比撒列給我們的啟示── LESSONS FROM A FELLOW NAMED BEZALEL
多年來，我和許許多多經商的人聊過，他們有時會誤認自己必須離開商場的工作，成為傳教士或牧師，才是討神喜悅的事。然而，聖經卻告訴我們很不一樣的故事，一位名叫比撒列的人是很好的例子。他的故事告訴我們上帝如何看待職業與信仰的交集。
出埃及記35章30-31節我們讀到：「摩西對以色列人說：『猶大支派中，戶珥的孫子、烏利的兒子比撒列，…又以 神的靈充滿了他，使他有智慧、聰明、知識，能做各樣的工，能想出巧工。』」比撒列是聖經中第一個被形容為蒙聖靈充滿的人。有趣的是，他既不是牧師也不是先知，他沒有正式的「宗教」角色，相反的，他是一名工匠。
但是上帝並沒有要求比撒列獨自服事。上帝呼召他完成為會幕製作敬拜神的器具的工作，這需要許多人同心協力。所以比撒列也是一名教導者和領袖。「耶和華又使他，和但支派中亞希撒抹的兒子亞何利亞伯，心裏靈明，能教導人。」（出埃及記35章4節）
當我們閱讀更多有關比撒列的信息時，我們會發現他不僅是一個工匠和老師，也是一名通才。他能精通不同的手工藝，其他人則被要求做特定的工作，如雕刻或設計。「耶和華使他們的心滿有智慧，能做各樣的工，無論是雕刻的工，巧匠的工，用藍色、紫色、朱紅色線，和細麻、繡花的工，並機匠的工，他們都能做，也能想出奇巧的工。」（出埃及記35章35節）作為通才的比撒列，也是專家們的好老師。
上帝曾賜給以色列人的首領摩西精緻的會幕建造設計圖。當比撒列與上帝同工時，他和同工們成果斐然，會幕不僅符合神的規格，也彰顯了祂的異象。比撒列精湛的工藝令人感動，同時也激動人心更加慷慨奉獻。
我們在出埃及記36章6-7節讀到摩西這麼說：「『無論男女，不必再為聖所拿甚麼禮物來。』這樣才攔住百姓不再拿禮物來。因為他們所有的材料夠做一切當做的物，而且有餘。」想像一下，領袖一呼百諾，群眾熱烈支持，他甚至必須說：「停下來！我們不再需要奉獻，因為我們已經充足有餘了！」
數千年前比撒列的這個例子，清楚地告訴我們上帝如何希望我們在工作中和祂成為夥伴。包含建造房屋、開拓業務、開發新產品與服務，或是你能想到的任何計畫。我們未必要成為傳教士或牧師才能與祂同工。
思想上帝呼召比撒列為工匠，賜他能力把工作做到盡善盡美；上帝也在工作上呼召你我，呼召每個跟隨他的人。如果上帝賜給你精湛的技能，祂也可能給你能力，把這些技能傳授給他人。我鼓勵你禱告並求問上帝，是否在工作和教導上呼召你。想一想你過去的經驗和技能，你是通才還是專家？回答這個問題能幫助你有效地分配時間。當上帝的設計和你出色的工作表現結合時，你可能會被人們的慷慨回應震驚！
© 2020版權所有非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊 主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx最新出版的書「提供五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。」
備註：如果您手上有聖經，想閱讀更多經文，請參考以下的內容：
箴言14章23節
14:23 諸般勤勞都有益處；嘴上多言乃致窮乏。
箴言18章9節
18:9 做工懈怠的，與浪費人為弟兄。
箴言22章29節
22:29 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。
哥林多前書3章9節
3:9 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。
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17節
3:17 無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父 神。
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。
反省與問題討論
- 以前你是否被教導或相信要做上帝喜悅的工作，必須成為一名「專業的基督徒」，做有給職的宗教職業，例如傳教士、牧師等直接與教會或基督教組織有關係的職業？這個想法是從哪裡來的？
- 你相信耶穌基督的跟隨者從事所謂的「世俗工作」，例如銀行家、醫師、學校教師、企業家或工程師，對上帝來說和宗教相關的職業一樣重要嗎？請分享原因。
- 想一想，手藝精湛、多能全才的比撒列，被選召去帶領以色列人建造敬拜上帝的會幕這項非常複雜的任務時，有甚麼感覺？你認為他最初的想法是什麼？他會認為這是「聖召」嗎？
- 你認為自己現在的工作是上帝的呼召嗎？你相信這就是祂要你做的，至少目前是這樣嗎？還是你相信祂希望你轉行，甚至是進入完全不同的職場？請分享你的答案。
LESSONS FROM A FELLOW NAMED BEZALEL
By Rick Boxx
Over the years, I have spoken to many businesspeople who mistakenly believe they must leave the marketplace and become missionaries or pastors to do work that would please God. The Bible, however, tells a different story. In an interesting individual named Bezalel, we find an excellent illustration of how God views the intersection of vocation and faith.
He is introduced in Exodus 35:30, where we read, “Then Moses said to the Israelites, ‘See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel …, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.’” Bezalel was the first person in the Scriptures to be described as being filled with the Spirit of God. Interestingly, he was not a priest or a prophet. He held no official “religious” role. Instead, he was a craftsman.
But God was not calling Bezalel to serve on his own. The Lord knew the work He was calling him to accomplish inside the tabernacle, furnishings that would be dedicated to the worship of God, was going to require more people. Someone able to teach others was needed – Bezalel was appointed to lead the way. “And He has given both Bezalel and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others” (Exodus 35:34).
As we read more about Bezalel, we discover he was not only a craftsman and a teacher, but also a generalist. He was skilled in many different crafts, while others were called to specific tasks, such as being engravers or designers. “God has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers” (Exodus 35:35). Being a generalist gave Bezalel the capability for being a good teacher for the specialists.
God had given Moses, the leader of the Israelites, intricate designs for how He wanted His tabernacle created. As Bezalel co-labored with God, he and others working with him produced excellent results. The outcome was a tabernacle that not only met God’s specifications, but also displayed His vision. The excellence of Bezalel’s craftsmanship moved the people’s hearts to extreme generosity.
We read in Exodus 36:6 that Moses said, “’No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so, the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” Imagine leading an important initiative that inspires such enthusiastic support that you have to say, “Stop! We do not need any more. We have more than enough!”
This example of Bezalel is from thousands of years ago, but it clearly shows how God desires for us to partner with Him in His work, whether in constructing a building, growing a business, pioneering a new product or service, or any other project you could conceive. We don’t have to become missionaries or pastors to do so.
Consider: God called Bezalel to be a craftsman, giving him the ability to do it very well. God has a vocational calling for you – as is true for every one of His followers. If God has blessed you with excellent skills, He might also give you the ability to teach those skills to others. I would encourage you to pray and ask God if He is calling you to teach as well as to do. Considering your past experiences and skills, are you a generalist or a specialist? To best allocate your time, it helps to know. By combining God’s design and your excellent work, you might be amazed at the generous response from others!
© 2020, Unconventional Business Network 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, visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you been told – or have you believed – that to engage in work that pleases God, you would have to become a “professional Christian,” being paid to perform some overtly religious role such as a missionary, a pastor, or another vocation directly affiliated with a church or Christian organization? Where do you think this idea came from?
- Do you believe a follower of Jesus Christ working in a so-called “secular job,” such as being a banker, a physician, schoolteacher, entrepreneur or engineer, can be just as important to God as jobs that have specifically spiritual objectives? Why or why not?
- Try to imagine how Bezalel, a man with wonderfully diverse skills in craftsmanship, must have felt when he was singled out to lead the very complex task of constructing the tabernacle for the Israelites to worship God. What do you think his initial thoughts might have been? Do you think he regarded this as a “holy calling”?
- How do you perceive your current job in terms of God’s calling on your life? Do you believe this is what He has called you to do – at least for now? Or do you believe He might be wanting you to make a vocational change, even if it means a very different career? Explain your answer.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more,
consider the following passages:
Proverbs
14:23, 18:9; 22:29; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17,23-24
