你把信心關在小隔間裡面嗎？
By Robert J. Tamasy
小隔間有它的用處。車子的儀表板下有儲物櫃，我們可以在裡面放手電筒地圖修車工具等等。工具箱裡面也有小隔間，方便人們能一目了然取用工具。但是你的信心，是不是也放在一個特別的房間裡面，等待特別的場合能拿出來使用嗎？
最近有一個朋友，他希望能鼓勵和挑戰企業和職場的人士能有效率地為耶穌基督作見證。他對我說：
「我試著幫助我帶的團隊，希望他們將自己的信心用在每天的職場上，以期能影響到整個職場。不幸地是，他們把信心留在星期天，在週間回到職場，仍然過著和原來一樣的生活。」
這樣的描述很強烈，也很可悲，看起來，這些職場人士並沒有把聖經的真理和教導應用在每天工作的職場上。也因此，這週一嗎哪創立的原因－是為了要把聖經中對於職場工作的教導傳遞給在職場工作的人們。
俗話說得好：「東是東，西是西。兩端永遠不會相遇。」然而，論到耶穌基督的信心，聖經告訴我們祂的同在和我們生命的影響，無論我們到哪裡、做任何事情都會隨著我們。
我們被呼召服事誰？一般來說，我們上班是在服事自己的公司、機構或是主管。從某個角度看來，的確是如此。但是聖經告訴我們:「無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉椾他感謝父上帝。」(歌羅西書3章17節)「無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，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。」(歌羅西書3章23-24節)
我們共同分享獨特的夥伴關係。有時候，我們會懷疑自己工作的價值，我們每天所做的事情到底有沒有意義。但是根據聖經的經文，我們必須要了解自己的工作和神以及他的計畫有什麼關係。「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。」 (哥林多前書3章9節)
工作的成就感來自神。 我們經常在工作中尋找意義和成就感，但是若能服事神和人，你的工作會更有意義。人莫強如吃喝，且在勞碌中享福，我看這也是出於神的手。論到吃用、享福誰能勝過我呢？(傳道書2章24-25節)
我們藉由工作彰顯耶穌基督。很多不信神的人，從來沒有踏進教會裡面。我們的工作提供了一個彰顯耶穌基督的網路。「所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像上帝藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與上帝合好。」 (哥林多後書5章20節)
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）
省思與問題討論
在生活當中，你經常把哪些事情區隔出來？目的是什麼？ 對於「不幸地是，他們把信心留在星期天，在週間回到職場，仍然過著和原來一樣的生活。」這樣的描述對工商企業人士是否太嚴苛，你自己是否也有這樣的經驗？ 如果你要應用「用全心工作，為主工作」這樣的教導在你的職場生活中，你覺得那會如何？你的工作將會有什麼改變？ 你覺得「神的同工」或是「耶穌基督的大使」這兩個字對你有什麼意義？你認為若是我們把信心限制在小房間內，事情會變得如何？
備註：如果你手上有聖經，希望知道更多跟這個主題相關的經文，請參考：箴言10章9節、箴言11章1、3節、箴言16章11節、箴言18章9節、箴言20章14節、21章5-6節、22章4、29節、 27章18、21節；傳道書2章10節
CONFINING FAITH TO COMPARTMENTS?
By Robert J. Tamasy
Compartments can be useful. We have “glove compartments” in our vehicles, even though hardly anyone uses them for gloves – instead, we keep flashlights, maps, repair receipts and other things there. Toolboxes and craft cases have compartments to keep things separated for easy access. But should one”s spirituality – faith – also be kept in a compartment, taken out only for special occasions?
Recently a friend who seeks to encourage and challenge business and professional people to consistently and effectively reflect Jesus Christ in the workplace made this comment to me:
“I try to help my groups to integrate their faith in their business and within their sphere of influence in the marketplace. Unfortunately, they are very compartmentalized and are righteous on Sundays and holy terrors the rest of the week.”
This statement is strong, but also sad. It seems these businessmen and women have failed to grasp the connection between biblical truth they are being taught and its proper application for the work they do throughout the week. Since its inception, this has been a goal of “Monday Manna” – to show the practical relevance of what the Bible teaches to how we conduct ourselves on the job every day.
There is an adage, “East is east, and west is west – and never the twain shall meet.” However, when it comes to faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible says His presence and influence in our lives should be evident everywhere we go, in everything we do. Consider:
Who are we called to serve? Typically, we go to work believing we are there to serve our company, organization or immediate superior. In one sense, that is true. But the Bible says we have a higher calling than that. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:17,23-24).
We share in a unique partnership. It is tempting at times to question the value of our work, the significance of what we do each day. But according to the Scriptures, we are to understand we work in concert with God and His plans. “For we are God”s fellow workers; you are God”s field, God”s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Work fulfillment ultimately comes from God. We often look to our work for meaning and fulfillment, but it can be even more meaningful when done as service to God and others. “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, comes from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”(Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).
We represent Jesus through our work. Many outside the family of God will never venture into a church on their own. Our work provides a built-in network through which we can represent Him to others. “We are therefore Christ”s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
© 2017. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What are some “compartments” that you commonly use in your life? What is their purpose? How do you react to the statement, “…they are very compartmentalized and are righteous on Sundays and holy terrors the rest of the week”? Do you think this assessment of the business and professional people seems too harsh, or have you experienced this type of attitude yourself? If you were to apply the exhortation to do your work “with all your heart, as working for the Lord,” what do you think that would look like? Would it look different from how you carry out your work now? When you read the words, we are “God”s fellow workers,” or that we are “Christ”s ambassadors,” what does that mean to you? Do you think we can become reality for us while compartmentalizing our faith? Explain your answer.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Proverbs 10:5,9, 11:1,3, 16:11, 18:9, 20:14, 21:5-6, 22:4,29, 27:18,21; Ephesians 2:10
