得不償失！
By Lane Kramer
回顧過去兩年的頭條新聞，似乎不斷有許多頂尖的商界領袖和運動界名人從權力、財富和榮耀的地位重重地摔落到蒙羞和被恥笑的位置。
不論是銀行資深主管操縱利率；資深投資行員建議客戶投資利益衝突的金融產品；或有名望之大學的高級主管掩飾學校重大的道德缺失。因為錯誤的決定，他們有的人失去錢財、失去擔任領袖的職位、失去商界人士的尊敬，或失去個人自由。當他們作那些決定時，他們可能以為自己「逃脫得了」，而且不會被發現。
若我能訪問那些現在經歷極大損失的領袖們，我會問因他們行為所感覺到或真正得到的收穫是否值得他們已經付出，現在正付出，或將來要付出的代價。在大多數的案例中，他們可能會承認他們犯了可怕的錯誤，而且若他們能重新來過，許多人會選擇不一樣的道路。
商界領袖傾向於認為，我們可以做任何我們想做的事，因為「這是我的公司」。聲稱自己跟隨耶穌基督的執行長和高級主管應該更知道這一點。我們所經營的公司不是我們的，是上帝指派我們在一段短暫時間內去作祂公司的管家。有一天祂將要求我們為祂所給我們的交帳。
所以今天我們必須回答的一個問題是：我們如何事先作好準備，才能將我們所管理的公司交出好的帳？讓我提供一些我認為能幫助我們走在正確軌道上的建議：
你是否願意公開你的每筆買賣業務，包括會計資料，讓耶穌基督檢查每份文件、每個過程和手續？你能堂堂正正地、清楚地向祂解釋你業務的每個細節嗎？ 你願意讓你的配偶和朋友看你過去90天的行事例嗎？讓他們看看你去了哪裡，你與誰見面？且讓他們檢查你的智慧型手機的通話記錄，看你曾打電話給誰？ 你是否願意讓你的牧師和教會的朋友看你辦公用的電腦和家中的個人電腦，看看你曾上過哪些網站？ 在你生命中是否有哪個人是你要向他負責的，不論是工作上或個人生活中？若以上四題你都能誠實地給予肯定的答覆，你可能就是與上帝和你的重要關係人都有好的關係。若你的答覆是否定的，這是你悔改的時候，在你蒙受極大損失及墮落前，要賠償任何你訛詐過的人。大多數人會寬恕我們，若他們相信我們真的是誠心的，並準備要改變錯誤的思想和行為。
聖經舊約中有一節經文說：「你們的罪必追上你們」（民數記32章23節）。我先前提到的那些商業和體育界領袖顯然不相信這一點。但在每個案例中他們都被罪追上了！
在你選擇以錯誤的方式去追求你以為的「收穫」前，先考慮那樣是否會得不償失。
連恩．克朗是德州達拉斯的商人，他成立一個會員制的組織「執行長協會」，幫助執行長建立符合聖經原則和價值觀的世界級公司。他的網站是www.ceoinst.com
省思 / 討論題目
在我們作生意時，若我們採取不恰當或顯然錯誤的行為，我們為何傾向於相信「沒有人會知道」？ 你如何讓自己走在「正確的軌道」上？你是否有一位可信任的朋友或同事，當他認為你出軌時，會為了關心你，非常直接且誠實地告訴你？請解釋。 你是否願意對文中所列的問題回答「是」，讓其他人－－以及上帝－－查看你所有工作上和個人生活的行為？為什麼？ 你是否相信在你生命終結時，你要為你經營的事業或工作上的職責向上帝交帳？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
箴言10章9節，11章23節，12章19、22節，13章6節，16章2-3節，18章12節，21章2節，22章4節，26章24-26節
THE GAIN IS NOT WORTH THE PAIN!
By Lane Kramer
Looking back over the news headlines the last two years, there seems to be a recurring pattern with many top business leaders and sports figures – a severe fall from places of privilege, wealth and honor to places of public disgrace and ridicule.
Whether it be senior officers of banks that engaged in manipulating rates; senior investment officers that recommend investment clearly that are conflicts of interest; or the executive leadership of a prestigious university that covered up major moral failures. All have either lost financial fortunes, positions as leaders, respect from the business public, and or personal freedom because of very bad decisions. When making these decisions, they probably believed they could “get away with it” and would not be found out.
If I could interview each of these leaders, now that they have experienced extreme loss, I would ask if the perceived and or real gain from their actions was worth the price they have paid, are now paying, or will pay in the future. In most cases they probably would admit they made terrible mistakes and if they had a “do over,” many would choose a different course of action.
Business leaders have a tendency to believe we can do anything we choose to do because “it”s MY company.” CEOs and top executives professing to follow Jesus Christ should know better. It is not our company we are running. It is God”s company He has assigned to us to steward for Him for a brief period of time. One day He will ask us for an accounting of what we did with what He gave us.
So a question we must answer today is this: How can we prepare ahead of time to give a good account for our stewardship? Let me offer some suggestions I think can help keep us on the right track:
Would you be willing to open up every part of your business operation, including accounting records, and let Jesus Christ examine every document, process and procedure? Could you give Him a clear, honorable explanation of every detail of your operation? Would you be willing to let your spouse and friends look at your calendar the last 90 days to see where you have gone, who you have met with, and then them examine your recent smartphone records to see who you have been calling? Would you be willing to let your pastor and friends at church look at the websites you have been visiting on your business and personal computers? Do you have anybody in your life with whom you are accountable, professionally and personally? If you could give an honest yes to all four questions, you are probably in good shape with both God and your critical constituents. If not, it is time to repent your wrong conduct and make restitution to anybody you have wronged before you suffer a tremendous fall. Most of the time people will forgive if they really believe we are sincere and prepared to alter wrong thinking and wrong actions.
A verse in the Bible”s Old Testament states, “Your sin will find you out!” (Numbers 32:23). Business and sports leaders I have referred to apparently did not believe this. But in each case they were found out!
Before you choose to pursue the perceived “gain” the wrong way, consider whether it is worth the pain you ultimately will experience.
Lane Kramer is a Dallas, Texas business who founded The CEO Institute, a membership-based organization to help CEOs build world-class companies consistent with biblical principles and values. His website is www.ceoinst.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Why do we have a tendency to believe that “nobody will ever know” if we take an inappropriate or clearly wrong action in our business pursuits? How do you keep yourself on “the right track”? Do you have a trusted friend or associate that cares enough for you to be brutally direct and honest, if necessary, should they believe you out of line? Explain your answer. Would you be willing to answer yes to the questions listed above, giving other people – and God – access to all of your professional and personal dealings and interactions? Why or why not? Do you believe that at the end of your life you will be asked to give an accounting to God for the way you ran your business or carried out your responsibilities in the workplace? NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Proverbs 10:9, 11:23, 12:19,22, 13:6, 16:2-3, 18:12, 21:2, 22:4, 26:24-26
