Business for the Common Good
A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion – Psalm 112:5
Are you operating your business for the common good or for personal gain? What does it mean to operate a business for the common good? Can it be done sustainably?
Retired Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan made this statement, “I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that to gain, those you deal with should gain as well.” It is unfortunate that neither Wall Street nor Washington have lived up to these simple words of wisdom from our retired Fed Chairman. This would have prevented our current economic disaster, which is simply the result of greed. Our nation is being destroyed by greedy corporations, greedy investors, and greedy politicians all seeking their own interests. What our economy needs most right now is a new insurgence of entrepreneurs who are committed to doing business based on moral convictions for the common good, not just for personal self-interest. These entrepreneurs will not only be able to revive our economy through job creation, they will also be able to finance and hold a new breed of politicians accountable to restoring all levels of government to the good and decent values of the founding fathers.
What does it mean to do business for the common good? It means that your business exists not just for your benefit or the stockholders’ but that it benefits all; the employees, the customers, the community and the nation. It means that you see your business as a catalyst to transform the community in which you do business and to serve as the engine of the economy for the nation. No one is in a better position than you, the Biblical Entrepreneur, to play this role. You are the answer to the prayers of the nation. You are the job creator, the solution provider, the hope of our economy.
How do you know if your business is operating for the common good?
| Common Good | Personal Gain |
| Solves true market problems | Creates artificial needs |
| Operates with integrity | Operates “by any means necessary” |
| Focuses on being ethical | Focuses on being legal |
| Is socially responsible | Is socially irresponsible |
| Provides living wages and bonuses | Pays minimum wages without rewards |
| Is customer driven | Is profit driven |
| Completes others | Competes with others |
| Has multiple bottom line | Has a single bottom line |
| Shares growth with employees | Shares growth only with investors |
| Has a long-term outlook on returns | Has a short-term outlook on returns |
| Gives generously and consistently | Gives very little in relationship to profits |
| Honors the Sabbath | Does not honor the Sabbath |
Operating a business for the common good is a holistic approach to business and requires all the business systems to be aligned with that mission; otherwise the business will be inconsistent. If you or your business is currently not operating for the common good, do not try to fix it overnight but rather first revise your existing strategic plan or develop a new strategic plan that reflects your new focus. Make sure that all the stake holders are in agreement and begin to implement your ideas; resist the temptation of just talking about them. Conduct an annual evaluation to ensure that you remain on course.
My prayer for you this week is that God will give you the wisdom to align your business for the common good so that you may be light in the industry that He called you to serve and an answer to our nation’s economic crisis.
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