行動勝於空談

俗話說得好: 「行動勝於空談」。不動產經紀公司的策略領導人 Bob Doll 曾經說過：「你的職業、你的呼召、你的行動以及待人處事，所有你所做的事就是最好的見證。」

最近我們家重新再整修。來裝修的油漆師傅、水電師傅和承包商都非常優秀。感謝神，他們給我們的承諾都有做到。很顯然地，他們對自己的計技術很有自信，我們對整修的成果也都很滿意。

對跟隨耶穌的我們來說，言行合一也應該是我們的信念之一。我們所事奉的神是創造天地宇宙萬物的神，祂的創造如此美好。而人類是依照神的形象所造(創世紀1章26節)，我們能透過手中的工作來展現神的美好。在CBMC我們稱自己為職場的宣教大使，我們的言行舉止會影響每天和我們一起工作的人能對神的觀感。以下是聖經告訴我們的一些原則，我們所做的比我們所說的更能將我們的信仰傳達出去。

知道我們事奉的誰。 通常我們對工作的態度只是讓主管滿意就好。但是跟隨耶穌的人要有更高的標準。「無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的。」(歌羅西書3章23節)

待人如己 。我們當顧客的時候，希望賣方能提供我們最好的服務。同樣的，當我們服務別人的時候，無論是做簡報、服務我們的同事、顧客或是公司時，也要做到最好。「所以，無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人，因為這就是律法和先知 的道理。」 (馬太福音7章12節)

做得好會被認可。 我們周遭的人也許認為工作最好是錢多事少離家近。在這樣的大環境之下，堅持和專注工作很容易會得到認可。「你看見辦事殷勤的人嗎？ 他必站在君王面前， 必不站在下賤人面前。」 (箴言22章29節)

言行合一 。這個世界總是給我們很多空洞無法實現的承諾。即使不容易，做一個言行合一的人，建立自己的名聲，未來就不缺乏工作。「諸般勤勞都有益處； 嘴上多言乃致窮乏。」 (箴言 14章23節).

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。

The adage, “Actions speak louder than words,” remains true. Bob Doll, chief equity strategist for an asset management firm, has expressed it this way: “You build your testimony when you are the best at what you do, your occupation and calling, and the best in the way you do it…how you treat people, your actions and attitudes.”

Recently we have had several renovation projects underway at our home. The men who have been doing the work – a painter, plumber and contractor – all came highly recommended. Thankfully, the assurances we received about the quality of their workmanship have been confirmed. They obviously take pride in their craft, and we are pleased with the changes they are making.

For those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, this should always be true as well. The God we serve has created the world around us and all we see with excellence. As people created in His image (Genesis 1:26), one of the ways we can demonstrate that is through the quality of our work, whatever that might be. In serving as what CBMC likes to call “marketplace ambassadors,” what the people we work alongside every day see in us can easily influence their attitudes toward Christ. Here are some things the Bible says about how we communicate our faith to others not just through the words we speak, but even more powerfully, through the actions we undertake:

Recognize who it is we are working for. Often our attitude at work is if we can satisfy our immediate supervisor, that is sufficient. But followers of Christ have an even higher standard: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23).

Work for others as you would want them to work for you. When we are the role of customer, we expect the people providing products or services to us to give us the best they have. In the same way, when we perform work for others – whether the persons we report to, our peers, customers, or the company as a whole, we have an obligation to offer them the best we can give. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you… ” (Matthew 7:12).

Good work will be recognized. Looking around us, many people seem content with doing only the bare minimum in their work, enough to retain their jobs but hardly enough to require intense effort. In this environment, consistent and dedicated work cannot help but be noticed. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29).

Demonstrate that our work is as good as our word. The world offers us many empty promises, ones that never will be fulfilled. Being someone who keeps promises – even strives to exceed expectations whenever possible – will build a strong reputation, and have no lack of work in the future. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23).

© 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.