「重新啟動」工作方式的時刻──A TIME TO ‘REBOOT’ HOW WE APPROACH OUR WORK
我是一個「機械小白」，壓根不了解電腦機械的技術和原理，所以當我的電腦無法正常工作時，我有一個非常簡單的策略：就是把電腦關機、重開，重新啟動系統和軟體。在大多數的情況下，雖然我不明白原因，但是重新啟動可以讓東西恢復正常運作。
新冠肺炎爆發並散播到全世界時，幾乎所有人都受到了各式各樣的影響。我們的工作時間表和例行公事被打亂。很多人暫時失業，或者學習在家工作。也有許多人因為收入減少或根本沒有收入，財務陷入困難。
這種全球性的災難是前所未有，且出乎意料。不過就像我的電腦一樣，當無法正常運作時，或許該是時候重新啟動了——並且全新開始。對於我以及在職場上跟隨耶穌基督的人來說，這或許是重新思考自己工作的機會。我們的動機、目標和意義是什麼？
以弗所書2章10節說：「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。」哥林多前書3章9節宣告：「因為我們是與 神同工的；你們是 神所耕種的田地，所建造的房屋。」如果是這樣，那麼要如何實踐呢？我認為哥林多後書5章14-20節中的另一段經文可以解釋的更清楚：
「原來基督的愛激勵我們；因我們想，一人既替眾人死，眾人就都死了；並且他替眾人死，是叫那些活著的人不再為自己活，乃為替他們死而復活的主活。……一切都是出於 神；他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們。這就是 神在基督裏，叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上，並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。 所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像 神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與 神和好。」
我們可以從這段經文學到很多東西，但中心思想是既然耶穌基督為我們而死，使我們與上帝和好，我們就被呼召要作為祂的使者，在人前顯明祂，包含我們每天在商場上遇到的那些人。以下是我們可能需要趁這段時間「重新啟動」的一些重點：
我們原是祂的工作。每個人都是獨一無二的，有不同的天賦、才華、經驗和熱情，與眾不同。我們要用所有這些來榮耀祂。
我們是神所耕種的田地，所建造的房屋。在辦公室、商店和製造工廠中，我們周圍無數的人都需要聽到耶穌基督和好的消息。上帝把我們放到現在的位置，證明祂希望我們在那裡顯明祂。
我們是主的使者。使者不會追求自己的事情，而是所代表對象的目標和宗旨。同樣，在商場上，我們也透過行動和語言來服事和顯明我們的主。
© 2020. 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,
反省與問題討論
- 新冠肺炎大流行對你個人有何影響？它對你的公司有什麼影響？距離完全恢復，還有多遠?
- 在這段時間內我們所有正常的工作方式都受到了某種程度的影響，你是否考慮過利用這個機會「重新啟動」，重新評估自己的工作、工作的動機，以及恢復正常狀態後，情況有什麼不同？
- 你如何看待「我們原是祂的工作」這句經文？對你來說有甚麼意義？如果要有意識的將這句話實踐在工作中，你工作的方式、目標和動機會有甚麼不同？請解釋你的答案。
- 有人說，對跟隨耶穌基督的人而言，走出辦公室、隔間、工作場所，甚至是出差旅行時，就是進入了宣教的場域。你同意嗎？請解釋你的答案。
備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多的經文，請參考以下的內容：
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14章23節
14:23 諸般勤勞都有益處；嘴上多言乃致窮乏。
箴言22章29節
22:29 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28章2節
28:2 邦國因有罪過，君王就多更換；因有聰明知識的人，國必長存。
馬太福音6章19-21節
6:19 「不要為自己積攢財寶在地上；地上有蟲子咬，能銹壞，也有賊挖窟窿來偷。
6:20 只要積攢財寶在天上；天上沒有蟲子咬，不能銹壞，也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。
6:21 因為你的財寶在哪裏，你的心也在那裏。」
馬太福音6章33-34節
6:33 你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。
6:34 所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。」
馬太福音25章14-30節
25:14 「天國又好比一個人要往外國去，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們，
25:15 按著各人的才幹給他們銀子：一個給了五千，一個給了二千，一個給了一千，就往外國去了。
25:16 那領五千的隨即拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。
25:17 那領二千的也照樣另賺了二千。
25:18 但那領一千的去掘開地，把主人的銀子埋藏了。
25:19 過了許久，那些僕人的主人來了，和他們算帳。
25:20 那領五千銀子的又帶著那另外的五千來，說：『主啊，你交給我五千銀子。請看，我又賺了五千。』
25:21 主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
25:22 那領二千的也來，說：『主啊，你交給我二千銀子。請看，我又賺了二千。』
25:23 主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
25:24 那領一千的也來，說：『主啊，我知道你是忍心的人，沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要
聚斂，
25:25 我就害怕，去把你的一千銀子埋藏在地裏。請看，你的原銀子在這裏。』
25:26 主人回答說：『你這又惡又懶的僕人，你既知道我沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要聚斂，25:27 就當把我的銀子放給兌換銀錢的人，到我來的時候，可以連本帶利收回。
25:28 奪過他這一千來，給那有一萬的。
25:29 因為凡有的，還要加給他，叫他有餘；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪過來。
25:30 把這無用的僕人丟在外面黑暗裏；在那裏必要哀哭切齒了。』」
A TIME TO ‘REBOOT’ HOW WE APPROACH OUR WORK
By Robert J. Tamasy
Being a confirmed “non-techie,” someone who does not understand the what’s and why’s of computer technology, I have a very simple strategy when my computer is not working right. I shut it down and restart it to “reboot” the system and software. Most of the time it works, resetting things so they work properly – even though I do not understand why.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and began to spread around the world, virtually all of us were affected in a variety of ways. Our workplace schedules and routines were disrupted. Many found themselves either out of work temporarily or learning how to work from home. Lots of people suffered financial hardships because of reduced pay, or no income at all.
Such global adversity was unprecedented and unexpected, but like my computer, when things are not functioning as usual, perhaps that was a signal for time to “reboot” – to shut down and make a fresh start. It occurred to me that for those who follow Jesus Christ in the marketplace, it might have become a time to reconsider our approach to our vocations. What are our motives, our purpose and objectives?
Ephesians 2:10 declares, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” And 1 Corinthians 3:9 states, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” If that is true, what does it look like in a practical sense? I think portions from another passage, 2 Corinthians 5:14-20, give us clarification:
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again…. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
There is much we can learn from this passage, but a central theme is that since Jesus Christ died on our behalf and reconciled us to God, we are called to represent Him to others – including those we encounter in the marketplace every day – as His ambassadors. Here are some key points we might consider as we have this time to “reboot”:
We are God’s workmanship. We each are unique persons, with a combination of gifts, talents, experience and passions unlike anyone else. We are to use them all for His glory.
We are “His field, His building.” Countless people all around us, in offices and stores and manufacturing plants, need to hear the reconciling message of Jesus Christ. The fact that God has seen fit to place us where we are is evidence He wants us to represent Him there.
We are the Lord’s ambassadors. An ambassador does not pursue his or her own agenda, but the goals and purposes of those being represented. In a similar way, in the marketplace we are to serve and represent our Lord, through our actions and our words.
© 2020. Robert J. Tamasy has written numerous books, including Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Tufting Legacies;The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard; and has edited other books. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How has the COVID-19 virus pandemic affected you personally? What has been its impact on your company? At this point, how far along the path to recovery are you?
- Since all of our normal work routines have been disrupted in some way during this time, have you ever thought about taking this opportunity for a “reset,” to re-evaluate what you have been doing, why you have been doing it, and how things could be different once things return to “normal”?
- What do you think of the idea that we are “God’s workmanship”? What does that mean to you? If you were to make that understanding an intentional, conscious part of how you approach each workday, would it make a difference in your conduct on the job, your goals and motivations? Explain your answer.
- It has been said that for those who follow Jesus Christ, whenever we step out of our offices, or our cubicles, the buildings where we work, or even travel somewhere for business, we are entering the mission field. Do you believe this? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would
like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 13:6,
14:23, 22:29, 28:2; Matthew 6:19-21,33-34. 25:14-30
