God's Purpose

During my quiet times in the last 3-4 months, I've been looking at God's character and qualities that would help me get to know Him better rather than just understand Him more. While I seek the understanding, I really felt that the Holy Spirit was working in me to get to know Jesus better, and that comes by know the qualities of His character and how that is played out in my own life.

In reading half of Genesis [started with Jacob's fleeing from Esau] and starting in Exodus, the large portion of what I read so far is the life of Joseph and his brothers. And I kept asking myself, "What is it about God that is revealing to me?" Because in the story of Joseph, God's literal voice is absent - He doesn't actually say anything for chapters. But in the midst of Joseph's life, where his brothers' jealousy leads to their selling him, being in jail for 12 years, and reaching to the height of Pharaoh's kingdom only to be confronted by his family again, I wondered what qualities of God I was suppose to get.

As I thought more about it, the Holy Spirit led me to an important quality of God's. It is that God's purpose is perfect and bigger than anything we could have planned for. I think what I used to take away from Joseph's story is that if you are faithful in God during times of trials and act appropriately, God will make things better. And I still think there is a lot of truth in that. But this time around, I think I see that God has a purpose, and His purpose is only known to Him. And just as important, His purpose is redemptive. The story of Joseph is a redeeming one, where only God could know his purpose over a 12-20 year span. Despite Joseph's jealous brothers, God redeemed the story at the end with reconciliation and blessings.

God's purpose is bigger than us. It is bigger than the moment in which we live. I was talking to the wife and I don't think our purpose is to know fully God's purpose. That would, for all intents and purpose, make us God. God reveals His purpose to us when we need it and in the way we need it. But we always have to be ready and willing to submit to His plans. Because whatever season we are living right now, God's purpose is bigger than that - and if we don't believe that, then we're not seeing closely God's character. There is a story within each of us, and our stories are meant to be part of God's purpose, especially in its redemptive nature. God's redemptive purpose for Joseph was for him to be the head of Pharaoh's kingdom - but that couldn't have happened unless he was imprisoned and interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's. Our stories are not unlike Joseph's. We too, have gone through ups and downs. But God's purpose is big. His purpose is perfect. And it is one of God's qualities that make Him uniquely God - that He is all knowing, and that His plans need no help from us from coming to fruition.

What Kind of Justice Do We Seek?

A lot has been happening at work - none of which is pleasant. Layoffs, large debt, lowered revenues are all but larger clouds that form over our heads. Closer to the ground are decisions made by few that nonetheless leave us doubting right and wrong, justice and injustice.

I've already written about the Dilbert Principle, but beyond the concept of incompetent managers and executives that keep rising to the top like hot air balloons, I wonder: Where is the justice? Where is the right and wrong for those who are hard working and rewarded while those who sell their salesmanship are disposed? Part of the problem is that we all think, in varying degrees, we are hard working and our moral compass points to true north. And part of the problem with justice is we see it through the lens of our own corner, the corner we think has the best view of the room rather than through God's point of view, where what makes sense to Him, doesn't to us.

When I consider the fact that there are many executives out there who can't manage, lead, inspire, vision, develop, or coach, there are just as many arrogant, self-righteous, judgmental employees who think they can. And that's the rub. For all the incompetent managers and executives out there, there are equally the same number of self-righteous employees who feel they have been wronged by the Dilbert Principle. Justice outside of God's economy is a concept that doesn't reside in reality - at least not the reality that we want it to live in. Justice is only true in the people who talk about it like it's a bunch of "should's" situations that if only the people who make decisions can see, all would be "right" with the world. It "shouldn't" be this way, we tell ourselves. He/she "should" have been laid off, not him/her.

As I reflect on what is happening at my own job and company, I know the concept of justice is more than right and wrong. It is, without a doubt, a very dangerous and often disappointing view of a world that continues to shower CEOs and executives millions of dollars, only to see the companies they lead fail. For every good worker that stays, the same number of incompetent manager rises through the system that rewards the coterie of a few than the merit of the many. The world is not that simple, unfortunately. It's not just a matter of doing the "right" thing, but rather, it is a matter of living with integrity and with character that is often disappointing. But then again, who doesn't think they have integrity? Who doesn't think they have character? I guess that's why God is the judge and we "should" not be. Justice comes when we see decisions/acts that, to us, is so blatant that we await for the judge [whoever that is in the company] to right a "wrong". But it doesn't always happen. Why? I know it sounds so overused, but it's because life is very gray. Even if you remove one incompetent manager or executive, another will take their place to continue to run the show. So where is the justice? Is there no end to moronic decisions and idiotic leadership? As long as we [people] think we're running this life, justice is pushed through a vacuum that is random and unsettling. And even though I want the right things to be done and justice to prevail, that only happens in heaven and comic books. Life is full of oxymorons and contridictions. Unfairness and injustice is just part of a flawed system run by flawed people. And to push for justice that only God should be able to hammer down is an emotionally exhausting endeavor. The response is not to merely resign and give up, but it is to have community brought forth together to exhort, petition, pray, hope, and love - because God can only be the true Judge. When we try to be the judge and make sense of it all, we are left with being frustrated and in pain. We can only try to seek God and find peace that He has a purpose and His purpose is always perfect. It's easier said than done, but when it comes to corporate justice, there is little to be done with "should's" and more with just controlling the only thing we can: ourselves and the way we respond.

I'm not saying we should be in silence. I am not saying there's nothing we can do. We must speak up and act according to the injustice - but when we judge, when we hold the gavel, the world is no longer God's to own, but ours to ruin. We must stand up for the marginalized and those who have no voice. But to think that justice always prevail is also naive and innocent. Justice can only prevail when God is the judge. When we try to replace Him at the throne, we will be disappointed and more often than not, we will fail. I'm learning a big lesson for myself in all of this. I need to get off the throne so He can take His rightful place. Someone please tackle me out of the chair so God can sit where He needs to do His work. Because I'm tired and weary. Trying to make sense of it all is all too disappointing and painful. So it's time to let God finally do what only He can do - to perfect judge every situation in my life. To understand that His purpose is wholly good and true.