There are many forms of government, various kinds of legal systems, and methods of changing or not changing the status quo that is a patchwork covering the earth. Of course, the structure of government and legal systems are important, the founding fathers created a check and balance form of government so that structure would help keep things from devolving into despotism. However, whatever the form of government, legal system and opportunities for businesses are in place, there is one immutable law that will determine the greatest happiness for the most people—the law of love. Without this guiding principle, all forms of government and legal systems are simply empty shells.
When you have rule of law, but there is no love and compassion, then true justice will ultimately be sacrificed. When you have government and ruling bodies, and there is no love as a guiding light, it will become corrupt and it will not produce the greatest general good. When you have businesses, and there is no love behind its intention or its practices, then its goods and services will not truly benefit society.
Love, as spoken of here, is not sentimentality, but a guiding force. When you love, you will not do things that you know will bring about harm to yourself or others. When you love, you will not act out of greed, but with integrity, evoking the principle of love for one and for all. When you pass laws and regulations, you work for the highest good of all when love is your motivation.
In running a business, you might say, “I have got a business to run, I don’t have time to start the day with a group hug!” And if that is your view of the kind of love I am talking about, I would agree that this is missing the mark. Love is a far more important and vital of a principle than a mere show of emotionalism. Love speaks to something much more basic in you. When you go into business, of course you must earn a profit, otherwise the business will not be there in any capacity the next year. However, in running your business, does your service or product bring about some good? Good for the customers, good for employees, good for the community?
In dealings with customers, do you employ the Golden Rule, as J.C. Penney did when starting his first store—Treat your customers as you would want to be treated. The way you work with co-workers, employees, bosses—do you treat all others the way you would want to be treated if you were in their position? The very best owners, managers, and employees do exactly this. These Golden Rule types are the kind of people you want to work for and do your best, they are the kind of workers you want in your business, and companies with this motto branded into their thinking, words and actions are the kind of businesses you want to patronize.
When you are in a position of authority, do you set out with the intention to better the lives of people when you make decisions? This speaks to fundamental intention, and how that intention is translated into day-to-day behavior. Love considers, “What is for the highest good of all?” A policeman will take to heart the motto, “To Protect and To Serve.” Yes, laws will be enforced, occasionally with force, but all behavior of the police is governed by the overriding intention, what is for the health of the community? For a judge, a county administrator, a governor, a representative or leader of a country—what is for the highest good of all? You may not always get it right, but your intention is unwavering. This is acting out of love—not selfishness, greed, building a petty fiefdom, or responding to the thousand other lower motivations.
In seeking to treat the customer as you want to be treated or administrating with the intention for the highest good of all, it does not mean you gratify the demands of every person who walks through the door. First of all, you never will be able to do so. Secondly, what one individual or group wants may not truly be for the highest good of all. Love will legitimately say no to some—in fact, love demands the word no at times.
And love in service to others is not just for the good of the recipient. When you serve with love, when love flows through your thoughts, words and actions, it blesses you. Jesus said of the great principle: As you give, so shall you receive. This does not mean every person is going to treat you with love when you love them first. What it does mean is that when your focus is on love, giving good service, speaking the truth and offering kindness and compassion, and you do all this without expectation of receiving it in return, then you are saturated with the quality of love—because it has flowed through you, it blesses you. This is due to the nature of love I am speaking of, it does not emanate from you, rather it flows through you from something greater than just you.
When you are in integrity with this higher love you run an honest, clean/clear business, and you feel the purity of that honesty—you are left without stains on your soul. You do not ever need to look over your shoulder for someone coming up behind you because you have cheated or lied to them. There is a fair exchange of money for goods or services, both giver and receiver benefits from this transaction. This clarity of purpose, this purity of action is what you carry forward with you, it is a gift you have given to yourself, and to the world you interact with.
Every human misery can trace its roots back to wrong motive which results in wrong action. You punish or reward yourself and those around you according to the purity of your intentions. Beginning with and carrying through with the intention of love, not only rewards you internally—it is what defines the best business practices, the best government, and the best legal system. It is not always openly displayed through talking about love, but you know when someone is acting with integrity, sincerity, and working to give the best goods and services—you naturally want to reward them with more business, and recommend them to others.
Such love may not be listed on the business banner, but it is broadcast through the quality of its goods and services. Just think of a world in which each person serves all others with love—what a tremendous world that will be!