's chosen people, would repent, return to God, offer burnt offerings, sacrifice young animals, and be sprinkled with blood. The sprinkling of blood was necessary, because "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22) However, these actions had no lasting effect, and had to be done time after time. Spiritual death -- separation from God -- was a very real threat. God, therefore, in His omniscience, omnipotence, and all-encompassing love, had the opportunity to effect a long-term solution that would save mankind and at the same time satisfy His requirements for holiness.
God's "corporate" strategy can be summed up in two verses: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-17) Jesus was born so that He could die for us -- so that He could be the blood offering, once and for all.
As business students and practitioners know, corporate strategies have to be supported by marketing, operations, human resource, and finance strategies.
Marketing
God's product was salvation for mankind through Jesus. The target market was not just the descendants of Israel, but also we Gentiles. For God said, "I will show My love to the one I called 'Not My loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not My people,' 'You are My people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' " (Hos. 2:23)
The price? Jesus paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross on and in our behalf. For us, however, the price is just a prayer of repentance and acceptance. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Acts 2:21) And the wonderful thing is that this product -- salvation through Christ -- is available anytime, anywhere. However, the apostle Paul warns us not to delay: "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2) For none of us knows when we will die and have to face God.
How did God promote this product? Promotion did not start only after Jesus had been born. Through His different great men, God foretold the coming and death of Jesus: "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isa. 9:6-7) Psalm 22:1 records Jesus' exact words on the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Verses 16 to 18 recount, "Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing."
When Jesus was on earth, He also illustrated God's word through parables, and explained the Scripture to the Jews. And after rising from the dead and before ascending into heaven, He promised His disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Operations
Let's just look at one aspect of operations -- scheduling. God has a perfect time for everything (Eccl. 3:1). According to Bible scholars, Jesus started His ministry when He was about 30 years old. During that time, He experienced and gained a full understanding of what it was to be human. He lived like any normal Jew -- he played, worked, obeyed His parents, and went to the temple during the Sabbath. He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)
When it was time for Him to minister, He went to the different towns. He turned water into wine. He blessed the children. He multiplied the fish and the bread, and fed the multitudes. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He cast out demons. He rebuked the Pharisees, who taught God's laws, but did not obey them. He did all these, to demonstrate God's love and concern for His people. And the ultimate expression of this love was when He died on the cross.
Human resources
Jesus knew that His time on earth was limited. So He fasted and prayed, and then chose His apostles. Although crowds were always following Him, He made sure to spend time with the 12. He taught them in word and in deed, and delegated tasks to them. And when it was time for Him to ascend into heaven, He promised them the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things and remind them of everything He had said to them. (John 14:26)
He also assured them that anyone who had faith in Him would do what He had been doing. In fact, they would do even greater things than these, because He was going to the Father. (John 14:12)
Finance
Every business needs financing -- even Jesus' ministry. So while Jesus was still a baby, God touched the hearts of the Magi, who were powerful, wealthy men from the East. Bible scholars estimate that the gold, incense, and myrrh they gave are worth US$400 million today. In fact, Jesus had to have a treasurer, Judas Iscariot, to handle the money and keep track of the expenses. Judas eventually betrayed Jesus, but that, too, was part of God's plan.
God owns everything. In Psalm 50:9-12, He says, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it." And yet God chooses to use His people and their financial resources to continue spreading the good news (2 Cor. 9:11; 1 Tim. 6:18). He wants us to actively participate in His plan of salvation.
So this, in a nutshell, is God's business plan. We can read more about it in the Bible. But God can only do so much, because He gave each of us free will. His plan will succeed only if we accept it.
God has done His part. Have you done yours?
The writer is vice-dean of the Taft Campus of the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle Professional Schools, Inc. She can be e-mailed at marasiganm@dlsu.edu.ph.
A different business plan
by Marissa Marasigan
Business World Online - www.bworld.com.ph
Thursday, March 24, 2005, Manila, Philippines
In our MBA Program, we teach students how to make and implement business plans. In fact, one of the final requirements of the program is for the students to prepare a strategic plan for the organization that they work with or that they own, so that the plan becomes more meaningful, and the chances of its being implemented increases.
As we take a break from the busyness of our work this Holy Week, I would like us to consider a different kind of business plan -- God's business plan, which He prepared long before MBA programs and management gurus came into being.
A business plan always stems from the mission and vision of the organization or the person. A mission states the overall purpose -- what an organization or person does for the benefit of someone -- while a vision describes that organization's or person's future if the mission is accomplished.
God's mission has always been to enjoy an open, loving relationship with us. This was the kind of relationship He enjoyed with Adam and Eve before they were tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. In such a relationship, Adam and Eve experienced fullness of life. They knew God personally because it was their habit to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. (Gen. 3:8) They enjoyed prosperity in the garden, where all kinds of trees grew out of the ground -- trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food -- and through which four rivers flowed. The gold of the land was good; aromatic resin and onyx were also there. (Gen. 2:8:14)
After the fall, however, sinful mankind was separated spiritually from a holy God. Thus, God's vision, as the psalmist David wrote, is for all the ends of the earth to remember and turn to the Lord, and for all the families of the nations to bow down before Him. (Ps. 22:27)
A business plan is also prepared after the environment has been analyzed, and after the threats to, opportunities for, weaknesses of and strengths of the organization have been identified.
After the fall, God saw that man's wickedness on the earth had become great, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Gen. 6:5). The Israelites, God's chosen people, would repent, return to God, offer burnt offerings, sacrifice young animals, and be sprinkled with blood. The sprinkling of blood was necessary, because "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (Heb. 9:22) However, these actions had no lasting effect, and had to be done time after time. Spiritual death -- separation from God -- was a very real threat. God, therefore, in His omniscience, omnipotence, and all-encompassing love, had the opportunity to effect a long-term solution that would save mankind and at the same time satisfy His requirements for holiness.
God's "corporate" strategy can be summed up in two verses: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16-17) Jesus was born so that He could die for us -- so that He could be the blood offering, once and for all.
As business students and practitioners know, corporate strategies have to be supported by marketing, operations, human resource, and finance strategies.
Marketing
God's product was salvation for mankind through Jesus. The target market was not just the descendants of Israel, but also we Gentiles. For God said, "I will show My love to the one I called 'Not My loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not My people,' 'You are My people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' " (Hos. 2:23)
The price? Jesus paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross on and in our behalf. For us, however, the price is just a prayer of repentance and acceptance. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Acts 2:21) And the wonderful thing is that this product -- salvation through Christ -- is available anytime, anywhere. However, the apostle Paul warns us not to delay: "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2) For none of us knows when we will die and have to face God.
How did God promote this product? Promotion did not start only after Jesus had been born. Through His different great men, God foretold the coming and death of Jesus: "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isa. 9:6-7) Psalm 22:1 records Jesus' exact words on the cross: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Verses 16 to 18 recount, "Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evil men has encircled Me, they have pierced My hands and My feet. I can count all My bones; people stare and gloat over Me. They divide My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing."
When Jesus was on earth, He also illustrated God's word through parables, and explained the Scripture to the Jews. And after rising from the dead and before ascending into heaven, He promised His disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Operations
Let's just look at one aspect of operations -- scheduling. God has a perfect time for everything (Eccl. 3:1). According to Bible scholars, Jesus started His ministry when He was about 30 years old. During that time, He experienced and gained a full understanding of what it was to be human. He lived like any normal Jew -- he played, worked, obeyed His parents, and went to the temple during the Sabbath. He grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)
When it was time for Him to minister, He went to the different towns. He turned water into wine. He blessed the children. He multiplied the fish and the bread, and fed the multitudes. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. He cast out demons. He rebuked the Pharisees, who taught God's laws, but did not obey them. He did all these, to demonstrate God's love and concern for His people. And the ultimate expression of this love was when He died on the cross.
Human resources
Jesus knew that His time on earth was limited. So He fasted and prayed, and then chose His apostles. Although crowds were always following Him, He made sure to spend time with the 12. He taught them in word and in deed, and delegated tasks to them. And when it was time for Him to ascend into heaven, He promised them the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things and remind them of everything He had said to them. (John 14:26)
He also assured them that anyone who had faith in Him would do what He had been doing. In fact, they would do even greater things than these, because He was going to the Father. (John 14:12)
Finance
Every business needs financing -- even Jesus' ministry. So while Jesus was still a baby, God touched the hearts of the Magi, who were powerful, wealthy men from the East. Bible scholars estimate that the gold, incense, and myrrh they gave are worth US$400 million today. In fact, Jesus had to have a treasurer, Judas Iscariot, to handle the money and keep track of the expenses. Judas eventually betrayed Jesus, but that, too, was part of God's plan.
God owns everything. In Psalm 50:9-12, He says, "I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it." And yet God chooses to use His people and their financial resources to continue spreading the good news (2 Cor. 9:11; 1 Tim. 6:18). He wants us to actively participate in His plan of salvation.
So this, in a nutshell, is God's business plan. We can read more about it in the Bible. But God can only do so much, because He gave each of us free will. His plan will succeed only if we accept it.
God has done His part. Have you done yours?
The writer is vice-dean of the Taft Campus of the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle Professional Schools, Inc. She can be e-mailed at marasiganm@dlsu.edu.ph.