我在這裡，請差遣我！
By Robert J. Tamasy
你做過志工嗎？很多人可能認為自己能做的就是完成日常工作職責範圍內的事。但實際上，每週都有數百萬人用各種方式在做志工。如果沒有他們，很多重要的事情永遠無法完成。
志工提供了很多重要的服務，例如幫助學校的老師、救助因為生病或殘疾必須待在家的人、協助孤兒院、提供兒童寄養資源、支援國際救援機構、滿足窮人和有需要的人、參與短期志工旅行、救助自然災害、指導年輕人和成年人、幫助和照顧受傷或瀕臨絕種的動物。慈善組織如救世軍就是由志願者所組成。
多年前，在接受了開心手術後，我自願到當地一家醫院探訪有類似經歷的患者，鼓勵他們並分享自己的經驗，為他們的康復過程提供建議。這樣的志工服務對我來說很有價值，因為我能同理他們正在經歷的事情，也可以想像這樣的關心會對當時的我有多大意義。
對跟隨耶穌基督的人來說，能做志工是一種特權。在舊約中，有一位明白志願服務重要性的人。這段故事紀錄在以賽亞書6章8節：「我又聽見主的聲音說：『我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？』我說：『我在這裡，請差遣我！」』上帝接受了以賽亞的自我奉獻，他於是成為主勇敢的發言人，呼召人們悔改，並為那些想更多認識上帝的人們提供屬靈的確據。
每個和CBMC密切合作過的人都知道，它非常仰賴志工。這些志工包含商業和專業人士，他們願意花費時間、精力和資源，不僅幫人面對工作場所的責任和挑戰，也協助他們探索聖經的真理原則與日常生活、工作的關係。
CBMC倡導「職場宣教士」(職場大使)的概念，指稱那些把工作不單單視為餬口工具，也看作是對所遇到每一個人彰顯耶穌的機會的人。「所以，我們做基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與神和好。」（哥林多後書5章20節）。就像以賽亞所說的：「我在這裡，請差遣我！」
職場大使要到哪裡去？耶穌基督的福音不限定於某些特定的人群或社會階層，它應該被迫切而忠心地傳揚在每個大陸、國家、城市和鄉鎮。他又對他們說：「你們往普天下去，傳福音給萬民（萬民：原文是凡受造的）聽。」（馬可福音16章15節）。
我們要去服務誰？世界各地的職場都有需要聽見基督翻轉生命信息的人。在這個過程當中，我們要成為耶穌基督的大使-如同祂的旨意，志願成為基督的代表。「所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒。」（馬太福音28章19節）。
我們要做些甚麼？我們的使命不僅僅是傳達信息而已，而是要幫助人們更了解跟隨基督、實踐並遵守祂的教導究竟意味著什麼。「所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒……凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守。」（馬太福音28章19-20節）。
© 2019. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-ready writerink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com
反省與問題討論
你做過志工嗎？如果有的話，做志工對你有什麼意義？對你所幫助的人又有什麼意義？ 如果你參與過CBMC的任何活動，你對這個組織中志工的重要性和影響力有什麼印象？ 你對在自己的職場–無論是辦公室或出差地–擔任耶穌基督大使這樣的概念有什麼想法？你願意參與這樣的「志願工作」嗎？請分享你的理由。 你認為追隨耶穌的人可以如何有效地表張耶穌、把基督的好消息傳達給別人，同時又努力工作克盡職責？
注意：如果您有聖經並希望閱讀更多和這個主題相關的經文，請參考下面的經文：
歌羅西書3章23-24節
3:23 無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
3:24 因你們知道從主那裏必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。
加拉太書2章20節
2:20 我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活著；並且我如今在肉身活著，是因信 神的兒子而活；他是愛我，為我捨己。
腓立比書4章8-9節
4:8 弟兄們，我還有未盡的話：凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的，若有甚麼德行，若有甚麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念。
4:9 你們在我身上所學習的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看見的，這些事你們都要去行，賜平安的 神就必與你們同在。
提摩太後書2章2節
2:2 你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的，也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。
“HERE I AM. SEND ME!”
By Robert J. Tamasy
Have you ever done much volunteer work? Many of us might think it is all we can do to accomplish our regular work responsibilities. However, every week millions of people volunteer in a vast variety of ways. If it were not for them, many important things would never get done.
Volunteers provide vital services, such as helping teachers in schools; aiding individuals who are homebound due to illness or disability; assisting in orphanages; providing foster care for children; supporting international relief agencies; addressing needs of the poor and needy; participating in short-term mission trips; responding to natural disasters; mentoring both young people and adults; and helping to care for wounded and endangered animals. Charitable organizations like the Salvation Army have been built by volunteers.
Years ago, after undergoing open-heart surgery, I volunteered at a local hospital to visit with patients who had gone through similar procedures to offer encouragement, share from my own experiences, and give suggestions for their recovery process. It was rewarding for me, especially since I could relate to what they were experiencing and knew how much such visits would have meant for me.
For those of us who follow Jesus Christ, volunteering is a privilege. In the Old Testament, we find the example of one who recognized the importance of being a volunteer. In Isaiah 6:8, we read, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”” God took him up on his offer, and Isaiah became a bold spokesman for the Lord, calling people to repentance and offering spiritual assurance to those who were seeking to know Him better.
Everyone who has been involved with CBMC in a significant way understands it relies heavily upon volunteers. It consists of business and professional people who willingly give of their time, energy and resources to help others not only with workplace responsibilities and challenges, but also in helping them discover how biblical truth and principles relate to everyday life and work.
CBMC promotes the concept of “marketplace ambassadors,” people who see their work not only as livelihoods but also as opportunities to represent Jesus to everyone they encounter. “We are therefore Christ”s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ”s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). It is like Isaiah declaring, “Here am I. Send me!”
Where are ambassadors to go? The Good News of Jesus Christ is not limited to certain people groups or segments of society. It is to be caringly and faithfully communicated in every continent, to every nation, city and town. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”” (Mark 16:15).
Who are we to serve? Workplaces around the world all consist of people needing to hear the life-transforming message of Christ. In the process, we are to serve as ambassadors – His willing, volunteer representatives. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
What are we to do? The mission is not simply to convey information, but to help people understand what it means to follow Christ, practicing and obeying what He taught. “…as you are going, make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded…” (Matthew 28:19-20).
© 2019. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
How much volunteer work have you done, if any? What has that meant for you – and for those you have helped? If you have been involved in CBMC to any extent, what has been your impression of its reliance on volunteers and their impact? What do you think of the idea of serving as an ambassador for Jesus Christ where you work, whether in your job setting or as you travel to other locations? Is that “volunteer work” you”re willing to participate in? Why or why not? In what ways do you think followers of Jesus can be effective in representing Him and communicating the Good News of Christ to others, while at the same time being diligent to fulfill their responsibilities at work?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Colossians 3:23-24; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:2
