Business ethics is a much-discussed topic today. The trend is to move beyond the traditional division between ethics and business. Today, for example, the idea is reinforced that organisations involve human realities in which ethics is not just an add-on but rather a fundamental. And to that end, efforts are made to incorporate ethics into management styles, planning overall goals, creating internal cultures with a human touch, and making decisions.

In the specific case of a Christian organisation such as World Vision, ethics is far more than a moral code for determining what actions are correct. Christian ethics not only involve the decisions themselves but also the characters of those who decide and the characters of the organisations and groups which are deciding. According to the gospel, ethics is about who we are and what we desire to be before God.

What a difference! In the ethics of the kingdom of God, one does as one is. For this reason, when we talk about ethics in decision-making (with regard to Christian discernment), we are really talking about the very essence of the Christian character of the individual, group, or organisation. (Thus we speak of the organisational ethos).

The biblical text for today’s reflection is about the situation of need that had come about in the Jerusalem church because of unexpected growth following the Pentecost. They needed more leaders because of the surprising growth they were experiencing. We will spend some time with this text, trying to identify how they elected the new deacons and how the kingdom’s ethics guided this process.

Key thought

The ethics of the kingdom of God is not just concerned with the right way to make decisions. This ethic is, above all, concerned with the character of those who make the decisions: that they be more like Jesus.

Encountering God’s Word

Read aloud Acts 6:1-7

Reflect on one of the following assertions:

• What values from the ethics of the kingdom of God do the Apostles demonstrate?

Note: the most important part of this episode is not only the decision that was made, but rather, something even more important -- the Christian character of those who made it.

• What is the importance of these values in our own discernment and decision-making process?

For further reflection

Discernment is carried out in an environment of faith and prayer, of listening to the Word of God, of fraternal dialogue, counsel, silence and reflection, in order to consider the options of the Spirit and make decisions in line with God’s will.

Prayer

We don’t know how to pray as we should, Holy Spirit,
come help us in our weakness.

We don’t know how to wait as we should, Holy Spirit,
come help us in our impatience.

We don’t know how to forgive as we should, Holy Spirit, come help us in our impotence.

We don’t know how to believe as we should, Holy Spirit,
come help us in our unbelief.

There are so many things that we do not know, Holy Spirit,
come help us in our unfaithfulness.

You, who want what the Father wants,
grant us your forgiveness in Christ.
Amen.

(From the Lutheran Liturgy of Paris)

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