避免崩塌的建造──BUILDING TO AVOID AN IMPLOSION
偶爾，我們會看到大型建築物被爆破的影片。埋設於關鍵位置的爆破裝置，按照精確的順序引爆，突然間，「轟隆！」 只需幾秒鐘，一座可能花費數年時間建造的建築就被摧毀，化為一堆瓦礫。
許多人仍然清晰地記得，2001年9月11日，紐約市世界貿易中心的雙子星大樓，遭受恐怖分子操縱的噴射機撞擊的畫面。當火焰熊熊燃燒、煙霧滾滾時，曾經自豪、熠熠生輝的摩天大樓，瞬間倒塌成一片廢墟，這一切都讓人震驚。
這樣的景象令人驚嘆，也令人迷失，不僅因為一座巨大的建築物能如此迅速而有力地被夷為平地，而且也提醒著我們，一些原本看似能夠長久存在的事物，很快就可以變成一片完全毀滅的場景。
我們都聽說過類似的「崩塌」事件，在著名的商界和專業領袖、政治家、名人、運動員和其他知名人士的生活和事業中發生。也許你可以輕易地舉出幾個名字。同樣地，一些受人尊敬的企業和組織，它們的產品和服務我們都喜愛，卻因各種醜聞、不道德行為和違法活動而被摧毀。
這些災難讓我想起即將成為以色列王的大衛，在得知掃羅王和他的兒子約拿單死訊時，所作的哀歌：「…大英雄何竟死亡!」（撒母耳記下1章19節）
有某些情況，毀滅是無法預測的。然而，在大多數情況下，摧毀一座建築物，或者一個人的聲譽和成就，其實早就醞釀已久。欺騙的痕跡、道德和倫理上的瑕疵，都可能被掩藏一段時間，但它們終將被揭露。聖經對此提出了充分的警告，以及我們可以使用的防範措施。以下是幾個例子：
永遠不要認為自己「不會失敗」。許多具有領導地位和影響力的人士，曾大膽地認為自己是不沾鍋，對於可疑或不當的行為和作法，不會受到誘惑或陷入網羅。他們宣稱「那種事絕不會發生在我身上」，直到有一天 – 它確實發生了。「所以，自己以為站得穩的，須要謹慎，免得跌倒。」（哥林多前書10章12節）
謹記你行為的後果。「沒有人會知道」或者「會造成什麼傷害呢？」這些都是無數個人和公司的著名的臨終遺言，他們選擇了妥協、欺騙和不誠實的道路，並沒有考慮到他們的決定將來對許多人和孩子的生命所產生的後果。「義人的紀念被稱讚；惡人的名字必朽爛。」（箴言10章7節）
要事先計劃以避免崩塌。耶穌基督教導人們，要注意規劃不周和準備不足的危險。同樣的道理，如果不考慮錯誤行為和不當行為，可能帶來的潛在影響，也會導致失敗。「你們為什麼稱呼我『主啊，主啊』，卻不遵我的話行呢？凡到我這裡來，聽見我的話就去行的，我要告訴你們他像什麼人：他像一個人蓋房子，深深地挖地，把根基安在磐石上；到發大水的時候，水沖那房子，房子總不能搖動，因為根基立在磐石上。惟有聽見不去行的，就像一個人在土地上蓋房子，沒有根基；水一沖，隨即倒塌了，並且那房子壞的很大。」（路加福音6章46-49節）
© 2023. 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
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請考慮下面的經文(因篇幅有限，請自行查閱以下未列出之經文：箴言10:9、箴言11:3)
箴言12章19節
12:19口吐真言，永遠堅立；舌說謊話，只存片時。
箴言13章6節
13:6 行為正直的，有公義保守；犯罪的，被邪惡傾覆。
箴言16章11節
16:11 公道的天平和秤都屬耶和華；囊中一切法碼都為他所定。
箴言29章4節
29:4 王藉公平，使國堅定；索要賄賂，使國傾敗。
路加福音12章16-21節
12:16 就用比喻對他們說：「有一個財主田產豐盛；
12:17 自己心裡思想說：『我的出產沒有地方收藏，怎麼辦呢？』
12:18 又說：『我要這麼辦：要把我的倉房拆了，另蓋更大的，在那裡好收藏我一切的糧食和財物，
12:19然後要對我的『靈魂說：「靈魂哪，你有許多財物積存，可作多年的費用，只管安安逸逸的吃喝快樂吧！』
12:20神卻對他說：『無知的人哪，今夜必要你的靈魂；你所預備的要歸誰呢？』
12:21凡為自己積財，在神面前卻不富足的，也是這樣。」
哥林多前書3章10-15節
3:10 我照神所給我的恩，好像一個聰明的工頭，立好了根基，有別人在上面建造；只是各人要謹慎怎樣在上面建造。
3:11 因為那已經立好的根基就是耶穌基督，此外沒有人能立別的根基。
3:12若有人用金、銀、寶石、草木，禾楷在這根基上建造，
3:13各人的工程必然顯露，因為那日子要將他表明出來，有火發現；這火要試驗各人的工程怎樣。
3:14人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住，他就要得賞賜。
3:15人的工程若被燒了，他就要受虧損，自己卻要得救；雖然得救，乃像從火裡經過的一樣。
反省與問題討論
- 您是否曾看過一部關於舊建築物被拆除的影片嗎？你有何感想？如果您還記得，當您看到著名的世界貿易中心大樓在恐怖襲擊後倒塌時，您有何反應？
- 有沒有想到某些名人，他們的名聲和聲望，因為不當的行為而突然聲名狼藉，聲譽從此殞落？我們可以從他們的失敗中學到什麼教訓？
- 你如何看待那些認為自己，對於毀滅其他人生命的誘惑，能夠完全免疫的人呢?有沒有什麼事情你會對自己說：「那種事絕不會發生在我身上。」這種想法有什麼危險呢？
- 你如何確保你的生命和事業建造在堅固、不可動搖的根基上，而不是像耶穌所描述的建在沙土上的房子那樣的脆弱，以避免「崩塌」呢？
BUILDING TO AVOID AN IMPLOSION
By Robert J. Tamasy
From time to time, we see videos of a large building being imploded. Explosives planted at strategic points are detonated in precise sequence and suddenly, “Boom!” Within seconds a structure that may have taken years to construct is destroyed, transformed into little more than rubble.
Many of us still vividly remember the images of the Twin Towers at New York City’s World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist-controlled jet airliners crashed into them. The shock of seeing fire blazing and smoke billowing intensified when the once-proud, shining skyscrapers collapsed into heaps.
Sights like these are spectacular and mesmerizing, not only for how quickly and powerfully a massive building can be brought to the ground, but also as reminders of how something that was seemingly built to endure can quickly become a scene of utter devastation.
We all have heard about similar “implosions” in the lives and careers of prominent business and professional leaders, politicians, celebrities, athletes, and other well-known individuals. Perhaps you could cite the names of several without more than a moment’s thought. Similarly, there have been highly respected businesses and organizations, ones whose products and services we enjoyed, that were destroyed under the weight of various scandals, unethical practices, and illegal activities.
These calamities bring to mind the lament of David, the imminent king of ancient Israel, upon learning of the deaths of King Saul and his son, Jonathan. “How the mighty have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:19).
In some instances, destruction could never have been predicted. However, in most cases the explosions that level a building – or one’s reputation and legacy – have been in the works for a long time. Trails of deceit, moral and ethical failures might have been concealed for a while, but they will come to light. The Bible gives ample warning of this, along with safeguards we can use. Here are several examples:
Never consider yourself ‘failure-proof.’ Many have been the leaders and people of influence who boldly considered them impervious to the temptations and snares of questionable or improper behavior and practices. “That could never happen to me,” they declare, until one day – it does. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Keep in mind the consequences of your actions. “No one will ever know” or, “What harm will be done?” Those are famous last words of countless individuals and companies that chose the paths of compromise, deception, and dishonesty, not considering the repercussions their decisions one day will have in the lives of many men, women, and children. “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7).
Plan to avoid an implosion. Jesus Christ taught about the dangers of poor planning and lack of proper preparation. The same applies in failing to consider the potential impact of wrongful deeds and behavior. “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?… The one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete” (Luke 6:46-49).
© 2023. 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
- Have you ever seen a video of an old building being imploded? What was your reaction? If you can remember, how did you respond when you saw the famed World Trade Center towers collapsing after the terrorist attacks?
- Does anyone come to mind, some prominent individual, whose fame and prestige came to a sudden and disgraceful end because of wrongful actions and behavior? What lessons can we learn from their failures?
- What do you think of the person who considers himself or herself immune from temptations that have destroyed the lives of others – their peers or colleagues? Is there anything about which you think to yourself, “That could never happen to me.” What are the dangers of such thinking?
- How can you make certain that rather than building your life and career on a faulty foundation, like a house built upon the sand as Jesus described, that you build upon a firm, unshakable foundation that will not “implode”?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 10:9, 11:3, 12:19, 13:6, 16:11, 29:4; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
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