Givers and Takers

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to buy a used car without wondering whether you are acquiring someone else’s problem?  The used car salesman has earned a reputation over the years of being a manipulative liar.  Now there are exceptions to the rule but in the U.S., full disclosure of mechanical issues is rarely the case.  This is indicative of the nature of takers.  They tend to be scarcity-oriented and feel like they have to manipulate others in order to get ahead.  They really don’t believe that Our Heavenly Father will provide for them so they must lie, cheat, or steal to make ends meet.  This view of scarcity follows them throughout life.  As they do acquire some assets, they continue this path and it simply becomes part of their character.  When a car salesman gets the best of a customer, they call it “knockin’em in the head”.  How sad!

Givers, on the other hand, view life as having access to abundance and understanding that they are satisfied no matter what state they are in.  They will fix their vehicle or disclose the known issues with it for they want to look out for the other person.  They seek a fair and balanced deal.  They have the best interest of the buyer at heart.  Economic justification for repair is no longer the primary issue.  They simply do the right thing.

What about businesses?  There are mostly takers out there also.  Why?  I would suggest that corporations reflect the hearts of those who set them up and have management responsibility of the policies and overall direction.  How many pharmaceutical companies have knowingly released drugs that could  have an adverse affect on individuals using their product?  They spent millions of dollars on research and the corporate mandate was to make a profit at any cost.  It was reported that the nuclear power plant in Japan was known to have the design flaw before the tsunami but those in control did not want to fix the issue, it was too costly.  Construction companies take shortcuts and compromise quality in pursuit of squeezing out a little more profit.  The buyer has to be on guard at all times.  Regulations are added in an attempt to modify the behavior but never deal with the core issue: greed.

What would happen if a group of givers were to form a conglomerate of businesses based on Love where the corporate mandate was to serve customers and employees rather than exploit both groups?  What would happen if healthcare groups were created to serve the individual rather than the pocketbooks of the greedy?  What would happen if men and women were placed in the area of their gifts and calling rather than simply filling an opening with a warm body?  Now that sounds like a Kingdom Enterprise.

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