不僅遵守法律，還要超越法律
By Rick Boxx
當我開始提供諮詢給工商專業領袖，把聖經中的真理帶入每種設想情況中，先誠實地看看我自己似乎是一個好主意。我檢視我生命中過去的任何問題，是否有任何領域不符合我現在所提倡為方針的聖經原則。
我推斷若我不願按照上帝所設立的標準行事 － 即使只是透過後見之明 － 我如何建議工商專業領袖去遵循相同的標準？
當我在清理這種個人的過去時，我想到有一件事我沒做對，就是我以前所擁有的一家公司還有一筆小額的公司債務尚未還清。
雖然那筆債務是公司的責任，我個人在法律上沒有責任，但上帝讓我清楚看到祂要我所有的商業行為都要清潔且無可指責 － 包括這筆過去的債務。
我花了一些時間與力氣才找到當初我們欠錢的那家公司，並寄了一張支票還清那筆債務。那公司的老闆很驚訝，並打電話告訴我他的訝異。他也告訴我，在幾年前他們已將這筆債一筆勾銷了，所以他們就把我還的那筆錢奉獻給當地的教會。
即使那財務責任以被免除、被遺忘，但我知道那不能免除我在上帝面前的責任。正直誠信不是依照你的目的而隨時開或關的東西。要成為正直誠信的人，我們必須每一時刻都努力維持那標準。這個情況似乎是上帝給我的一個考驗，祂要求我展現出我對祂有足夠的信靠，所以去做對的事 － 即使那會影響我的存款。
以弗所書5章3節教導我們：「至於淫亂並一切污穢，或是貪婪，在你們中間連提都不可，方合聖徒的體統。」說出自己所相信的信念和價值觀是容易的，但要把它們活出來 － 尤其那會讓人付出金錢的代價時 － 就困難了。但那是我們在職場身為耶穌基督跟隨者的呼召之一。諺語告訴我們：「言教不如身教。」而且若我們希望對每天與我們互動的人有永恆的影響，我們的行為必須要與我們所宣稱的信念一致。
上帝的標準常常超過現行法律，而我們身為上帝的大使，最好要比一般的要求做得更好。聖經提供了這樣的提醒：「正直人的純正必引導自己；奸詐人的乖僻必毀滅自己。」（箴言11章3節）。
藉著解決那尚未還清的債務，我就不害怕這件事會被提起，讓人懷疑我作為工商人士和顧問的正直。而因為我還的那筆錢被轉給當地的教會，誰知道？那可能是上帝回應了那教會弟兄姊妹的特別需要。就像人們所說的，一石二鳥！
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
如作者所說，誠實地檢視過去自己在商業或職場是否仍有需要解決的事情，你認為這會有多困難？ 雖然作者對尚未付清的公司債務沒有法律上的個人責任，你是否同意他去償債的決定？你想你會怎麼做？ 你是否同意「言教不如身教。」？你認為你的行為有多符合自己所聲稱的價值觀和信念？ 你想為何正直誠信的名聲很難得到－－但卻很容易失去？
註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：箴言10章9節，11章1節，12章19、22節，20章17節，21章6節；歌羅西書3章17、23節；提摩太後書3章16-17節
NOT JUST KEEPING THE LAW, BUT EXCEEDING IT
By Rick Boxx
When I began consulting with business and professional leaders, seeking to bring truths from the Bible into every scenario, it seemed like a good idea to take an honest look at myself first. I examined my life for any past issues, asking if there were any unresolved areas where I had failed to uphold the biblical principles that now served as my guides.
I reasoned if I was not willing to live up to the standards God had established – even if only through the 20/20 vision of hindsight – how could I justify counseling with business and professional leaders to heed the same standards?
As I undertook this personal inventory, an issue I felt convicted about was a small corporate debt that remained unpaid from a company I had owned previously.
Even though this debt was a corporate obligation, for which I had no legal responsibility personally, God was making it clear to me He wanted all of my business dealings to be pure and above reproach – including this one from the past.
It took some time and effort, but I succeeded in tracking down the business that was owed money and sent them a check for the full amount. The owners of the business were amazed, and called to tell me so. They also informed me that since the debt had been written off some years before, they were donating the payment I had just sent to a local church.
Even though the financial obligation had been absolved and forgotten, I knew that did not release me from my responsibility before God. Integrity is not something you can turn on and turn off, whenever it suits your purposes. To be known as persons of integrity, we must strive to uphold that standard 100 percent of the time. This situation seemed like a test in which God was asking me to demonstrate I trusted Him enough to do the right thing – even if it affected my checkbook.
Ephesians 5:3 teaches, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” It is easy to profess certain beliefs and values, but living them out – especially if there is a personal cost involved – is much more difficult. Yet that is part of our calling as followers of Jesus Christ in the workplace. “Actions speak louder than words,” the adage tells us, and if we hope to have any impact for eternity among the men and women we interact with every day, our behavior must be consistent with our professed beliefs.
God”s standards often exceed the existing laws, and as God”s ambassadors it is always best for us to go beyond what is required. The Bible offers this word of caution: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).
By properly resolving the issue of the unpaid debt, there was no fear of it ever arising again and casting doubt on my integrity as a businessperson and consultant. And since the payment I made was passed on to a local church, who knows? It might have been an answer to prayer for a special need within that congregation. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone, as they say!
Copyright 2014, 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. CBMC INTERNATIONAL: Jim Firnstahl, President 2850 N. Swan Road, Suite 160
▪ Tucson, Arizona 85712 ▪ U.S.A. TEL.: 520-334-1114 ▪ E-MAIL: [email protected] Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: [email protected]
Reflection/Discussion Questions
How difficult do you think it would be, as Mr. Boxx did, to take an honest look to determine whether there are any past business or workplace issues that still needed to resolve? Even though he had no legal personal liability for the outstanding corporate debt, do you agree with his decision to make restitution as he did? What do you think you would have done? Do you agree with the statement, “Actions speak louder than words”? How well do you think your own actions align with your words, along with the values and beliefs you profess? Why do you think a reputation for integrity is so difficult to earn – but so easy to lose?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 10:9, 11:1, 12:19,22, 20:17, 21:6; Colossians 3:17,23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
