Strategy according to the Gospel parables

Introduce by explaining what your objective is

Briefly describe your process

My comments… in random order

1. What I actually had in mind given the title, is to explore the value of the Gospel parables as a source of inspiration for developing strategy…
not for HRM alone. The primary focus is Gospel themes and their practical strategic value in human daily life. Application in SHRM is only
secondary.
2. If I were to distribute the time/coverage of your discussion/report: Parables and themes, 30%; Strategic value in life, 50%; HRM
application 20%.
3. Stay with the Gospel first. Why those teachings? What is the ultimate goal? Then combining all the themes you collected, develop a
synthesis. To synthesize, identify categories that will constitute a whole. From this point, you can connect to business strategy…SHRM
4. Refer to the table I pasted below…excerpts from my doctoral dissertation. You might be able to pick something, particularly on themes (or
codes as I had used).
5. I don’t want your report to be predictable. The contents/flow on your draft seem too contrived…looks like just enough themes were
collected to support the application. No new learning. Give your audience an AHA moment.

Gospel Parables Theme Strategic value in Application in HRM

general

why/how
differentiating

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 I’d delete this
Gospel Parables Theme column Application
SHRM
Use bullet points. Do not put full text on your
1. The parable of the Leaven 1. Hearing Organizational slides.
2. The parable of the Mustard Seed (listening?) Integrity One of the great spiritual warfare battlegrounds
3. The parable of the Hidden Treasure 2. Seeking ??? relates to the integrity issue. The practice of SHRM
4. The parable of the Pearl 3. Growing
is challenging in all arenas, sacred or secular.

It requires great character strength to resist the

powerful incentives to compromise our values. The
task is made complicated by the deceptive nature
of the human heart, we fall prey to the traps,
snares, and value compromises that on the surface
appear moral and ethical.

1) How does the SHRM honor biblical principles

through shaping of the values and incentives to
serve, work, lead, and manage in truly a God-
honoring and joyous, humble, and accountable
fashion?

2) Are SHRM practitioners “hearers and doers”?

“From everyone to whom much has been given,

much will be required.”

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5. The parables of the Workers in the
Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
6. Parable of Shrewd Manager
Whatever you do, work at it with all
your Heart, as working for the lord, not
for human masters, since you know that
you will receive an inheritance from the
lord as a reward.
It is important for SHRM organizations to work
collaboratively to create a culture of righteous
motives, means, and ends in all aspects of HR
practice.
Uphold the key principles of organizational integrity
and promote the long-term best interest of the
organization.
4. Empathy SHRM Staffing It is important to reinforce that from a SHRM perspective,
5. Respect Principles the employment relationship is a covenant. This entails
6. Accountability establishing a set of mutually recognized and observed
obligations and benefits that govern an orderly workplace
interactions, terms, and conditions. Managers are
shepherd of the flock possessing a humbling and fearful
level of accountability while employees must work
diligently. The staffing process establishes a foundation
for the communication and demonstration of the
organization’s values.
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7. Parables of the New Cloth 7. Change Change One of the great management challenges is cultivating
8. The parables of the Lamp 8. Forgiveness Management long-term organizational culture change. There are many
9. The parables of the Unforgiving 9. Love Process and key decision points in the success of such a complex effort.
Servant 10. Persistence Barriers to Many will “veto” opportunities to impede change
10. The parables of the Good Samaritan 11. Patience Effective Change progress. It is important to embrace the belief that the
11. The parables of the Friend at Night 12. Justice power to change organizational culture begins with
Accountability committed
(duplicate)

Managers who love their employees and other key

stakeholders. How do we foster change?

The hearts of the leaders must be oriented in the proper

direction, possess the power and credibility to begin
facilitating change both individually and through collective
HR organizational policies and programs that promote
mission achievement and organizational justice and fair
treatment. There is no specific formula, but every single
instance of organizational change requires varying degrees
of effort in order to succeed. One committed leader can
make a profound and eternal difference with a co-worker,
a work group, a department, an organization, an entire
industry, and then the world.

Management must first set the tone and accept

responsibility for policies and practices that promote
unfair treatment or hypocrisy, or its appearance, thereby
reducing the motivation for employees to engage in
various forms of protective and self-serving behavior.

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12. The parables of the Talent 13. Use of skills Principles of Empowerment is a vitally important element in the
13. The parables of the Mina to transform Empowerment successful implementation of SHRM and requires the
14. Humility and making possession of a virtuous character, maturity, and spiritual
15. Conscientious Leaders intelligence on the part of both the manager and the
16. Unselfish employee. Empowerment begins with staff who embrace
You seem to be the role of conscientious employee. Employees need to
using the word demonstrate the maturity, ability, and character to be
“principles” too faithful performers in small and great aspects of their
liberally work.

SHRM assume an important role by minimizing the

motivation and contextual circumstances that tempt the

employees to take ethical shortcuts. Management should
not make it easy for employees to act on their self-serving
needs and wants.

SHRM empowerment entails a covenantal approach with

mutual obligations. This includes instilling a collective
recognition regarding the team nature of success, taking
joy in the successes of employees and empathizing for
failure,
at the same time externally assuming management
responsibility for failures and weaknesses.

SHRM should develop employees essential character traits

that enable them to use their gifts and skills in a humble,
responsible, mature, and unselfish manner and will endure
trials and tribulations, learning from mistakes, teachability,
obedience to authority, and accepting responsibility.

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14. The parable of Empty House 17. Mistakes Principles of SHRM organizations must have passionate
15. The parables Empty Lamps people Fair Employee commitment to dignified employee treatment.
16. The parable of the Tares make Treatment Employees are human beings with souls and not just
18. Greed “instrumental costs” of production that must be
minimized in the hypercompetitive marketplace.

The employee–management disagreement and conflict

is inevitable given difference in interests, belief
systems, and fallen human nature but these differences
should not lead into the violation of dignity leading to
the abuse of rights, producing dysfunctional and
destructive behavior. There are three forms of

violations of dignity: management violation of

employees, employees violating management, and
employees violating the dignity of each other.

Leadership exploitation and abuse contributed to the

need for employment and safety laws and the advent
of unionization.

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 The Catholic Encyclopedia (1922) lists a total of 46 parables. The Gospel of
Luke contains the largest total number of parables (24) and 18 unique parables; the Gospel of
Matthew contains 23 parables of which 11 are unique; and the Gospel of Mark contains eight
parables of which two are unique. There are no parables in John’s Gospel.
The Gospels contain narratives and parables that depict the servant. The image of
servant is depicted on one hand, in relation to the Master, and on the other hand, in relation
to a neighbor. The duality mirrors the two greatest commandments summed up as love of God
and love of neighbors (Matthew 22:37-39). Parables that pertain to the duties and obligations
of servants to their master cited in the study included the parable of wise and foolish builders
(Matthew 7:24-25); the parable of the foolish rich man who built a bigger barn (Luke 12:16-21);
the parables of the watchful servants ready in wait (Luke 12:35-40) and the wise productive
servants in wait (Luke 12:42-48); the parable of the proud Pharisee and penitent tax collector
(Luke 18:10-24); the parable of the King’s ten servants given their minas (Matthew 25:14-30;
Luke 19:12-27); the parable of the invitation to the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:2-14); and
the parable of the wise and foolish virgins and their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13). Parables that
depict service to neighbors include the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-34); the good
Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37); parable of invitation to the poor, the handicapped who cannot
repay to the table (Luke 14:12-14); the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31); and the shrewd
unrighteous steward who reduced the obligations of the debtors of his master (Luke 16:1-8).
Five other parables cited in the study relate servanthood in general: the parable on the patch of
unshrunk cloth on old garment (Luke 5:36; Mark 20:21; Matthew 9:16); the parable of new
wine on old wineskin (Luke 5:37; Mark 20:22; Matthew 9:17); the parable of the lamp on a
stand (Luke 8:16; Mark 4:21-22; Matthew 5:15-16); the parable on the cost of discipleship, i.e.,
about the tower builder’s failure to assess what was needed for him to complete the job (Luke
14:28-30); and finally, the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Parables serve as
mirrors of truths, embedded signs and symbols in the Gospels (Kippenberg, 1994).

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 Selected Gospel Passages on Servanthood and Codes
Researcher-assigned
codes
(The no. in parentheses refers
to the theme for which the
Gospel passages code was used)

John 10:14-15. 14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my Knowledge of and sacrifice
sheep know me 15just as the Father knows me and I know the for the beloved (4/7)
Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” 
John 10:16. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must Inclusivity; Community (3/7)
bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall
be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10:17-18. 17”The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down Sense of mission (1/7)
my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me,
but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it
down and authority to take it up again. This command I
received from my Father.”
John 12:26. “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, Serve the Lord in obedience
my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who (7/7)
serves me”
John 13:34-35. A new commandment I give you: Love one Love one another; Love like
another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one Jesus, self-giving love (4/7)
another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if
you love one another.”
John 15:10. “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, Keep the Lord’s
just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his commandments (5/7)
love.”
John 15:12.  “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved To love others as Jesus loves
you.” (1/7)
1 John 3:10. “This is how we know who the children of God are and God’s children do what is
who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do right and love their brothers
what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love and sisters (1/7)
their brother and sister.”
1 John 3:17.  “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother Helping those in need (4/7)
or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of
God be in that person?” 
1 John 3:18. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but Love with actions and in
with actions and in truth.” truth (7/7)
Luke 6:27 & 31. 27“But to you who are listening I say: Love your Golden rule (3/7)
enemies, do good to those who hate you…31Do to others as Love your enemies (4/7)
you would have them do to you.”
Luke 6:36. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”. Be as merciful as the Father
(4/7)
Luke 10:30-37. Parable of the Good Samaritan 1 Acts of mercy to a stranger;
charity; compassion (7/7)

1
Familiar but rather lengthy parables such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are not fully
quoted on this appendix.

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Luke 12:16-21. Parable of rich man who built a bigger barn. Unselfishness (1/7);
Attention to responsibilities
(6/7)
Luke 12:35-38. Watchfulness of servants. “. . . 39But understand State of watchfulness
this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the against the enemy; Keep
thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken the lamps burning;
into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will Readiness to serve the
come at an hour when you do not expect him.” master (2/7)

Luke 12:42-43. Parable of the wise servant. 42 ”Who then is the The wise servant performs
faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his duties even in the
his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper absence of his master (6/7)
time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds
doing so when he returns.”
Luke 14:12-14. Parable of inviting the poor and handicapped who Selflessness (1/7); Concern
cannot repay to the banquet. for the least in society (4/7)
Luke 14: 28-30. Parable of the Tower Builder. 28“Suppose one of you Self-assessment for
wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate capability to complete work
the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29For at hand (2/7)
if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone
who sees it will ridicule you, 30saying, ‘This person began to
build and wasn’t able to finish.’”
Luke 15:11-32. Parable of the lost (‘prodigal’) son. Lost son’s return and
contrition (1/7); Father’s
acceptance and forgiveness
and unconditional love
(4/7); Self-awareness and
kindness as the elder son’s
lesson (4/7)
Luke 16:1-9. Parable of the shrewd manager. “…8The master Forgiveness and gaining
commended the dishonest manager because he had acted friends (3/7)
shrewdly. For the people of this world are shrewder in dealing
with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you,
use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when
it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
Luke 16:19-31. Parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. Charity toward the least
19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine privileged (4/7) ; Awareness
linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a and performance of
beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat responsibility toward others
what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and (6/7)
licked his sores ...”

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Luke 18:10-13. Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. 10“Two Humility, acceptance of
men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the vulnerability, awareness of
other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and transgressions, seeking
prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people— forgiveness. (5/7)
robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax
collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I
get.’13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not
even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
Mark 8:36-37, 36”What good is it for someone to gain the whole Setting priorities (6/7);
world, yet forfeit their soul? 37Or what can anyone give in Foresight: Consequences of
exchange for their soul?”  gain or loss from actions
(6/7)
Matthew 5:9. ”Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Blessed are the
children of God.” peacemakers (3/7)
Matthew 5:14-15. Parable of the lamp on a stand. 14“You are the Unleash talent for the
light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be benefit of many (3/7)
hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house.” 
Matthew 5:16. 16”In the same way, let your light shine before others, Glorify the Father with good
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in deeds (7/7)
heaven.”
Matthew 5:17-20. 17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Obey the commandments
Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to and be righteous (5/7)
fulfill them…19 whoever practices and teaches these
commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For
I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:44-48.  44”But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for Love your enemies …be
those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your perfect as the Father (4/7)
Father in heaven… 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.”
Matthew 7:12.  12”So in everything, do to others what you would The golden rule (3/7)
have them do to you,”
Matthew 7:24-25. 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Build on solid rock (1/7)
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built
his house on the rock.  25The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did
not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Matthew 9:12-13. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the Mercy and conversion of
sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sinners (4/7)
sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but
sinners.”
Matthew 9:16-17. 16“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an Paradigm shift for new
old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, ways of doing;
making the tear worse. 17Neither do people pour new wine receptiveness (2/7)
into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will
run out and the wineskins will be ruined…”
Matthew 16:26.  26”What good will it be for someone to gain the Choices and consequences
whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (6/7)

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Matthew 13:3-8. Parable of the sower. “. . .A farmer went out to sow Consequences of sowing on
his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the fertile soil and rocky places
path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky (6/7)
places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly,
because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the
plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no
root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced
a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew 18:3-4.  3And he said:  “Truly I tell you, unless you change Faith and humility like
and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom children’s (1/7)
of heaven.  4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this
child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 22:2-14. Parable of the wedding banquet.  2”The kingdom Readiness to heed the
of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his master’s invitation to His
son.  3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet (5/7)
banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come…” Comply with norms for
entry (5/7)
Matthew 22:21. “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God Pay one’s civil and spiritual
what is God’s.” dues (5/7)
Matthew 22: 37-39. 37Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all Love of God, greatest
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  38This commandment; love of
is the first and greatest commandment.  39And the second is neighbor, second greatest
like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” commandment (5/7)
Love neighbor as oneself
(4/7)
Matthew 23:11. 11”The greatest among you will be your servant.”  Being a servant first (1/7)
Matthew 25:1-13. Parable of the ten virgins. Alertness and readiness in
duty (6/7)
Matthew 25:14-30. Parable of the talents (also known as Parable of Stewardship (7/7)
the bags of gold or of the minas.
Matthew 25:40. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the Serve God in others,
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” especially the least among
them (4/7)
Matthew 26:42.  “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be Consummation of mission
taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” despite great difficulty;
Fidelity to the Father’s will
(7/7)

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