無論是在傳統的辦公室工作；從一個城市到另一個城市工作；或逐漸增多的在家裡上班，許多人每週會花費在工作上40個小時甚至更多。拜新冠肺炎大流行所賜，在家辦公或所謂的Hoffice「家庭辦公室」（Home office的縮寫），已經從過去幾年的相對少有變為習以為常。但無論我們在哪裡工作，很多人還是覺得工作很痛苦。

也許是工作時，我們懷著錯誤的心態所造成的。我們可能把工作當作賺錢以支付帳單的一種手段；或者，把它當成追求更重要的職位或使履歷表更漂亮，以得到更好的工作之方法，就可能把工作看成必要的惡。

我們對工作缺乏熱情，可能就是一些簡單問題的表徵。我們對於在最微小的工作中也能發揮影響力是無法看見的。解決方案可能是後退一步，重新評估什麼是我們的工作、為什麼我們該做它和如何做好它。  

在人權界非常有名的馬丁．路德．金恩博士（Martin Luther King Jr.），在該領域確實實至名歸。而他也能夠激勵聽眾，超越自我、努力提升自我以及生命，包括對自己的生命設定更高的標準。 1967年，他在美國賓夕法尼亞州費城的一所初級中學向年輕人演講時，對他們提出挑戰，要他們思考「你的人生藍圖是什麼？」他在那場演講中發表的一段話特別令人難忘：

「如果你命中注定要作一位打掃街道的人，你可以想像自己是米開朗基羅（Michelangelo）正在街道上揮灑畫筆；你也可以打掃的如貝多芬的音樂行雲流水…或是你的打掃像莎士比亞寫詩一樣優美。你掃的這麼好，以至於天地萬物和所有人都必須停下來說：這裡住著一位偉大的掃街者，他把打掃工作做得這麼的棒。」  

聖經告訴我們，這樣的工作動機應該是準則，而不是少數的例外：  

不只是做什麼，也要思考你是為誰而做。把你的工作做得很好，以滿足世上的老闆並獲得晉升和獎金，這也許是不錯的動機。你可以想像如果是受上帝委託的工作，更將會是怎樣呢？「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。」(歌羅西書3章17節）「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）。

當還有能力的時候盡量努力工作。在職業生涯的早期，我們總覺得自己有無限的時間去完成所要做的一切。但是隨著年齡的增長，我們意識到時間、力量和耐力都是有限的。留下功績的機會也開始減少。「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。」（傳道書9章10節）。

勤奮的工作常常能得到認可和獎賞。當看到我們投注在工作上的熱情時，就會引起人們的注意。我們的工作成果可以證明一切，並且可以帶出更大的責任。「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）。

© 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

反省與討論問題

1. 你如何定義熱情？哪些事會讓你充滿熱情？
2. 你認為自己是帶著熱情去面對工作嗎？而且是那種別人很容易注意到的無限的熱情嗎？？請解釋你的答案。
3. 誰是你見過或合作過最熱情的職場人士？他／她表現出哪些特質，以呈現出他／她的熱情與積極呢？
4. 無論做什麼工作，為什麼你為不同的人工作，會激發你對工作的熱情呢？你認為不管做甚麼，只要為神而做，會提升工作的承諾以至於成就卓越嗎？請解釋你的答案。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考：
箴言12章11、24節
12:11 耕種自己田地的，必得飽食；追隨虛浮的，卻是無知。
12:24 殷勤人的手必掌權；懶惰的人必服苦。
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18章9節
18:9 做工懈怠的，與浪費人為弟兄。
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。
箴言24章30-34節
24:30 我經過懶惰人的田地、無知人的葡萄園，
24:31 荊棘長滿了地皮，刺草遮蓋了田面，石牆也坍塌了。
24:32 我看見就留心思想；我看著就領了訓誨。
24:33 再睡片時，打盹片時，抱著手躺臥片時，
24:34 你的貧窮就必如強盜速來，你的缺乏彷彿拿兵器的人來到。
以弗所書2章10節
2:10 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。
提摩太後書3章16-17節
3:16 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，
3:17 叫屬　神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。

PURSUING YOUR PROFESSION WITH PASSION

By Robert J. Tamasy

Many of us spend 40 hours or more at work, whether in a traditional office, traveling from city to city, or increasingly, from our homes. The home office, or “hoffice” as some have called it, has shifted from being a rarity in years past to commonplace – especially in the wake of pandemic restrictions. Regardless of where we perform our jobs, there is a sad reality: A lot of people are absolutely miserable.

Perhaps it is because as we go to work, we have a wrong mindset. We might perceive our jobs as the means for earning money to pay our bills. Or we might regard them as necessary inconveniences as we pursue more prominent positions or try to enhance our résumés so we can qualify for a better job.

These could be symptoms of a very simple problem: We lack passion for the work we do. We have no vision for the difference we can make in even the most menial assignments. The solution might be to take a step back and re-evaluate what we do, why we do it – and how we do it.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was well-known for his work in the area of civil rights, and rightfully so. But he could also inspire his audiences to start looking beyond themselves, striving to set higher standards for themselves and their lives, including their lives. In 1967, speaking to young people at a junior high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., he challenged them to consider “What’s Your Life’s Blueprint?” One statement he made during that speech was particularly memorable:
“If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures. Sweep streets like Beethoven composed music…. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.”

The Scriptures tell us motivation like this should be the rule, rather than the exception:

Not only what you do, but also for whom you do it. Performing your job well enough to satisfy a human boss or to earn a promotion or bonus can provide motivation, but imagine being “on assignment” for God? “And whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since ou know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward” (Colossians 3:17,23).

Work hard while you have the capacity to do so. Early in one’s career it seems like we have forever to accomplish whatever we set out to do. But as we get older, we realize our time is limited – along with our strength and stamina. Opportunities to leave our mark start to dwindle. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge or wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Diligent labor usually is recognized and rewarded. When people see the enthusiasm, the passion we pour into our work, it draws attention. Our work can speak for itself, leading to greater responsibilities. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

© 2021. 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

1. How would you define “passion”? What are some of the things you feel passionate about? 
2. Do you think that you approach your work with a sense of passion – boundless enthusiasm that others can readily notice? Explain your answer.
3. Who is the most passionate worker you have ever observed or worked with? What were some of the qualities that person exhibited that reflected his or her passion and enthusiasm?
4. In terms of feeling passionate about work, whatever that work might be, why should it make a difference who you preceive you are working for? Do you think that “working for the Lord,” regardless of what the specific work might be, should heighten the level of commitment to excellence? Why or why not?           

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
    Proverbs 12:11,24, 14:23, 18:9, 21:5, 24:30-34; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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