Intuitively, we think the health of the organization we are a part of is paramount. Because so many good things wouldn’t be possible if the organization ceased to exist, and so many good things would be possible if it grows and thrives. This is especially common thinking in charities, but even personally, having a job makes things a lot of things possible.

The first century Jewish leaders had the same feeling about their organization, the Sanhedrin.

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” – John 11:47-48

Sometimes we can think what we’re doing is the prerequisite or foundation for the kingdom to come in its fullness, instead of the other way around. Then we accidentally build our own kingdoms, instead of being citizens of God’s.

I thought they did a great job in The Playlist of portraying the struggle good leaders have, because they care so much about the people in their organizations. Here’s the response of the “big industry” record label executive being told he has to lay people off: “Don’t make me do this. I know these people. I know their families. I’m godfather to some of their kids.”

The problem is, it’s still their kingdom. The executive feels responsible for his staff and needs to protect them, with no mention of God or prayer. Inside his worldview what he’s thinking makes sense, but in God’s kingdom there is a different way.

There are also not-so-good leaders that have found ways for themselves to benefit from their positions of leadership. They do it all in the name of the health and growth of the organization, but again, they’re not acting in the context of God being King.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. – 2 Corinthians 2:17

This is so common that we can get cynical. Watch this clip, where the Ford Motor Company is portrayed as being all about their own protection (lawyers) and success (marketers). “They can’t help it”, he explains, because they’re all stuck in this world system of needing safety and success.

If we zoom out to the kingdom of God, we find a different system. God is the top boss we all need to please, and bowing to him is the destiny for all of us. We “can’t help it” because he is more powerful than corporations or governments or any other world system.

So, if you find yourself caring about your organization like it’s a person, let it offer to give up its life like the rest of us. And if it’s not a person, let it serve its purpose for as long as necessary, without concern for its future. No one will be assigned to assess organizational health on judgement day.

The kingdom of God is the only “organization” that matters. But the more people in your organization that live in that reality, the more love and life you’ll find in your organization. And it will probably become healthy, but not because that was your motivation.