尋求神的人得獎賞
By:Robert J. Tamasy
在工商界，我們常聽到「實質審查」一詞，它是在做一些重要的決定之前所進行的一個程序。例如要選一個新的領袖，公司會用「實質審查」來找最適合的人選。或是在一個新產品或是新的服務要推出時，企業會用「實質審查」來評估消費者的興趣、對手、市場和行銷。
當要增加團隊裡的一個重要職位時，「實質審查」會用來確保對的人被選上。調查的層面包括這個人的技能、專長、經驗、價值、動機是否能適合這個團隊。
身為職場人，在考慮一個重大的職涯改變時，我們也要做「實質審查」：調查職場上的機會、考慮企業領袖的素質，這樣的工作是否對我們的職涯有提升的效用?或是最重要的是，我們是否真想換跑道?或者我們想繼續做一樣的行業只是想換公司而已? 我們真正想做的事是什麼?現在是否是換跑道的正確時機?
「實質審查」大部分是「調查」。在今天，資訊比以往更加有價值。以往這樣的調查要花費許好幾天甚至好幾個星期，但是今天透過網路和媒體一些必要的資料幾分鐘就可以取得了。我們比以往有更多資源可以做正確的決定，但是我們經常忘記或是忽略最重要的資源－那就是神的智慧。
有時即便我們做了很多努力和「實質審查」但是仍無法做最好的選擇。這個時刻最好就是來尋求神。像新約聖經所說的:『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)
當面對特別複雜的困難決定時，我經常到神面前禱告，尋求神的智慧和眼光來確保我沒有做出錯誤的決定。這幾年來，我也遇到許多領袖下定決心說：「神是我公司的大老闆」，所以當他們每天遇到許多要做的決定時，他們自然會來尋求神。
但是有一件事很重要，那就是尋求神智慧的「資格」－信心。因為我們在接下來的經節裡看到:「只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。」(雅各書1章6-7節)
我曾經這樣想過，我們每天都要做大大小小的決定，有一個決定超越這一切：那就是無論如何，在個人或職場，我們都要懇切尋求神並且為祂而活，就像幾千年前以色列人的領袖約書亞做了一個決定:「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」(約書亞記24章15節)
關於這樣的決定，你也可以做「實質審查」。因為在新約聖經裡談到庇哩亞人因為尋求神賢於帖撒羅尼迦人。「 這地方的人賢於帖撒羅尼迦的人，甘心領受這道，天天考查聖經，要曉得這道是與不是。」(使徒行傳17章11節)你也可以向我做「實質審查」，因為在我的經驗裡，這樣的決定讓我對神更加地信靠。
Robert J. Tamasy是亞特蘭大「領袖遺產」 (一個非營利性機構) 通訊部的副總裁。他是一個有40年經驗的資深記者，也是多本著作的作者，包括Tufting Legacies; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press);也與David A. Stoddard合著The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress)。欲知更多詳情可上www.leaderslegacy.com 網站或是他的部落格 www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com、www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com 、www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com
思想與問題討論
最近在你的職場是否有「實質審查」的行動?結果如何? 如果有人來問你，要如何在做重要決定之前，適當的來做「實質審查」，你會給他什麼建議? 你是否在做決定時都會來尋求神的智慧?如果有，你覺得這樣做有幫助嗎?如果你沒有尋求神，你是否會覺得所做的決定是不恰當的?解釋你的答案。 在本篇週一嗎哪中，作者告訴我們最重要的決定是「無論如何，在個人或職場，我們都要懇切尋求神並且為祂而活。」。你是否同意?你對於庇哩亞人「天天查考聖經，要曉得這道是與不是」的看法為何?備註:如果你手上有聖經，想要知道更多與這個主題相關的經節，請參考下面的經節:
約書亞記1章6-9節; 詩篇119篇9節、11節; 箴言1章7節， 2章6節， 3章13-15節， 16章16節; 提摩太後書3章16-17節
DUE DILIGENCE REWARDS SINCERE SEEKERS
By Robert J. Tamasy
In the business and professional world, we often hear the term “due diligence” describing the process used prior to making important decisions. For instance, when seeking a new leader, companies will perform due diligence to find the best candidate. Before introducing a new product or service, a business does due diligence to evaluate consumer interest, competition, product placement, and marketing.
When looking to add a key individual to the staff, due diligence is in order to ensure the right person is selected: skills, expertise, experience, values, motivation, proper fit with other members of the team.
As individuals, when thinking about a significant vocational change, we are well-advised to do our own due diligence – studying opportunities in the job market; the quality of organizations we are considering to become our employer; whether a job offer represents an opportunity to advance our career; and perhaps most important, if we intend to change jobs, what do we really want to do. Do we want to do the same thing we have been doing, only somewhere else? Or is it time to take a totally new career path?
Research often makes up a large portion of due diligence, and today such information is more available than ever. Through technology – especially the Internet and social media – necessary data can be obtained in minutes instead of days or weeks. We have greater resources than ever for making the right decisions. But often we forget or neglect one important source – the wisdom of God.
Sometimes, despite our best efforts and “due diligence,” the best choice remains unclear. At such times it would be advisable to do as the Bible”s New Testament recommends: “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
When perplexed and faced with a difficult decision, it has been my practice to pray, asking God for wisdom and necessary insight to ensure that I do not decide in error. Through the years, I have met many leaders that have made the determination, “God is the owner of my business,” so it made sense to them to seek His wisdom for their day-to-day decision-making.
However, there is an important “qualification” to seeking God”s wisdom. We find it in the following verse: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does” (James 1:6-7).
As I have thought about it, in light of all the many decisions that we confront each day, there is one decision that transcends them all: Whether we will sincerely seek to live for God, not only privately but also professionally. Thousands of years ago, the Israelite leader Joshua made this declaration: “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Have you made the same determination?
If not, due diligence again is merited. Such a decision, certainly, should not be taken lightly. We would do well to follow the example of spiritual seekers in the ancient city of Berea. In the New Testament, we are told, “the Bereans…searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul (the apostle) said was true” (Acts 17:11). In my experience, such searching has always confirmed and strengthened my trust in God.
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist for 40 years, he is the author of 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.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What is a recent example you have experienced – or observed – of “due diligence” being performed in your workplace? What has been the outcome? If someone were to ask you how to properly go about performing due diligence prior to making an important decision, what advice would you offer? Have you ever considered seeking God”s wisdom in your decision-making process? If so, have you found it helpful? If you have not asked for wisdom from God, does the suggestion seem strange or uncomfortable to you? Explain your answer. In this “Monday Manna,” Mr. Tamasy suggests perhaps the most important decision of all is whether to live for God, both personally and professionally. Do you agree? What do you think of the example cited of the Bereans who “searched the Scriptures” to determine whether what they were being taught was true?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Joshua 1:6-9; Psalm 119:9,11; Proverbs 1:7, 2:6, 3:13-15, 16:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
