神在工作中與你同在
By Robert J. Tamasy
你想過工作不只是一份工作而已嗎？或許你曾經想過工作也是傳福音的一個機會。但是你想過工作時神住在你裡面嗎？ Keith Welton是一個在職場的牧師，他寫了一本書名叫：為榮耀工作－做值得的工。他在文章中提到「神在你職場與你同在的六種方式」加上我自己個人的意見，基本上Keith Welton想告訴我們神利用職場來做以下的工作：
定睛仰望神。我們所在的職場就是我們定睛仰望神最好的場所。當我們做的計畫失敗了，或是出現預期外的挑戰時，我們經常問自己：「現在我應該怎麼辦？」在這個時候如果我們記得箴言3章5-6節告訴我們：「你要專心仰賴耶和華， 不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他， 他必指引你的路。」會有很大的幫助。
專注在你的心上。工作的動機是很重要的。到底工作是為了薪水、受到肯定或是其他個人的理由？我們工作的目的是要榮耀神。歌羅西書3章23-24節告訴我們：「無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，因你們知道從主那裏必得椾基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。」
專注在手中的工作。 我們的生活需要引導、目標以及能幫我們達成目標的工作。傳道書9章10節觀察到一個令人悲傷的現象：「凡你手所當做的事要盡力去做；因為在你所必去的陰間沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。」因此我們要趁還能做工的時候盡全力去做。
專注在你的愛心上。 加拉太書5章14節 告訴我們：「因為全律法都包在「愛人如己」這一句話之內了。遇到我們的鄰居並且向他們展現基督的愛，甚至是那些看起來不可愛的人。」
專注在你的心思意念上。現今世代很多商業和職場的教導都和聖經的教導是相反的。我們希望能成功，但同時在遇到挑戰和機會的時候，心中也要存記神的真理以及應用聖經的原則。「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為上帝的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」 (羅馬書12章2節)
專注在你的見證上。CBMC提醒我們神要我們在職場做祂的使者，成為耶穌基督在職場的天國代表。「但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得椾能力，並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地，和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。」(使徒行傳1章8節) 我們可能會往世界各地去，但是永遠別忘記，我們是耶穌基督的使者。
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）；他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）
省思／討論題目
你認為「神住在你裡面，並且與你在職場上工作」這樣的觀念如何？你是否也有這樣的想法？ 你覺得職場是否是一個神要你成長和發展信心，成為他的僕人和大使的關鍵場所？ 文章中提到的六個專注，哪一個是你覺得在你的職場中最具挑戰性的？ 如果你從未思考過神可能在職場中與你同在，今天開始抱持這樣的想法，對你的工作會有甚麼重大的改變？
如果你有上有聖經，希望知道更多與這個主題相關的經文，請參考下面的經文：哥林多前書3章9節； 哥林多後書 5章20節、 6章1節；以弗所書2章10節；歌羅西書3章17節； 提摩太後書3章17節
WAYS GOD IS AT WORK IN YOU – AT WORK
By Robert J. Tamasy
Have you ever thought of your work as more than a job? Perhaps you are among the people that regard your work as an opportunity of ministry. But have you ever considered your work could be a place where God is at work in you? Keith Welton, a pastor who has spent time in the corporate world, has written Working for Glory: A Theology for Doing Work that Matters. Drawing from it he wrote an article, “Six Ways God”s at Work in You,” that appeared on desiringgod.org. I have borrowed his bullet points, adding my own thoughts. Basically, Welton suggests God is using the workplace to:
Focus your faith. There are few places where our faith can be exercised more vigorously than where we work. When we make plans and they fail, or when even good plans present unexpected challenges, we often find ourselves wondering, “What do I (we) do now?” At such times it helps to remember the promise of Proverbs 3:5-6, which tells us to, “Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Focus your heart. Motivations are very important for approaching our work. Are we doing it solely for the income, to receive recognition, or some other self-oriented reason? Or is our desire to honor God through our work, as Colossians 3:23-24 urges us: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Focus your hands. We all need direction, a sense of purpose in our lives, and work can help in providing that. But Ecclesiastes 9:10 offers this sobering observation: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” So we are to do what we can, the best we can, while we can.
Focus your love. As Galatians 5:14 tells us, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." And what better place is there to encounter our “neighbors” and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to them – even those who seem unlovable?
Focus your mind. We have all discovered many of the practices and philosophies of today”s business and professional world run counter to the teachings of the Bible. So in our quest to succeed and advance at work, we also must strive to keep in mind God”s truth and apply biblical principles to responsibilities, challenges and opportunities we confront each day. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God”s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Focus your witness. CBMC reminds us part of the role God has entrusted to us is to serve as “marketplace ambassadors,” representing Jesus Christ just as a nation”s ambassador would represent it in another country. Jesus commanded His followers, “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). For some of us, “Jerusalem” is the office where we work. Traveling for business, we may also venture to other cities – even other parts of the world. When we do, we should keep in mind that we do so as ambassadors of Christ.
© 2016. Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Bob has written Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; and coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring. His biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
What do you think of the concept that God is at work – in you – where you work? Has that ever occurred to you before? Why do you think the workplace could be a critical place in God”s desire to enable you to grow and develop in your faith and in being as His servant and ambassador? Which of the six “focuses” cited seem to stand out most strongly as you consider your workplace responsibilities and challenges? If you haven”t seriously considered that God might be working in you where you work, what difference might it make to keep this idea prominent in your thinking as you approach each workday?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:1; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 3:17
