Lord, help us get it right.   Our organization was structured so that invested capital can be used to create jobs, provide a service to customers, and pay just return to the investors.   We are judged quarterly by the investor community, to make sure that the return is just and allow investors to decide whether they wish to keep their investment here or take it elsewhere.

Lord, corporations are not people, but we people make up the organization.   Individually and as a body, we are moral actors and have responsibility for the impact we create on society.

I hope, Lord, we can balance quarterly results, employee welfare, fair taxation, and honest service to customers.   It is not always easy.   I hear too often, my country first.   Yet, I see that people in every country need jobs, need economic growth, need security.    We have operations in several countries.  God, you made us stewards of vast resources, hopefully, for good.   Ground me in respect for all people, wherever they live, so wishing them the security of jobs, a just market and a place where we can profitably provide our products and services.  Lack of balance causes conflict and wars.  Might not commerce overcome that?

You told us, we were created in Your image.   All of us.   How can I make decisions that benefit our employees, our customers, our investors in such a way that it also has some benefit for people who are not employees, investors or our own citizens?  Nation states do not automatically cause conflict, but does not rank nationalism cause violence?  I have so many colleagues from different countries and cultures.  How could I ever try to bring them harm?   Ah Lord. Balance!  Solomon got it right.  But I am not Solomon.  Your support appreciated.

Section 2, Scripture: Genesis 1:26-31; Philippians 4:8-9

Hebrew Scripture

New Testament

Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. 27 God created mankind in his image; in the image of God, he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth. 29 God also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; 30 and to all the wild animals, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the earth, I give all the green plants for food. And so it happened. 31 God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day. Genesis 1:26-31

Sisters and brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen… Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8,9

Section 3
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.

Section 4
Offer prayer in your own words speaking to God who is for us, with us and in us.