Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization.  We believe some are critical (and necessary) steps in the RENEW/RE-ALIGN/RE-IMAGINE/RESTORE process.  Others are just ideas to be considered if they feel like a good fit based on what leaders prayerfully discern is best for stewarding the organization toward its WHY.

“Seek Vertical Counsel” is not an “if it fits” idea.  It should be done in obedience by all faithful leaders all the time–no exceptions.  Omit it at your peril.

Integrity Ideas are specific actions a leader can consider during the Re-Align step of Integriosity^®–actions that will begin to Re-Align the organization with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  You can find more Integrity Ideas at Integrous | Integrity Ideas (integriosity.com)

INTEGRITY IDEA: Seek Vertical Counsel

“Seek Vertical Counsel” is about a faithful leader praying, either privately or with a small group of other leaders in the organization, for wisdom and guidance in every decision.

It recognizes that faithful leaders are merely stewards of the organization they lead, and God is its ultimate spiritual owner.  It also recognizes that stewardship requires decisions, faithful and wise stewardship requires faithful and wise decisions, Scripture calls faithful leaders to pray continuously, God is the source of all wisdom, and God will give wisdom to those who ask.

The importance of “Seek Vertical Counsel” in leading an organization with faithful integrity seems so obvious that some may say “do you really need an Integrity Idea on this topic?”  But “Seek Vertical Counsel” is so important to leading in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities that the answer is “YES!”

A reminder is necessary because unfortunately many faithful leaders do not associate God with organizational decisions.  Oswald Chambers observed:

In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives.

Chambers warns “Don’t plan without God . . .. We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him—that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives.”

Scripture is pretty clear about God’s willingness to provide counsel as well as the risks of proceeding without seeking God’s counsel.  As to the risks, we need only consider the story of the Gibeonites.  They deceived the Israelites into making a covenant that was contrary to God’s command, and we are told the Israelites failed to seek God’s guidance (emphasis added).

So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. (Joshua 9:14-15)

If that is not enough, consider these promises and warnings:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:24)

For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.  (Jeremiah 10:21)

A very successful businessperson openly shares the difficult way he learned the importance of seeking God’s direction before making business decisions.  When an office complex he developed sat empty, threatening the viability of his business and severely draining his personal finances, he felt God ask him “Did you ask me before you started this project?’  He says it was a wake-up call that led him to “Seek Vertical Counsel” in all his future business decisions.

“Seek Vertical Counsel” also recognizes the need for humility when leading with faithful integrity.  As we explained back in post #196 (First Things–Humility), humility is one of the four first principles embedded in the word Integriosity.

It is the key to understanding the “HOW” of the other three “first things”–righteousness, kingdom and love–and it is a key to wisdom. Pride keeps us in a wisdom silo, but humility opens us up to vertical wisdom–the Wisdom of God (as well as horizontal wisdom–the wisdom of others–which is a topic for a future post).

A leader who does not have the humility to recognize they are merely a steward of God’s organization is unlikely to submit decisions to prayer before proceeding and is unlikely to worry about whether the organization is operating in line with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities. Such a leader will be relying completely on their own abilities, which is not respecting the REAL OWNER of the organization.

CONTINUUM: Prayer

The Integriosity model organizes “heart change” along six Covert-Overt Continuums.  There is nothing magic about these categories, but we believe they are helpful in thinking about practical execution of a Re-Imagined Purpose, Re-Imagined Values and a Re-Imagined Culture.  The Continuums are Prayer, Proclamation, Policies, Practices, Products, People.

Each Continuum represents an area in which leaders can begin to think about, plan and institute Re-Alignment changes to the heart of the organization.

“Seek Vertical Counsel” is on the Prayer Continuum. The Prayer Continuum should also be the very first one addressed by faithful leaders pursuing leading with faithful integrity through business a better way.

“Seek Vertical Counsel” will facilitate the heart-change in leaders needed to RENEW their understanding of God’s purpose for work and business, it will guide how those leaders RE-IMAGINE the Purpose, Values and Culture of the organization, and it will guide how they address and implement RE-ALIGNMENT along the other five Continuums.

COVERT-OVERT RATING: Very Covert

The Integriosity model breaks the Covert-Overt Continuums into six gradations–from Highly Covert to Highly Overt–that we believe are helpful in beginning to pray and think about what is most appropriate for an organization at a particular moment in time.

Most Integrity Ideas will have one place on the scale.  Some can vary depending on how they are implemented.   If done alone, “Seek Vertical Counsel” is Very Covert (an overtly faith-based action known only to the faithful leader).  If done with other faithful leaders, it remains Covert (an overtly faith-based action known only to a select group).

Although it is possible to make “Seek Vertical Counsel” Overt (An overtly faith-based action known generally within the organization) or even Highly Overt (An overtly faith-based action involving community, website, sales/marketing materials), we believe it is best kept Covert to keep its motivation pure–seeking wisdom from God rather than praise from man.

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community, Kingdom

When we categorize faith-based actions, we also consider the stakeholders principally impacted by the action: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community and Kingdom.

“Seek Vertical Counsel” serves all those prayed for and all those touched by the organization–Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, and Community.  Moreover, as a faithful leader leads with faithful integrity, the example set by the leader and the organization in the way the leader leads and the organization conducts business in alignment with God’s design and guidance also impacts God’s Kingdom.

IMPLEMENTATION

Implementing “Seek Vertical Counsel” is the least expensive, the most important and, at least conceptually, the easiest of all our Integrity Ideas.  There are two key decisions to make: with whom and when.

As to “when”, look no further than 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing“–but you knew that one!  Practically, “when” does require some effort if the answer to “with whom” is to “Seek Vertical Counsel” with others.  Our suggestion is a regularly scheduled meeting or call, supplemented by impromptu gatherings when a specific decision or matter requires seeking God’s wisdom.

We say “conceptually” the easiest because listening for God’s wisdom and then having the courage to follow what is heard can be a challenge.  Listening during prayer is not a challenge unique to “Seek Vertical Counsel”.  Our focus is on the challenge of courage.

Because people of Biblical faith are citizens of the Kingdom of God living in exile in the kingdom of the world–in the world but “not of the world” (John 17:14-16)–leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing will inevitably encounter resistance and dilemmas and require taking risks.

In his book To Change the World, James Hunter effectively warns that leading in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities “will invariably challenge the given structures of the social order.”   He goes on: “In this light, there is no true leadership without putting at risk one’s time, wealth, reputation, and position.

In each case, a leader will be facing those challenges with both hands tied behind their back (and possibly blindfolded with their feet bound) without seeking God’s guidance, protection and provision through prayer.

In post #091 (Trust in God), we explored these three types of challenges–resistance, dilemmas and risks–that will be faced by a faithful leader committed to leading with faithful integrity through business a better way.

Resistance.  Resistance to faithfully leading an organization through business a better way will come because it challenges the “given structures of the social order” in a fallen world of business as usual characterized by assumptions of Profit as Purpose, Scarcity and Self-Interest.  When a faithful leader implements “Seek Vertical Counsel”, God can break through that resistance.

Dilemmas.  Because an organization is operating in a fallen world, there may not be “easy answers” to organizational challenges–leaders are likely to be faced with choices that involve two imperfect alternatives.  When a faithful leader implements “Seek Vertical Counsel”, God can provide creative “third-way” solutions to dilemmas, such as reconciling business a better way with profitable sustainability in the world’s systems.

Risks.  Risks are necessary when facing resistance and resolving dilemmas in line with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities.  When faithful leaders “Seek Vertical Counsel”, God’s favor can protect leaders and organizations facing such risks.

Although these challenges may come in the form of human resistance and resistance from worldly systems, the Bible tells us that these challenges are spiritual:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  (Ephesians 6:12)

Of course, even the faithful leader who has the humility to recognize the need for God’s wisdom and implements “Seek Vertical Counsel” will only get the benefit of that wisdom by trusting God’s process, timing, and outcome:

• Process: God’s process is often counter-intuitive and counter-cultural.

• Timing: God’s timing often seems excruciatingly slow.

• Outcome: God’s best outcome for a business (the “all these things” promised in Matthew 6:33) may not be the world’s best outcome.

Ultimately, “Seek Vertical Counsel” recognizes that the same God who calls leaders to challenge the ways of the world and lead with faithful integrity in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities toward Biblical flourishing will be present to guide, equip and protect those who are called.

PERSONAL NOTE (from PM):  It was pretty clear to my friend when he felt God say, “Did you ask me before you started this project?” In fact, for him it was a wake-up call.  “Seek Vertical Counsel” is easy as one-way communication.  I find hearing to be the challenge.  I do believe God speaks in ways we will uniquely recognize.  For me, it is usually through things I read or things people say and do.  I do not believe in coincidences.  Each morning, I read several devotionals and Scripture.  If a similar message comes up three times the same morning, I pay attention.  It has almost become a joke in our home that I always happen to look at my phone or at a clock when it says 8:11 (my birthday).  It seems to happen more than twice each day.  When it happens, I understand it as a “God wink” (I remember Squire Rushnell speaking at the New Canaan Society years ago about his book “When God Winks“.)  You may think it silly, but when it happens, I know everything will be OK.  It tells me God is with me, and knowing that is what gave the Israelites the courage to enter battle time and time again.

ESSENCE:  Integrity Ideas are specific practical actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.

INTEGRITY IDEA: Seek Vertical Counsel

COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Prayer

COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Very Covert

STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Suppliers/Vendors, Community, Kingdom

“Seek Vertical Counsel” is about a faithful leader praying, either privately or with a small group of other leaders in the organization, for wisdom and guidance in every decision.  It recognizes that faithful leaders are merely stewards of the organization they lead, and God is its ultimate spiritual owner.  It also recognizes that stewardship requires decisions, faithful and wise stewardship requires faithful and wise decisions, Scripture calls faithful leaders to pray continuously, God is the source of all wisdom, and God will give wisdom to those who ask.  Because people of Biblical faith are citizens of the Kingdom of God living in exile in the kingdom of the world–in the world but “not of the world”–leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing will inevitably encounter resistance and dilemmas and require taking risks.  “Seek Vertical Counsel” recognizes that the same God who calls leaders to challenge the ways of the world and lead with faithful integrity in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities toward Biblical flourishing will be present to guide, equip and protect those who are called.

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Photo credit: Original image by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash
(photo cropped)