你在逃避什麼──又在追求什麼？

我的一位朋友連恩，最近在一次演講中提到這些問題。我問他是否可借用他的重點用在「週一嗎哪」中。他的題目是「屬神之人的四個素質」，而我認為這些素質也適用於「屬神的工商專業人士」。即使你認為自己不是工商專業人士，還是繼續看下去吧，因為這些原則適用在我們所有人身上。

那段演講是以聖經新約中的一段經文為中心。使徒保羅寫信給他的門徒提摩太說：「貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財，就被引誘離了真道，用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。但你這屬　神的人要逃避這些事，追求公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔。你要為真道打那美好的仗，持定永生。你為此被召，也在許多見證人面前，已經作了那美好的見證」（提摩太前書6章10-12節）。

這段經文提出所有工商專業領袖應該思考的四個問題：

你逃避什麼？我們可能逃避許多事──過去的失敗；個人、專業或甚至財務的責任；不好的經驗和不愉快的回憶；有壓力的情況。但我們是否逃避誘惑我們在道德上妥協或背叛我們信念的情況？這就是為什麼哥林多前書10章14節勸告基督徒：「你們要逃避拜偶像的事。」意思是任何會把他們從寶貴信仰和價值觀中拉走的事。

你追求什麼？當我們在職場不斷前進，我們會追求許多事，其中許多都是好事：升遷、更多責任、對我們委身的企業有更大的貢獻。但我們也可能沉迷於追求權力、地位、財物、與驕傲相關的事。我們是否追求，如保羅勉勵年輕的提摩太所追求的「公義、敬虔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔」（提摩太前書6章11節）？

你為何而戰？若你的家人或朋友在危難中，我們可能會為了他們的安全而奮戰。我們常常為了下一筆銷售或下一個客戶，或「市占率」奮戰。但我們是否如保羅所激勵：「為真道打那美好的仗」（提摩太前書6章12節）？我們是否立定心志去堅持我們最深的信仰，即使那可能要付上工作或個人的代價？

你持守什麼？在商業界有許多事要持守的事──名譽、地位、收入、甚至一個角落的辦公室或最好的停車位。但我們在持守無形但更有價值的事時，是否也這麼努力？如保羅所說：「持定永生，你為此被召…」（提摩太前書6章12節）。即使我們有這麼做，在每天的實際生活中是如何表現出來？

這些是值得思考的有趣事情，不是嗎？

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。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。

Len, a friend of mine, recently gave a talk and raised these questions. I asked if I could borrow his key points and adapt them for “Monday Manna.” He called the talk “Four Qualities of the Man of God,” and I thought they also would apply to “the business and professional person of God.” Even if you do not think of yourself in that way, stay with me because these principles have relevance for us all.

The talk centered on a passage from the New Testament of the Bible, in which the apostle Paul writes to his disciple, Timothy. After asserting, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs,” Paul adds, “But as for you, man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:10-12).

This passage raises four questions all business and professional leaders should consider:

What do you run from? We can run from many things – past failures; personal, professional, even financial obligations; bad experiences and unpleasant memories; stressful situations. But do we run from circumstances that tempt us to compromise our ethics or betray our convictions? This is why followers of Christ are admonished in 1 Corinthians 10:14 to “…flee from idolatry,” meaning anything that would draw them away from cherished beliefs and values.

What do you pursue? As we advance in the workplace, we can pursue numerous things, many of them being good things: promotions, more responsibility, greater contributions to the enterprise in which we are engaged. But we also can become consumed with the pursuit of power, position and possessions, things that appeal to pride. Do we find ourselves pursuing, as Paul urged the younger Timothy, “…righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11)?

What do you fight for? If our family members or friends were in jeopardy, we probably would fight for their safety and security. We often fight for the next sale or the next client, for “market share.” But as Paul urged, do we “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12)? Do we resolve to hold true to our deepest beliefs, even if that could require a professional or personal cost?

What do you hold onto? In the business world there are many things to hold onto – reputations, status, income, even a corner office or prized parking place. But are we just as diligent to hold onto things that are not as tangible but, ultimately, of greater value? As Paul wrote “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” (1 Timothy 6:12). Even if we did that, what would it look like in practical, everyday ways?

Interesting things to think about, don”t you think?

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.