持續存留的資產－那不朽壞的果子──A LEGACY THAT LASTS —FRUIT THAT WON’T SPOIL
「存留的資產」（Legacy）是我們經常聽到的一個詞。或許隨著人們年紀增長，無論多少，他們總想知道自己會如何被記住。如果你要建立一個長久存留的資產，你會希望它是什麽？是一個可觀的財務投資組合，反映出職場成功的回報？又或許你會希望自己的名字被放在大學校園的一棟建築或醫院的一個副樓上。有些人可能會希望成為「家喻戶曉的名字」，在他們的行業或努力的領域中有突出的地位並受到認可。
想到擁有存留的資產，就會讓人喚起這樣的印象：一個扔進池塘的小石子，產生向外擴展的漣漪。這其中有一個問題，有些石子引起的漣漪比其他的大，但最終所有的漣漪都將會消失。而那最偉大存留的資產卻會持續很多年，甚至也許是永恆的。
最近我參加了一位老朋友羅傑·埃里克森（Roger Erickson）的追思會，他在1987年CBMC組織改組後，擔任了10年的第一任國際總幹事。當我在1981年被美國CBMC雇用來督導出版刊物時，羅傑是我最先見到的人之一。多年來，他對我以及其他眾多人的生命，產生的影響是無法估量的。
在追思禮拜上，羅傑被譽為「得門徒的人」和 「得人的漁夫」。幾十年來，他完成了上帝對他生命的呼召，投注心力在別人身上，透過介紹人們接受耶穌基督，成為他們的救主和主（Savior and Lord），並陪伴著新信主的人，幫助他們走過屬靈的旅程。耶穌基督的大使命是 「所以你們要去、使萬民作我的門徒…」_（馬太福音28章19節），這在羅傑的心目中是最重要的。
毫無疑問的，他遺給後人存留的資產具有永恆的影響。羅傑自己也承認，他一點也不完美，但他擁有一些特質，幫助他能夠服事上帝，在主帶到他生命中的人身上，留下不可磨滅的痕跡。以下是其中一些特質。
不屈不撓。他對門徒訓練的奉獻從未動搖過。我有幸與羅傑合作，編寫了他關於培養門徒過程的書《不朽壞的果子》，傳授他的見解，使其他人能夠受益。「所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多做主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裏面不是徒然的。」（哥林多前書15章58節）
堅定的信念。羅傑對自己依靠主和聖靈，來完成任何具有永恆價值事情的認知，從未動搖過。「我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裏面的，我也常在他裏面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，叫你們的果子常存，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求甚麼，他就賜給你們。」（約翰福音15章5、16節）
高度的紀律。無論是花時間研讀聖經以更接近神；背誦經文；忠實地挑戰其他人的靈性成長，還是勸誡其他人加入帶領門徒的行列，羅傑都保持堅定和有意識去完成的那顆心。「.…..我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得著基督耶穌所以得著我的….。向著標竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。」（腓立比書3章12-14節）
慷慨的給予。慷慨是羅傑的另一個特質，無論是奉獻他的時間和精力，還是利用他的個人資源來造福他人，幫助人在商業和專業領域成長，並與基督有關。在這個過程中，他也得到了豐富的祝福。「…又當記念主耶穌的話，說：『施比受更為有福。』」（使徒行傳20章35節）
© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy 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
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考：
以賽亞書50章7節
50:7 主耶和華必幫助我，所以我不抱愧。我硬著臉面好像堅石；我也知道我必不致蒙羞。
使徒行傳17章28節
17:28 我們生活、動作、存留，都在乎他。就如你們作詩的，有人說：『我們也是他所生的。』
加拉太書6章9-10節
6:9 我們行善，不可喪志；若不灰心，到了時候就要收成。
6:10 所以，有了機會就當向眾人行善，向信徒一家的人更當這樣。
腓立比書3章7-11節
3:7 只是我先前以為與我有益的，我現在因基督都當作有損的。
3:8 不但如此，我也將萬事當作有損的，因我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶。我為他已經丟棄萬事，看作糞土，為要得著基督；
3:9 並且得以在他裏面，不是有自己因律法而得的義，乃是有信基督的義，就是因信上帝而來的義，
3:10 使我認識基督，曉得他復活的大能，並且曉得和他一同受苦，效法他的死，
3:11 或者我也得以從死裏復活。
提摩太後書2章2節
2:2 你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的，也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。
反省與問題討論
- 你如何定義「存留的資產」一詞？它對你有什麽意義呢？
- 當你的事業，甚至你在世界上的生命結束時，你希望留下什麽樣存留的資產呢？
- 為什麽常見的成功衡量標準，例如財富、聲望、權力、影響力和名聲，在想到留下長久存留的資產時，往往反而會令人失望呢？
- 如果你要開始改變你的生命和工作方式，讓你存留的資產能真正產生持久、永恆的影響，這些改變會是什麽呢？
A LEGACY THAT LASTS —FRUIT THAT WON’T SPOIL
By Robert J. Tamasy
“Legacy” is a term we hear a lot these days. Perhaps as people get older, they wonder how they will be remembered, if at all. If you were to build an enduring legacy, what would you want it to be? A substantial financial portfolio, reflecting the rewards of professional success? Maybe you would like your name attached to a building on a college campus or a wing of a hospital. Some people might wish to become “household names,” achieving prominence and recognition within their industry or field of endeavor.
Thinking of having a legacy evokes the image of a pebble thrown into a pond creating ripples that radiate outward. There is one problem with that: Some pebbles cause larger ripples than others, but eventually all ripples disappear. The greatest legacies continue for many years, perhaps for eternity.
Recently I attended the memorial service for a longtime friend, Roger Erickson, who served for 10 years as the first President of CBMC International after its reorganization in 1987. When I was hired by CBMC-USA in 1981 to oversee its written publications, Roger was one of the first people I met. The impact he made on my life over the years, along with thousands of other people, is immeasurable.
At the service, Roger was remembered as a “discipler of men” and “fisher of men.” For decades he fulfilled God’s call on his life, investing in other men by introducing some to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and coming alongside new believers to assist them in their spiritual journey. Jesus Christ’s Great Commission to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) was paramount in Roger’s mind.
Without question, he left behind a legacy with eternal impact. By his own admission, Roger was far from perfect, but he possessed a number of characteristics that enabled him to serve God and leave an indelible mark on those the Lord brought into his life. Here are some of those traits:
Relentless. His dedication to discipling others never wavered. I had the privilege of collaborating with Roger on his book about the disciplemaking process, Fruit That Won’t Spoil, imparting his insights so others could benefit. “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Great conviction. Roger never wavered in his understanding of his dependence on the Lord and His Spirit to accomplish anything of eternal value. “If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing…. I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:5,16).
Highly disciplined. Whether it was spending time studying the Bible to grow closer to God; memorizing Scripture verses; being faithful to challenge other men in their spiritual growth, or exhorting others to join in making disciples, Roger remained determined and intentional. “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
Generous. Generosity was another of Roger’s traits, whether it was giving of his time and energy, or using his personal resources to benefit others and help to advance the cause of Christ in the business and professional world. In the process, he was abundantly blessed. “…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; andThe Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How would you define the term, “legacy”? What does it mean to you?
- What kind of legacy would you like to leave when your career – or even your earthly life – has come to an end?
- Why do the common measurements for success – things like wealth, prestige, power, influence, and fame – often fail when it comes to leaving an enduring legacy?
- If you were to begin making changes in how you conduct your life and your work, so that your legacy would truly have a lasting, eternal impact, what would those changes be?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Isaiah 50:7; Acts 17:28; Galatians 6:9-10; Philippians 3:7-11; 2 Timothy 2:2
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