認真工作:一個被忽略的美德
By:Rick Boxx
一個由「Parade」雜誌所舉辦的調查發現，全美有百分之五十一的人相信在職場上最有效能鶴立雞群的方式是參與公司內部的政治，卻只有百分之二十七的人相信進步來自於努力工作和勤奮。
如果大部分的職場人士都相信，能獲得升遷和獎勵的方式是透過參與政治的聰明，這大概會成為自我實現的預言了。因為這會讓大部分的人認為他們在個人和職場上都要踩著同事的背，以獲得老闆的認同，而不是精進自己的工作能力。
但不幸的是，在很多地方這種現象是很普遍的。努力工作，這個高貴的固有美德已逐漸被淡忘了。努力工作原本是雇主、同事、供應商和顧客所倚靠的好品格，但現在想升遷的人必須要操弄權勢以達到目的。
聖經經常談到工作和它的重要性。在聖經中，工作不是必要之惡，神任命工作為人類活著的目的之一。祂也認為認真工作是應當被認同和表揚的，以下是聖經對認真工作的看法:
第一、工作是為了支持我們的生活所需。每一個人都需要食物、住所、衣服、交通和許多其他的才能生活下去。綜觀人類的歷史，工作是最能滿足這一切的方法。貶低工作的價值就是輕視我們和我們家庭的需要。「我們在你們那裏的時候，曾吩咐你們說，若有人不肯做工，就不可吃飯。」(帖撒羅尼迦後書3章10節)
第二、工作能展現一個人的正直和委身。當我們被一間公司或是機構所雇用時，我們會被告知工作的內容。執行這些工作內容的細節和責任需要一個人的正直和委身。辦公室政治透過操縱關係來尋求升遷，而不是建造一個工作的人。更好的方式如箴言裡所說的:「看守無花果樹的，必吃樹上的果子；敬奉主人的，必得尊榮。」(箴言27章18節)
第三、工作可以產生認同感和卓越。我們的確可以致力於迎合上司，但是經驗告訴我們，卓越以及被認可來自於專業領域上的努力。「你看見辦事殷勤的人嗎？他必站在君王面前，必不站在下賤人面前。」(箴言22章29節)
也許你週遭的人善於在職場上玩政治遊戲，但請容我給你一點小小的建議:專注認真地工作，並且關注老闆的利益是比玩辦公室政治遊戲更容易獲得升遷的方式。
本文版權為正直資源中心（Integrity Resource Center, Inc.）所有。本文獲得授權改編自「瑞克．博克思的正直時刻Integrity Moments with Rich Boxx」。這系列的文章是以一個基督徒的觀點評論職場的正直議題。想要更多了解正直資源中心或想要收到電子文件的「瑞克每天的正直時刻Rick”s daily Integrity Moments」系列文章，請上網www.integrityresource.org。他的書「如何生意興隆而不犧牲正直」提供人們正直地作生意的方法。
省思 / 討論題目
你是否在職場上看過「辦公室政治」? 如果有，請舉一個例子。 你是否曾經為了升遷而參與辦公室政治?請解釋一下原因。 在你工作的職場，你相信努力勤奮的工作會被認同和獎勵嗎?解釋一下你的答案。 「一日不做，一日不食」這句話，令人費解地放在共產黨宣言裡，雖然它原本並非出自那裡。我們如何去解釋和回應這句原本來自聖經的話?註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言13章4節、14章23節、21章5節，傳道書3章12-13節、8章15節，以弗所書2章10節，歌羅西書3章17、23節
THE NEGLECTED VIRTUE OF HARD WORK
By Rick Boxx
A survey conducted by Parade magazine, which appears in newspapers across the United States each week, discovered 51 percent of the 26,000 people polled believe the way people get ahead most effectively in the workplace is by taking advantage of internal corporate politics. Only 27 percent of those questioned said they believed professional advancement came as a result of hard work and diligence.
If such a large proportion of working people perceive the best path to receiving promotions and rewards that come with them is through being politically savvy, I am afraid this could become a self-perpetuating prophecy. This would lead many to conclude their personal and professional interests are best served by attempting to undermine their peers and cultivating the good favor of their bosses, rather than sharpening their work skills.
This is unfortunate in many respects. The time-honored virtue of hard work is being forgotten – the recognition that there is honor in a job done well. The beneficiaries of hard work – employers, coworkers dependent on the quality contributions of their peers, suppliers and customers – are being short-changed as workers shift their focus toward manipulating the system to advance their own desires. And the intrinsic value of work, the belief it is noble and fulfilling in itself, also is being ignored.
The Bible speaks extensively about work and its importance. Rather than viewing it as “a necessary evil,” the Scriptures assert God ordained work as one of the purposes for mankind. It also points out hard work can and should be recognized and rewarded:
Work is designed to provide for our livelihoods. We all have needs – food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and many more. Throughout human history, work has been the primary means for satisfying those needs. To belittle the value of work is to diminish the satisfaction of being able to provide for your and your family”s needs. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat“” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
Work reflects personal integrity and commitment. When hired by a company or organization, we receive a job description. This details the responsibilities we are expected to perform, and our employers expect us to carry them out with integrity and commitment. Office politics seeks to achieve advancement through the manipulation of relationships rather than by establishing one”s capabilities as a worker. A better approach may be to apply Proverbs 27:18, which states, "He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored."
Work can generate recognition for excellence. True, we can endeavor to ingratiate ourselves to our bosses, but the tried-and-true method for professional advancement is to become recognized as a person striving for excellence and quality in the work assigned. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
People around you may be adept at playing political games at work. But let me make a suggestion: Focusing on hard work, while caring for your boss’s interests, may be a better path than playing politics.
Copyright 2013, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments, visit www.integrityresource.org. His book, How to Prosper in Business Without Sacrificing Integrity, gives a biblical approach for doing business with integrity.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Do you ever see examples of “office politics” in your workplace? If so, give an example or two of what that looks like. Have you ever personally engaged in corporate politics to advance your cause or personal interests? Why or why not? In your workplace, do you believe hard work and diligence are recognized and properly rewarded? Explain your answer. Curiously, the phrase, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat,” was incorporated into the secular “Communist Manifesto,” even though it did not attribute where the statement had been taken from. What is your reaction to this declaration that originally came from the Bible?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 13:4, 14:23, 21:5; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; 8:15; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17,23
