真正重要的是：我們如何做我們的工作

若你像我一樣，在那種時候你可能會想得過且過，不盡全力工作。我們似乎很容易採取這種態度，「這工作不值得我做！」或「我憎惡這個工作！」當我們認為自己沒被公平對待時，我們很容易覺得自己有理由不盡全力。然而，你若被這種想法所騙，你就只是在傷害自己。

我們傾向於把「我們所做的事」、「我們在哪裡工作」和「我們的薪資」視為我們工作中最重要的因素。然而，這種想法其實是被誤導了，而且一定不榮耀上帝。我們在工作中所做的事，我們在哪裡工作，以及我們賺多少錢都不如我們如何做來得重要。

我們許多人都想要做有意義的工作。好消息是我們工作的意義與我們的職稱或我們所做的事都沒有關係。意義與我們心態有關。因為我們的心－－我們內在的動機－－決定我們如何去做我們的工作。

這些年來我雇用過許多人，我承認在許多情況中我雇用了不對的人。當我面試他們時，我太傾向於覺得他們是適當的人選，認為他們正是我們要找的人。但根據現在我所知道的，在面試時我就會問應徵者不同於以往的問題。我會問他們若被要求去做平凡的工作，甚至貶低自己身份的工作，例如在公司刷馬桶或掃地，他們會有什麼態度。對這些問題的答案會顯示他們是否適合我們的團隊。

在舊約聖經中我最喜愛的人物之一就了解這一點。約瑟（他的故事從創世記37章開始）一生中的大部份時刻都走在艱難的道路上。一開始被他的哥哥們賣為奴隸。身為奴隸，他的工作表現備受稱讚，最後就被升遷到承擔重大責任的職位。但後來他又被誣陷入獄。在獄中，即使環境不好，他還是努力工作，於是就高升到最高管理的角色，直到被釋放出獄。

在出獄後，約瑟又得到另一次升遷，這一次他成為全埃及的宰相，只在法老之下。在每一段過程中，約瑟若沒有盡心工作，如歌羅西書3章23節指示所有相信並跟隨上帝之人所說：「像是給主做的」，他就不會得到升遷。

所以若你發現自己不喜歡你的工作，或你覺得自己是高材低就了，要曉得上帝正在看你的心。在祂把你高升去承擔更大的責任前，祂要你在小事上忠心，

請思想耶穌告訴祂的跟隨者作好管家的重要性，不僅管理我們的財物，也要管理臨到我們的工作與機會：「主人說：好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂」（馬太福音25章21節）。

吉姆．蘭紀是「工作真理協會Truth@Work」 (www.christianroundtablegroups.com)的分會會長，這是一個職場人士的事工。他定期在部落格www.5feet20.com上寫作，他也寫了一本書「流血的領袖：給領袖的聖經急救箱 Bleedership: Biblical First-Aid for Leaders」他與家人住在美國俄亥俄州的Toledo市附近。

If you are like me, in situations like that you probably have been tempted to simply go through the motions, giving less than your best effort. It seems easy to take on the attitude, “I do not deserve to be doing this!” or “I detest this job!” When we believe we are being treated unfairly, we can easily justify doing less than our best. However, if you fall for this deception, you are only hurting yourself.

We tend to make “what we do,” “where we do it” and “what we get paid” the most important factors in our work. This line of thinking, however, is misguided at best and certainly does not honor God. What we do at work, where we do it, and how much we earn are not nearly as important as HOW we do it.

Many of us desire to be engaged in something of significance. The good news is that the significance of our work has nothing to do with our titles or what we do. Significance has everything to do with the condition of our hearts. Because our hearts – our inner motivations – determine how we do our work.

I have hired many people over the years and, admittedly, have done a poor job of it in many instances. I have tended to perceive people too positively when I interviewed them, thinking they were exactly what we were looking for. Knowing what I know now, I would ask questions differently of job candidates during an interview. I would try to determine what their attitudes would be if asked to perform mundane, even demeaning tasks, such as cleaning toilets or sweeping floors at the company. Answers to those questions would reveal much about how well they would fit well with our team.

One of my favorite characters in the Old Testament of the Bible was a man who understood this. Joseph (his story begins in Genesis 37) had a difficult road much of his life. It began with being sold into slavery by his brothers. As a slave, he performed admirably and was eventually promoted to a position of great responsibility until he was falsely imprisoned. While in prison, he again made the best of his circumstances and was elevated to a top management role until his release.

Upon his release, Joseph received another promotion, this time to become second in command of all Egypt, answering only to the Pharaoh. In each of these instances, Joseph would not have been promoted had he not been working with all his heart “as working for the Lord,” as Colossians 3:23 instructs all who believe in and follow God.

So if you find yourself in a position you do not like or one you feel is unworthy of your qualifications, recognize God is looking at your heart. He needs you to be faithful in the little things before He can promote you to handle greater responsibilities.

Consider what Jesus told His followers about the importance of being good stewards, not only of our material possessions but also of the work and opportunities given to us: “His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master”s happiness!“”
(Matthew 25:21).