預備好做善工
By Robert J. Tamasy
當別人知道我是一個作家時，他們常會說：「哦，寫作對我來說太難了，我絕對沒辦法當作家。」我笑了，因為我對其他任何工作方式也有同樣的感覺。我很佩服有機械技能的人，例如木匠、水管工、電工或者會很多技能的修繕工人。我無法想像註冊會計師和簿記員如何完成他們的工作；擅長公開演講的人會讓我感到驚訝；有天賦的領導人能激勵和動員他所帶的人，我非常敬佩這些人。
每個人都是一個獨特的器皿，乘載著不同的天賦、技能和經驗。這是我們彼此需要的一個原因 ：共同努力和互補。但是，你有沒有想過我們天生的才能、技能和喜好來自哪裡？
我很年輕就開始寫作，它一直是生活中令我開心的一部分， 我對寫作的熱情也逐漸升高，雖然直到大學第二年後，我才認為寫作也許能當成一種職業。不過有趣的是，我並不是有一天下定決心說：「我決定要當一個作家，而不是一名工程師、醫生、律師或科學家。」寫作就像是我天賦或身體的一部分，和我這個人是不可分割的。
我們從哪裡獲得天賦？結論很簡單：「上帝在他認為合適時將它們賜予我們。」有些人是天生的銷售人員，其他人有特殊的管理優勢，還有一些人則具備獨特的能力，可以成為工程師、教師、護士或建築師。
詩篇139說：「我要稱謝你，因我受造，奇妙可畏；你的作為奇妙，這是我心深知道的。」這句經文解釋了在幼兒時期表現出來的天賦，例如音樂神童或者一些數學天才在同年紀的人還不識字之前就能解出複雜的方程式。但是，上帝所賜的特殊天賦並不止如此。當我們對祂的帶領敏銳並服從祂的呼召時，這種天賦會持續一生。
使用我們的天賦完成上帝的旨意。我們如何利用我們獨特的才能和能力，不僅是為了我們自己的利益，也是為了實現上帝對我們生命的意志，以及祂完美、永恆的意圖。「但願賜平安的神，就是那憑永約之血、使群羊的大牧人─我主耶穌從死裡復活的神，在各樣善事上成全你們，叫你們遵行他的旨意；又藉著耶穌基督在你們心裡行他所喜悅的事。願榮耀歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！」（希伯來書13章20-21節）。
我們的才能是上帝計劃的一部分。我們獨特的職業能力是上帝在更大目標的背景下賦予的，使我們能夠最有效地服侍祂和其他人。「我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的。」（以弗所書2:10）。
我們的才能應該按照上帝的話來使用。我們所做的工作和我們能力的運用，要符合上帝在聖經中提供的真理和原則的教導。「聖經都是 神所默示的（或譯：凡 神所默示的聖經），於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的，叫屬 神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。」（提摩太後書3章16-17節）。
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
你何時決定從事目前正在做的工作？請分享原因？你認為它符合上帝所賜給你的天賦嗎？ 如果你可以選擇任何工作，你會繼續做你現在正在做的事情嗎？請分享你的看法？ 你會如何描述自己獨特的天賦和才能？你是否同意他們是上帝賜予的，即使你已經努力發展和完善這些技能？請解釋你的答案 如果我們同意所擁有的獨特天賦和技能最初來自上帝，對我們選擇工作會有什麼不同？
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考：
箴言14章23節
14:23 諸般勤勞都有益處；嘴上多言乃致窮乏。
箴言21章5節
21:5 殷勤籌劃的，足致豐裕；行事急躁的，都必缺乏。
傳道書9章10節
9:10 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。
羅馬書12章11節
12:11 殷勤，不可懶惰；要心裏火熱，常常服事主。
歌羅西書3章17、23節
3:17 無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父 神。
3:23 無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
EQUIPPED FOR GOOD WORK
By Robert J. Tamasy
When people learn I am a writer, they often say, “Oh, I could never do that. Writing is so difficult for me to do.” This makes me chuckle, because I feel the same way about practically any other line of work. I admire people with mechanical skills, such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians or all-purpose handymen (or women). I cannot imagine how CPAs and bookkeepers do the work they do. Individuals who excel at public speaking amaze me, and gifted leaders who can inspire and mobilize those that report to them have my great respect.
We are all different, drawing from a unique “toolbox” of gifts, skills and experiences. That is one reason we need each other – working together, we complement one another”s abilities. Have you ever considered, however, where our innate talents, skills and preferences come from?
I began writing early in my life. Although I did not regard it as a career possibility until about two years into college, it has always been an enjoyable part of my life, something about which I grew more and more passionate. The interesting thing is, I never decided one day, “I think I am going to pursue writing, rather than becoming a mechanic, or a doctor, lawyer or scientist.” It was like writing was “hard-wired” into my being, an integral part of who I was – and am today.
My conclusion about where we get our innate abilities is simple: God bestows them to us as He sees fit. Some people are natural salespeople; others have special management strengths, while others are uniquely equipped to become engineers, teachers, nurses or architects.
Psalm 139:14 says of God, “For you created my inmost being…. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I believe that includes the talents and specific gifts that sometimes manifest themselves in early childhood, like a musical prodigy or a mathematical genius who can solve complex equations long before many young peers even know how to read.
But this special equipping of the Lord does not stop at the womb. It continues throughout our lives when we are sensitive to His leading and obedient to His call. Consider:
Using our gifts fulfills God”s will. How we use our unique talents and abilities is not just for our benefit, but also fulfill God”s will for our lives – as well as His perfect, eternal intentions. “Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Our skills are part of God”s plan. Our distinctive vocational capabilities were bestowed within the context of God”s greater purpose, enabling us to serve Him and others most effectively. “For we are God”s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Our skills should be used according to God”s Word. The work we do, and the abilities we employ, are best utilized within the context of the truths and principles God provides in the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
When did you decide to pursue the kind of work you are currently doing? How did that come about? Do you consider it in line with the capabilities with which God has equipped you? If you could choose any line of work, would you continue doing what you are doing at this moment? Why or why not? What would you say are the unique gifts, talents and abilities that you possess? Would you agree they were God-given, even if you have put forth the effort to develop and refine those skills? Explain your answer. If we can agree that the distinctive traits and skills we have did originally come from God, what difference should that make in how we pursue our work?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 14:23, 21:5; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Romans 12:11; Colossians 3:17,23
