你是過客或是大使？
By Robert J. Tamasy
很多人喜歡當遊客，去遊覽城市或是其他的國家。我不像其他人一樣那麼愛旅遊，但是感謝神給我機會到幾十個國家旅遊。旅行讓我們可以親眼見到以前只是耳聞的國家。
例如，我記得非常清楚，自己去了很多次匈牙利的城市。因為我的祖父母是從匈牙利移民到美國的，親眼看到和我有血緣關係的國家，是非常有趣的。我也很享受到德國去旅行，包括到我的出生地基森(Giessen德國黑森林的一個城市)。當然當地沒有人知道我是誰，因為我一歲就移民到美國去了。但追朔自己的家族歷史是一件很有趣的事情。
當遊客，旅遊的時間很短，對那個地方的認同感也不高。我們到處瀏覽，拍拍照片，吃吃當地的美食，買買紀念品，然後回到自己溫暖的家。和駐在當地的大使比較，有些大使可能一輩子都代表自己的國家住在當地，他們身分特殊，肩負著國家賦予他們的任務。
我提到駐外使節是因為哥林多後書5章20節提到，跟隨耶穌的人可能會遇到的挑戰：「所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像 神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與 神和好。」無論我在職場上、會議室、銷售、打契約或者旅行時，我的角色就是代表耶穌的大使，要向我們遇到的人傳揚祂的信息。無論我們面對的是主管、同事、客戶或是供應商，我不僅僅代表我自己的公司，也是代表耶穌，是祂的使者。
成為一個駐外大使責任重大，我們的言談舉止，向其他人呈現一個耶穌基督的跟隨者應該是甚麼樣子的。這是一個發人深省的重大責任。如同提摩太後書4章5節所說的:「你卻要凡事謹慎，忍受苦難，做傳道的工夫，盡你的職分。」這是寫給所有重生的基督徒看的(約翰福音3章3節) 這樣的教導並不是給只想當遊客的人。
在實行的層面上，何謂耶穌的大使？在哥林多後書5:20節我們找到部分的答案。「所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像 神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與 神和好。」我們是滿意的顧客，我們經歷過神透過耶穌基督給我們的平安、喜樂、饒恕、恩典、愛和憐憫。因此，我們有那個義務和責任去分享我們所經歷和知道的，讓別人也能夠和我們有相同的經歷。
在聖經的另外的章節當中，我們知道：「因為我們是與 神同工的；你們是 神所耕種的田地，所建造的房屋。」(哥林多前書3章9節) 我們工作謀生，使用我們的才幹天分和能力，在工作上獲得成就感。但是，我們也被稱作神的同工，被賦予實現祂在這世上大使命和目標的任務。
當耶穌基督的大使，祂希望我們每一天都能活出他的教導以及聖經的真理，向世人展現祂自己。
© 2018. 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-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
你對大使這個名詞有甚麼看法？一個大使和一個遊客在不同之處是什麼？ 當你每天開始工作時，你會把自己當成耶穌基督的大使或者遊客，來過每一天的生活呢？ 聖經說：我們要成為耶穌基督的大使。對你來說，要如何才能具體地實行？在執行上，有甚麼挑戰或是困難嗎？我們要如何才能有效的扮演好這個角色呢？ 你想過自己是神的同工嗎？認同這個身分會讓你每天的生活有甚麼不同嗎？
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多和這個主題相關的經文，請參考：
傳道書12章13節
12:13這些事都已聽見了，總意就是：敬畏 神，謹守他的誡命，這是人所當盡的本分（或譯：這是眾人的本分）。
哥林多前書15章58節
15:58所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多做主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裏面不是徒然的。
以弗所書 2章10節
2:10我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是 神所預備叫我們行的。
歌羅西書 3章23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，
提摩太後書3章16-17節
3:16聖經都是 神所默示的（或譯：凡 神所默示的聖經），於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的，
3:17叫屬 神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。
ARE YOU A TOURIST OR AN AMBASSADOR?
By Robert J. Tamasy
Most of us have enjoyed being tourists, visiting new cities, even another nations. I have not been as well-traveled as some people, but have appreciated opportunities to visit nearly a dozen other countries. Being a tourist can take us to places we might have only heard people talk about or have seen in photos.
I vividly remember my time in several Hungarian cities, for example. My grandparents had immigrated from Hungary, so it was interesting to see “the old country” firsthand. I also enjoyed going to Germany, including the city of Giessen, my birthplace. Nobody there remembered me – not surprising, since I left for the U.S.A. when I was only a year old – but it was fun retracing my personal history a bit.
As tourists, visits are usually brief, and our commitment level is very low. We arrive to look around, maybe take some photographs, sample local cuisine, and perhaps buy souvenirs. Then we return to our homes. Contrast that with the role of an ambassador, someone who takes up residence in a foreign land for a span of time, representing his or her own native country. They have specific roles and responsibilities, acting with the authority entrusted to them.
I mention this because 2 Corinthians 5:20 offers a challenging description of all who follow Jesus Christ, including the marketplace. It declares, “We are Christ”s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” To me, this says whether I am in a private office, conference room, making a sales call, finalizing a contract, or even traveling, my role is that of an ambassador for Jesus, representing Him to anyone I encounter. Whether I am interacting with supervisors, coworkers, customers, or suppliers, I am not only representing my organization but also Jesus Christ, as His ambassador.
Being an ambassador is a duty not to be taken lightly. Through our actions, as well as our words, we demonstrate for others what it means to be one of Jesus” followers. It is a sobering responsibility, as 2 Timothy 4:5 states: “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” This is written to all who profess to be “born again” through Christ, as He said in John 3:3. It does not sound like instructions directed to mere “tourists.”
But in a practical sense, what does it mean to be “Christ”s ambassadors”? We find part of the answer in the second part of 2 Corinthians 5:20, which says, “We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” If we are “satisfied customers,” persons who have experienced the peace, joy, forgiveness, grace, love and mercy of God through Christ, we have an obligation and responsibility to share what we have learned with others so they can experience that as well.
There is more. In another passage from the Bible, we read, “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We work to earn a livelihood; utilize our skills, talents and gifts; and to experience vocational fulfillment. However, we are also called “God”s fellow workers,” given the privilege of co-laboring with Him in carrying out His plans and purposes in this world.
As Christ”s ambassadors, He desires to work through us to demonstrate what it means to live according to His principles and the biblical truths that guide us each day. This is no task for a tourist!
© 2018. 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 website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What does the term “ambassador” mean to you? In what ways does being an ambassador differ from being a tourist? As you approach each new workday, would you describe yourself as an ambassador for Christ, or as more of a “tourist”? Explain your answer. When the Bible says we are to be “Christ”s ambassadors,” what do you think that means in a practical sense? What are some of the challenges – or obstacles – to being able to fulfill that role effectively? Have you ever thought of yourself in terms of being “God”s fellow worker”? What difference does it make – or would it make – to regard yourself in that way?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Ecclesiastes 12:13; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3: 23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
