值得考慮的四大考驗
By Robert J. Tamasy
幾年前我是扶輪社的一員，那是一個工商專業人士的國際服務組織。多年來這個組織透過許多慈善計劃幫助了許多人。然而，我已忘記那引導每位好扶輪社員的基本宗旨。
在最近一次出差時，一位朋友邀請我去參加他所屬扶輪社的聚會，那聚會提醒我扶輪社的宗旨。在聚會開始時，社友們背誦國際扶輪社的「四大考驗」。在每次的聚會這宗旨都明顯地展示在一面旗幟上。若你不知道這「四大考驗」，它是這麼寫的：
是否真實？ 是否公平？ 能否促進信譽友誼？ 能否兼顧彼此利益？若每一個人，不僅是扶輪社友，在與別人互動和溝通時，把這些方針放在心中，會如何呢？事情會有什麼不同？想像一下若每個人和每個企業－－甚至你自己－－遵循這四個簡單問題的規範，會如何？
首先，我們所選出的官員和公職候選人會修正大多數他們所說的話，也會對他們所說過的話作出許多道歉。若他們夠謙卑，他們可能甚至會尋求饒恕。當事實被扭曲，他們的反對者也沒盡責監督，都是為了獲得政治利益，他們都沒有通過這四大考驗。
我們在社群網站上所讀到的許多文字都不應該被貼出，因為在許多案例中文字被用來當作武器去傷害人，而不是作為建設性的工具。電視和廣播節目的新聞評論員應該常常遵循這句格言：「沉默是金。」或者重新整合他們的事實，而不是操縱事實去支持他們偏頗的意識形態，且迷惑觀眾與聽眾。
婚姻可以被轉化，只要丈夫與妻子選擇慎重和體貼，而不是情緒衝動地去進行對話並發展關係。
而在職場中，不論是作一場銷售展示，與員工、客戶、同事互動，或尋求方法去吸引一個新顧客，我們都必須遵循這四個挑戰性的問題去進行我們的溝通。
若我們都主動且熱心地實踐國際扶輪社的「四大考驗」，我們也可能都會應用以弗所書4章29節給我們的勸告：「污穢的言語一句不可出口，只要隨事說造就人的好話，叫聽見的人得益處。」
你能否想像全世界的人都這麼做的影響力？
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。
省思／討論題目
在讀此篇文章之前，你是否聽過國際扶輪社？你是否知道這組織的「四大考驗」？你對這四個問題的反應是什麼？ 若每個人都認真且真誠地讓他們的行為、話語和思想都受這四大考驗所指引，你認為這個世界－－尤其是工商專業界－－會有什麼不同？ 你認為真正努力地按照這四個原則生活在今天的商場是否切合實際？ 若有人根據這「四大考驗」來評估你在職場的行為是否前後一致，你想結論會是什麼？請解釋。若你想要看或討論聖經中有關此主題的其他經文，請看：箴言11章3節，12章18-19節，13章6節；馬太福音7章12節；馬可福音12章30-31節；腓立比書2章3-4節，4章8-9節
FOUR-WAY TEST WORTH CONSIDERING
By Robert J. Tamasy
Years ago I was a member of a local chapter of the Rotary Club, an international service organization for business and professional people. Over the years this organization has helped many people through its charitable projects. However, I had forgotten the cornerstone philosophy that guides every good Rotarian.
On a recent business trip I received a good reminder of that philosophy when a friend invited me to attend a meeting of his Rotary Club. At the opening of the meeting, members recited what”s known as “The Four-Way Test” of Rotary International. This is also displayed prominently on a banner at each gathering. If you are not familiar with “The Four-Way Test,” it goes like this:
Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?What if everyone, not just Rotarians, took these guidelines to heart in their interaction and communication with other people? How different might things be? Imagine if every person and every business – even your own – were to abide by the parameters of these four simple questions?
For starters, much of what our elected officials and candidates for public office say would have to be amended – and they would have a lot of apologizing to do for what they have said. If humble enough, they might even seek forgiveness. When facts are distorted and their opponents misrepresented, all for the sake of gaining political advantage, they violate all four parts of this test.
Much of what we read on social media could not be posted, because in many cases words are used as weapons to wound, not as tools for building up. TV and radio news commentators would often have to practice the adage, “silence is golden.” Or else reassemble their facts in ways that are not manipulated to support their ideological biases and to delude viewers and hearers.
Marriages could be transformed, as husbands and wives chose discretion and consideration rather than emotional impulse for guiding their conversations and shaping their relationships.
And in the workplace, whether in making a sales presentation, interacting with employees, clients and colleagues, or seeking to attract new business, we would have to shape our communications to abide by those four challenging questions.
If we all actively and enthusiastically embraced Rotary International”s “Four-Way Test,” we might all be persuaded to apply the exhortation of Ephesians 4:29, which offers this exhortation: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Can you imagine the impact of people all around the world doing that?
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Prior to reading this, had you heard of Rotary International or were you familiar with the organization”s “Four-Way Test”? What is your reaction to those four questions? How do you think the world – especially the business and professional world – would be different if everyone became serious and sincere about having their actions, words and thoughts guided by this “Test”? Do you think it would be practical for someone to genuinely strive to live by these principles in today”s marketplace? Why or why not? If someone were to rate you on how consistently you conduct yourself in the workplace based on this “Four-Way Test,” what do you think would be the conclusion? Explain your answer.If you would like to look at or discuss other portions from the Bible that relate to this topic, consider the following brief sampling of passages: Proverbs 11:3, 12:18-19, 13:6, Matthew 7:12; Mark 12:30-31; Philippians 2:3-4, 4:8-9
