The primary objective of all human activity should be to exercise dominion in the physical universe by serving as God’s ruling agents (Genesis 1:26–28). Therefore, organizations are tools to serve God’s purpose in the metanarrative by providing a context for humans to exercise dominion on behalf of the Creator.
The Creator was under no obligation to execute a metanarrative when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden (Genesis 3). The metanarrative of redemption was the sovereign choice of the Creator. He chose to make the metanarrative the underlying story of history. Consequently, every organization and person exists to serve God’s purpose in this context.
History can be divided into at least two large segments commonly referred to as the old covenant era and the new covenant era. The former refers to the time from creation to just after the first advent of Christ, and the latter refers to the time from just after the first advent of Christ to the present day.
The old covenant era is commonly viewed as the time when the Mosaic Law governed the people of God. The old covenant was a conditional covenant dependent on human obedience to divine law. A covenant is a contract or agreement between two parties. And normally, both parties have a responsibility to each other. Under the Mosaic Law, the nation of Israel enjoyed the privileges of being the people of God if they obeyed God (Exodus 19:5–6). However, they didn’t obey, and this period ended in judgment, the consequence of their disobedience (1 Kings 9:6–7).
The new covenant era began shortly after the first advent of Jesus. This covenant is unconditional. It is a divine promise that is not conditional on human actions. It is God’s sovereign, unilateral work. The God-man Jesus singularly provided the basis for the new covenant (Luke 22:20). Jesus atoned for humanity’s sins, based on his sacrificial work on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). His work reconciled fallen mankind to God in accordance with God’s grace.
The old covenant revealed that mankind could not be restored to right standing with God through mankind’s own works. In the new covenant, God provided a way for man to be reconciled to him.
The old covenant was based on an external law that required perfect obedience based on unaided human empowerment. The new covenant is based on an internal law written on each person’s heart by God and the divine empowerment to obey (Ezekiel 36:26). This does not mean that mankind will be perfectly obedient under the new covenant, but that mankind will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to grow and mature in Christlikeness (1 John 2:3–6).
Today, we live in the new covenant era and enjoy the blessing of divine empowerment to live holy lives. This is a gift that should modulate our human will and emotions and guide our every thought, word, and action.
Here is your business tip. Organizational leaders and managers should build organizations based on the reality of living in the context of the new covenant era. This means that sound, efficient organizations should be built with true disciples (those who manifest the fruit of regeneration) who are humble, submitted, and teachable, and, therefore, seeking to live empowered lives aligned with the will and ways of God. Such people and organizations will build aligned with God and bear the fruit of progressively maturing in Christlikeness. This will enable them to truly bless those they serve as they honor God through excellent work (Colossians 3:17, 23).
