墮落世界裡的艱難處境
By Rick Boxx
當雷神(Raytheon)公司的前首席CEO湯姆‧菲利普斯(Tom Phillips)去世時，他的華爾街日報訃聞裡寫到一則哈佛大學本科生的故事，這名學生曾提出一個有趣的問題。他問菲利普斯先生是否認為，他的基督教信仰與經營一家製造戰爭用導彈的大公司這件事之間存在著矛盾？
菲利普斯先生的回應既誠實又周詳，包含對人類現實的觀察。他說：「我們希望這個世界成為一個不需要軍隊和武器的世界。但是因為人類天生的貪欲，我相信人是有缺陷的，國家也是有缺陷的。我們需要提供維護安全的武器。」
我們大多數人不為生產戰爭武器的公司工作。然而，我們仍然可能身處必須解決菲力普斯先生所說「人的缺陷」的專業或工商領域，面對作出困難決定的挑戰。
例如，在執法部門工作的人每天都會與人類最黑暗的一面打交道。某些律師不僅要為受害者辯護，也要為罪犯答辯。製藥業為許多人提供重要的醫療服務，但在某些情況下，藥物會被誤用或濫用，造成極大的傷害。沒有簡單的解決方案時，醫生和護士有時必須做出困難的選擇。教育工作者也會面臨重大挑戰。
或許你有時也會在工作上遇到挑戰你價值觀和信念的情況。當我們站在道德的十字路口時，是否要放棄原則或選擇阻力最小的道路？如果我們是耶穌基督的追隨者，甚至可能會想：「上帝，你為什麼呼召我從事這個職業？」
雖然聖經並沒有保證每一個道德困境都有簡單的答案，但主確實呼召我們在許多困難的領域中服事祂與眾人。例如，哥林多前書7章17節教導我們說：「只要照主所分給各人的，和 神所召各人的而行。」
正如在聖經時代，基督的門徒們發現自己從事的工作充滿挑戰，我們也必須在履行困難的責任時尋求上帝的智慧、指引和恩典。我相信，祂希望拯救這個墮落世界–那些偏離了上帝設計的人–所以祂必然會將一些人置於艱困的行業中。如果我們能夠接受這是祂對我們的旨意，那麼我們能做什麼來完成自己的任務，並用祂悅納的方式作出艱難的決定？以下是祂在聖經中提供的一些指導原則：
尋求智慧。當然我們希望困難不要常常發生，但是當情況複雜、具有挑戰性時，我們應該求上帝賜給我們做出最好決定的智慧。「你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的 神，主就必賜給他。」（雅各書1章5節）
尋求智慧的建議。我們應該找有智慧的人，在遇到困難時可以諮詢他。「無智謀，民就敗落；謀士多，人便安居。」（箴言11章14節）
為有力量禱告。當我們周圍的文化都說我們應該違背自己的信念時，上帝可以給我們所需的資源來抵抗屈服的誘惑。「疲乏的，他賜能力；軟弱的，他加力量。……那等候耶和華的必從新得力。」（以賽亞書40章29-31節）
版權所有2019 非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊物主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx最新出版的書提供用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。
反省與問題討論
你曾否在與自己的價值觀和信念相對立的情況下工作過？你現在的工作，是不是經常讓你處於可能需要妥協的狀況？那是什麼樣的狀況？你如何處理這種情況？ 你認為我們應該始終堅持自己的信念和信仰的原則嗎？還是我們有時候就是需要與矛盾共存？請解釋你的答案。 當無法得到一個簡單的答案時，禱告並尋求上帝的智慧對你而言容易嗎？在這種情況禱告是什麼感覺？ 你有沒有碰過覺得自己沒有能力拒絕被要求做的事的情況？你當時如何處理？上帝是否在此時–若是另一次你面對困難情境時–提供你所需的力量？
備註：如果你有聖經並希望閱讀更多有關此主題的信息，請考慮下面的經文：
箴言1章7節
敬畏耶和華是知識的開端；愚妄人藐視智慧和訓誨。
箴言2章6節
因為，耶和華賜人智慧；知識和聰明都由他口而出。
箴言3章13-15節
3:13 得智慧，得聰明的，這人便為有福。
3:14 因為得智慧勝過得銀子，其利益強如精金，
3:15 比珍珠（或譯：紅寶石）寶貴；你一切所喜愛的，都不足與比較。
箴言15章22節
不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。
箴言19章20節
你要聽勸教，受訓誨，使你終久有智慧。
箴言20章18節
計謀都憑籌算立定；打仗要憑智謀。
詩篇84章11-12節
84:11因為耶和華─ 神是日頭，是盾牌，要賜下恩惠和榮耀。他未嘗留下一樣好處不給那些行動正直的人。
84:12萬軍之耶和華啊，倚靠你的人便為有福！
詩篇118章14節
耶和華是我的力量，是我的詩歌；他也成了我的拯救。
TOUGH BUSINESS IN A FALLEN WORLD
By Rick Boxx
When Tom Phillips, the former CEO of Raytheon, passed away, his Wall Street Journal obituary included a story about a Harvard University undergraduate who posed an intriguing question. The student asked Mr. Phillips if he believed there was a contradiction between his Christian faith and running a huge corporation that manufactures missiles for warfare.
Mr. Phillips” response was both honest and carefully considered, observing the reality of the human condition. He said, “We would like it to be a world where armies and weapons were not necessary. But there is a basic greed in man. Man is flawed, I believe. And nations are flawed. We have to provide for a common defense.”
Most of us do not work for companies that produce weapons for war. However, finding ourselves in a profession – or employed in industries – that necessarily must address the “flaws in man,” as Mr. Phillips termed it, can present challenges when uncomfortable decisions must be made.
Persons working in law enforcement, for instance, every day deal with the darkest sides of humanity. Attorneys may be called upon to represent not only victims of criminal activity, but also the perpetrators of crimes. The pharmaceutical industry provides important medical treatment for many people, but in some cases the drugs produced prove extremely harmful when misused or abused. Sometimes physicians and nurses must make difficult choices when there are no simple solutions. Even educators can face major challenges.
Perhaps your job at times presents circumstances that test your values and convictions. Does this mean when we arrive at an ethical crossroads, we must give up or take the path of least resistance? If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we might even be tempted to wonder, “God, why did you call me to this profession?”
While the Bible does not promise easy answers to every ethical dilemma, the Lord does call us to serve Him – and others – in many difficult realms. For instance, 1 Corinthians 7:17 teaches, “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.”
Just as in biblical times Christ”s disciples found themselves engaged in often challenging lines of work, we too must seek God”s wisdom, guidance and grace in carrying out difficult responsibilities. I believe that in His desire to redeem a fallen world – people who have strayed far from God”s design – He necessarily places some people in tough industries. If we can accept this as His will for us, what else can we do to perform our tasks and make hard decisions in ways that please Him? Here are some guidelines He provides in the Scriptures:
Ask for wisdom. Hopefully it does not happen often, but when challenging circumstances require complex decisions, we should ask God to provide the wisdom we need to do what is best. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Seek wise counsel. We should find people with wisdom, individuals we can consult with when difficult situations confront us. “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure” (Proverbs 11:14).
Pray for strength. When the culture around us says we should act contrary to our convictions, God can provide the needed resources to resist the temptation to yield. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:29-31).
Copyright 2019, Unconventional Business Network 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 visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God”s Way.”
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Have you ever worked in circumstances that seemed in opposition to your values and convictions? Perhaps you presently have a job that at times put you in potentially compromising situations? If so, what has this been like – and how do (or did) you handle them Do you believe we should always hold to our convictions, those principles that define our faith? Or are their times when we just have to live with seeming contractions? Explain your answer. How easy is it for you to pray and seek God”s wisdom when simple answers seem beyond your reach? What is it like to pray in such a way? Can you think of a time when you didn”t feel as if you had the strength to take a difficult stand against something you were being asked to do? How did you deal with that? Did God supply the needed strength at this time – or another time when you confronted challenging circumstances?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 1:7, 2:6, 3:13-15, 15:22, 19:20, 20:18; Psalm 84:11-12, 118:14
