老闆或是顧問，誰是你的供應者？

跟這個顧客合作約有二年的時間。這家公司的老闆建立了一間很棒的公司，雖然當時她已經不直接參與公司的運作了。即便如此，她還是想要全面控制公司。所以當她找我詢問意見和想法時，我會修改自己的計畫盡量配合她，事後也不再去想這件事情，因為畢竟她是付錢給我的老闆。

一年之後，我自己反省了一番，為什麼當時我不能維持原本建議那個公司的計畫?能在每件事情上保持應有的顧問建議態度? 根據法律的文件， 雖然我也擁有自己的公司，但是我知道神是我公司擁有者，我為祂工作。事實上，我的職業是服事他，是屬神的顧問業者。

因為我總是傾向於特立獨行，覺得自己就可以做決定。所以我必須提醒自己，神才是我成功最大的保證。下面這件事，也許這聽起來有點傻和奇怪，但是我會在我的公司的名稱後面，加上－神是我最大的老闆，我是隸屬祂的顧問業者。然後我會在後面簽上姓名和日期，把這個證書放在辦公室書櫃上提醒我自己。

對一個基督耶穌的追隨者來說，把神當成自己最大的老闆，非常重要。聖經告訴我們其中兩個很重要的原因：

神是我們的供應者。 我們很容易以為成功是因為自己的聰明才智、能力和努力不懈。但是詩篇127篇2節告訴我們：「你們清晨早起，夜晚安歇， 吃勞碌得來的飯，本是枉然； 惟有耶和華所親愛的，必叫他安然睡覺。」這節經文告訴我們，事情的最後結果並非全在我們的掌握之中。就算每一件我努力去做的事情都失敗了，在睡夢中神仍然是我的供應者。

神是最大的能力源頭，祂給我們技能、才能以及一切我們所需的。「恐怕你心裏說：這貨財是我力量、我能力得來的。』你要記念耶和華－你的上帝，因為得貨財的力量是他給你的，為要堅定他向你列祖起誓所立的約，像今日一樣。」 (申命記8章17-18節)

Jim Lange 在工商業界已有超過三十年的經驗。目前他是Five Feet Twenty的總裁。這個顧問公司的宗旨在運用指導幫助企業領袖成為神要他們成為的樣式。他的著作為: 在暴風雨中安靜: 如何在混亂的世界找到平靜：給企業領袖來自聖經的急救箱。

I worked for nearly two years with this particular client. The owner had built an impressive company, but by that time had ceased being actively involved in the operation of the business. Despite her lack of hands-on involvement, she still desired to maintain overall control. So when she would call me with ideas or directives, even if they were contrary to my plans, I would simply adjust my schedule and move tasks to future days, and then not think of it again. I chose not to become stressed about it at all, because my client was paying me and I understood that if she wanted me doing something different, I should do as she requested. I was at her service.

During a time of reflection years later, the idea hit me: Why was I unable to maintain that same mentality with my current schedule? Why could I not have a “consultant”s mentality” in everything that I was doing? Even though I owned my businesses – according to legal documents – in truth, I knew God was (and is) the true owner and that I was working for Him. In a sense, my role throughout my career has been to serve Him as His “consultant.”

Because I have a tendency to do things on my own and feel as if everything is up to me, I needed to do something to remind me of the One who is actually responsible for any success I might achieve. This might sound silly or strange, but for each of my businesses I proceeded to create a certificate of title that stated, “This certifies that the owner of (company name) is God. This further certifies that Jim Lange will be taking the role of Consultant unto God.” I then signed and dated it, and since then have kept all of these certificates sitting on top of my bookshelves in my office as a reminder.

Why is it important for me – or any follower of Jesus Christ – to acknowledge and act upon His ownership of our enterprises? There are many reasons, but here are two, cited from the Bible:

God is our Provider. We tend to think it was our intelligence, savvy, skill and sweat that resulted in our success. However, as Psalm 127:2 points out, “It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.” This verse is a great reminder that the outcome is not all up to me. Even if I fail to get everything done that I intended, God can provide for me even when I sleep.

God is the ultimate Source, giving skills, talents and resources we need. “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

Jim Lange has been in business for more than 30 years and is President of Five Feet Twenty, which seeks to help people become more of who God made them to be through coaching and roundtable groups for business leaders. His writings include Calming the Storm Within: How to Find Peace in This Chaotic World and Bleedership: Biblical First Aid for Leaders.