使人和睦的人有福了
By Rick Boxx
兩位主管陷入爭執，而且開始對公司有負面影響。所有內部的努力都無法解決他們的爭論，那公司的執行長就問我是否願意去使那兩位主管和睦。
兩位主管都聲稱是耶穌基督的跟隨者，所以我想這可能會讓我的任務容易一點。我會嘗試傾聽並了解雙方的說法，然後應用適當的聖經原則去解決這衝突。
在與這兩個人分別會談過後，我讓他們聚在一起，並向他們說明在這種情況下，上帝希望發生的事。過沒多久，我看到上帝在他們兩人的心中行了令人驚訝的工作。這兩個人看著彼此，並且像在基督裡有共同連結的弟兄一樣互相擁抱。然後他們為彼此禱告，承諾以後都會繼續這麼做。
當我觀察他們在專業關係上的自然和解，我就想到耶穌在馬太福音5章9節所教導的話：「使人和睦的人有福了！因為他們必稱為 神的兒子。」
我們所生活的世界──包括職場──似乎充滿怨氣與敵意。競爭、嫉妒、懷恨和其他破壞性的感覺讓工商專業界沒有多少「和平」的空間。事實上，衝突是如此普遍，我們似乎失去了使人和睦的能力。因此，如耶穌所指出，我們需要「使人和睦的人」。
我很榮幸，也很有福氣能參與奇妙的上帝在兩位商業領袖的生活中所做的事。那不是靠技巧、深奧的真知灼見或任何特別的技術使我促成這個完美的結果。是上帝做成這工。然而，祂確實使用使人和睦的人帶來和解。祂也想使用你。
重要的是要注意使人和睦與「維持和諧」是有區別的。維持和諧常常只看另一個方向，忽略衝突，愚昧地希望衝突會自動消失。但衝突很少會自動消失。
使人和睦是定意且有決心地處理衝突──包括涉及衝突的每一方，目標是找出一個每個人都能接受的解決辦法。理想的狀況是，這解決辦法是雙贏的，沒有人覺得他們的需要或利益沒被考慮到。
和睦應該是所有自稱是耶穌基督跟隨者的特徵，所以我們有義務使人和睦。這不是件容易的事，在爭論中要帶來和睦是件困難的任務。但聖經教導我們還是要這麼做。「凡管教的事，當時不覺得快樂，反覺得愁苦；後來卻為那經練過的人結出平安的果子，就是義」（希伯來12章11節）。
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
你曾否捲入一個嚴重的衝突，對周圍的人造成混亂？若是，那是怎樣的情況？如何開始？若有解決，是如何解決？ 當你聽到「使人和睦的人」，這對你有何意義？ 你是否同意使人和睦與維持和諧有區別？請解釋。 你是否認為一個人的屬靈信仰能幫助人達到和睦，不論在職場、在家中，或在社區裡？為什麼？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看： 箴言17章14節，18章19節，20章3節，26章21節；羅馬書12章18-20節；歌羅西書3章15節
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
By Rick Boxx
Two executives had become locked in an ongoing feud that was beginning to have a negative impact on their company. After all internal efforts to settle the dispute had failed, the CEO of the organization asked if I would be willing to try and be a peacemaker between the two.
Both men professed to be followers of Jesus Christ, so I thought that might make my job a bit easier. I would attempt to hear and understand both sides of the story and then seek to apply appropriate biblical principles for resolving the conflict.
After interviewing each person separately, I brought them together and explained what I believed God desired to happen in this situation. Moments later I watched as God did an astounding work in both of their hearts. These two men looked at each other and embraced as brothers sharing a common bond in Christ. Then they prayed for each other, making a commitment to continue doing so in the future.
As I observed this spontaneous healing of their professional relationship, I thought of the words Jesus taught in Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
We live in a world – including the workplace – where animosity and adversarial relationships seem the rule rather than the exception. Competition, jealousy, vindictiveness and other destructive feelings leave little room for “peace” in the business and professional world. In fact, conflict is so commonplace, it seems the capacity for making peace has largely been lost. Hence the need for “peacemakers,” as Jesus pointed out.
I was privileged and blessed to be a part of something amazing God did in the lives of these two business leaders. It was not skills, profound insights or any special techniques that enabled me to facilitate this process to a successful conclusion. God did the work. However, it is true that He uses peacemakers to bring healing. He might want to use you, as well.
It is important to note there is a difference between peacemaking and “peacekeeping.” Peacekeeping often consists only in looking the other way, ignoring the conflict, and foolishly hoping it will just disappear on its own. This rarely is the case.
Peacemaking involves intentionally and purposefully addressing the conflict – and all of the parties involved – with the goal of finding a solution that is acceptable to everyone. Ideally, the resolution represents a “win-win,” with no one feeling their needs or interests were not taken into account.
Peace should be a hallmark of all who profess to follow Jesus Christ, and as such we have an obligation to assist in making peace whenever we can. It is not always easy – bringing harmony out of discord can be hard work. But we are exhorted to do it just the same. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
Copyright 2013, 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. To learn more about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments, visit www.integrityresource.org. His book, How to Prosper in Business Without Sacrificing Integrity, gives a biblical approach for doing business with integrity.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Have you ever been involved in a serious conflict that was disruptive to those around you? If so, what was that like? How did it originate – and how was it resolved, if at all? When you hear the term “peacemaker,” what does that mean to you? Do you agree with the distinction between peacemaking and peacekeeping? Explain your answer. Do you think that one”s spiritual beliefs can be an asset in working toward achieving peace, whether in the workplace, the home, or in the community? Why or why not?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 17:14, 18:19, 20:3, 26:21; Romans 12:18-20; Colossians 3:15
