Romans 7: 18-25
New International Version
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
John Dalla Costa
The Ethical Imperative: Why Moral Leadership Is Good Business (pp 109-110), Perseus Books, Reading Mass., 1998
Attempting to codify its ethical practices, Levi Strauss & Co. first adopted a ‘compliance–based program.’...However clear and comprehensive, the list did not work. )Chairman and CEO, Robert) Haas explains: &squo;First, rules beget rules. And regulations beget regulations. We became buried in paperwork, and any time we faced a unique ethical issue, another rule or regulation was born. Second, our compliance–based program sent a disturbing message to our people—“We don’t respect your intelligence or trust you!” Finally, and one of the most compelling reasons for shedding this approach, was that it didn’t keep managers or employees from exercising poor judgment and making questionable decisions.
Comment: (One)
….Codifying does not edify!
…been thinking through this myself, that the many Human problems are not mostly due to external failure,.. but rather attributable an internal disconnect and darkness that cloud and colours our thoughts, judgements, perceptions, motives and ultimately the value we attach to things internally and externally,… and therefore results in actions that cause pain, brokeness and confusion.
The treatment must therefore start at the root, us acknowledging that the problem is in us, or its actually us, …and starting to tackle it from there. If we do not clean a wound before covering it, irrespective of how well we cover it, it will only fester!
Rules therefore, no matter how well intentioned will never completely solve the problems they are meant to address because they address the symptoms and not the root causes of the sickness in our hearts.
Jesua therefore needs to come and stay inside, gradually transforming us by healing our brokenness,mending our relationships, refreshing our values and giving us the right perception of things!
May He reign Eternally in our Hearts!