與上帝同工的益處──THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH GOD
For English version, please refer to the latter part of this page
在我的工作職涯中，有些事業在開始時我並沒有邀請上帝的參與，然而有些則是選擇與上帝同工。換句話說，在某些情況下，我自己決定了要開始什麼樣的事業，並且獨自處理所有的細節，並沒有諮詢上帝。而在其他的情況，我卻會花時間禱告，尋求上帝的智慧與方向，並且跟隨祂的引導，來處理所有重要的細節，以推動新的事業走向成功的道路。
我發現這種差異，就像是在非常強大的暴風下，試圖逆著風對比於順著風賽跑，這會產生截然不同的結果。換句話說，你可以試圖用較艱難的方式，或者選擇相對較輕鬆的方式去做。開始一個新事業從來都不簡單，但借助上帝無限的智慧、引導和供應，絕對有助於克服不可避免的障礙。
當考量開始一個事業時，關鍵是我們要記住一個重要的原則：上帝擁有一切。正如歷代志上29章11節所告訴我們的：「耶和華啊，尊大、能力、榮耀、強勝、威嚴都是你的；凡天上地下的都是你的；國度也是你的，並且你為至高，為萬有之首。」
我們再默想片刻。聖經中另一節經文詩篇24篇1節宣告：「（大衛的詩）地和其中所充滿的，世界和住在其間的，都屬耶和華。」這兩節經文都意味著上帝是主宰。祂掌管著整個宇宙，無論大小，其中也包括我們的事業。若試圖做一些，違背上帝旨意或與祂計劃相違背的事，都是愚昧的行為。
我們可以找到許多企業家和創新商業領袖的例子，他們明智地選擇從一開始就將他們的事業交託給上帝。其中一個例子，是由特魯特·卡西（Truett Cathy）所創辦的連鎖餐廳Chick-fil-A(福來雞)。他從一家餐廳開始，擴展到在全美各地有上千家分店。他不僅將事業交託上帝，還做了不尋常的決定，就是每週日都關店休息，沒有例外。
在他去世之前，卡西曾談到他的企業，表示：「到Chick-fil-A(福來雞)工作，你不一定要是基督徒，但我們要求你將你的事業建立在聖經的原則上，因為它們是有果效的。如果有不了解事業的加盟主試圖告訴我該做什麼，我會覺得不悅。」
有一天，耶穌基督對著一大群人說：「你們那一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』」(路加福音14章28-30節)
最終，耶穌談論到，要成為祂的追隨者，所需付的代價：「耶穌又對眾人說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我。」(路加福音9章23節) 然而，這也是一個適用於創業的原則 – 我們需要在建立時選擇正確的基礎。
在展開新事業之前，我們應該花時間禱告，尋求上帝的旨意。如果我們按照上帝的計劃做事，祂就會應許我們所做的。如果你已經創辦了一個企業，卻沒有把上帝考慮在內，你應該盡快重新思考。
@2024版權所有，經許可改編自 “UBN誠信時刻”，關於職場工作中信仰議題的評論。UBN（非常規企業聯盟）是一個服務小型企業界的國際性職場信仰事工。UBN的官網: www.unconventionalbusiness.org
挑戰思考
在接下來的一週內，請花些時間重新評估你對工作的觀點。你是為誰工作呢？是為自己呢？還是最終目標是為了上帝而工作，並且信任祂在你的決策和行動中引導你呢？
有時只有好的意願是不夠的，在你努力跟隨耶穌基督的過程中，有人在工作中鼓勵你會很有幫助。如果你參加CBMC分會或Forum，你能找到這樣的幫助。如果你還沒有參加，請禱告、並請求上帝引導你找到可以提供你所需協助的基督徒。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文（因篇幅有限，請自行參閱未列出的經文：箴言16:9、24:30-34，馬太福音6:33）
箴言24章27節
24:27你要在外頭預備工料，在田間辦理整齊，然後建造房屋。
馬太福音6章24節
6:24「一個人不能事奉兩個主；不是惡這個，愛那個，就是重這個，輕那個。你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門（瑪門：財利的意思）。」
以弗所書6章5-9節
6:5你們作僕人的，要懼怕戰兢，用誠實的心聽從你們肉身的主人，好像聽從基督一般。
6:6不要只在眼前事奉，像是討人喜歡的，要像基督的僕人，從心裡遵行神的旨意。
6:7甘心事奉，好像服事主，不像服事人。
6:8因為曉得各人所行的善事，不論是為奴的，是自主的，都必按所行的得主的賞賜。
6:9你們作主人的，待僕人也是一理，不要威嚇他們。因為知道，他們和你們同有一位主在天上；他並不偏待人。
歌羅西書3章17節、23-24節
3:17無論做什麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。
3:23無論做什麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
3:24因你們知道從主那裡必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。
反省與問題討論
- 你曾經嘗試創立新事業嗎？如果有，請描述你初創過程中所遵循的步驟。
- 作者比較了他在沒有上帝的情況下創業，和在有上帝、祂的智慧、原則和供應的情況下創業的經歷。你對這種做法有何反應？在你看來，這只是理想主義，還是你能看到從一開始就把企業交託給上帝的實際益處呢？
- 如果你是被一家企業或組織僱用，而你無法影響以及決定它是否獻給上帝。在執行工作任務和責任的過程中，你如何依然決定與神同行呢？
- 聖經中有一節經文宣告：「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。」(哥林多前書3章9節) 你相信這句經文嗎？請解釋你對這句經文的理解。
THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH GOD
By Rick Boxx
In my career, I have started businesses without God, and I have started some with God. That is, in some cases I determined what kind of business to start and handled all the details on my own, without any consultation with God. For others, I took the time to pray, seeking God’s wisdom and direction, along with His leading for handling all the details that are so essential for launching a new business and getting it on the path to success.
The difference, I discovered, is like trying to run a race with heavy winds and storms in your face versus running the race with the wind at your back. In other words, you can attempt to do it the hard way or do it the (comparatively) easy way. Starting a new enterprise is never simple, but tapping into God’s infinite wisdom, guidance and provision definitely helps in overcoming the inevitable obstacles.
When contemplating starting a business, it is critical that we remember one important principle: God owns it all. As 1 Chronicles 29:11 informs us, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.”
Meditate on that for a few moments. Another verse from the Scriptures, Psalm 24:1, declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Both of these passages mean God is in charge. He has control over all the universe, big and small, and that includes our businesses. Trying to build something against God’s wishes or contrary to His plan is an exercise in foolishness.
We can look to many examples of entrepreneurs and innovative business leaders who wisely chose to commit their businesses to God from the start. One was the restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A, founded by Truett Cathy, who began with a single restaurant and saw his company grow to thousands of stores across the United States. He not only dedicated the business to the Lord but also made the unusual decision to close the restaurants every Sunday, no exceptions.
Prior to his death, Cathy said about his enterprise, “You don’t have to be a Christian to work at Chick-fil-A, but we ask you to base your business on biblical principles because they work. I’d be resentful if shareholders who don’t know the business tried to tell me what to do.”
One day, speaking to a large crowd, Jesus Christ told them, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish it’” (Luke 14:28-30).
Ultimately, Jesus was talking about the cost of being His follower: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). However, this is a principle that applies to starting a business – we need to choose the correct foundation on which to build.
Before launching a new business, we should take time to pray and seek God’s will. If we are working with and on God’s plan, He will affirm our work. If you have already started an enterprise without including the Lord in the equation, you should reconsider, sooner rather than later.
Copyright 2024, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Have you ever tried to create a new business? If so, describe the process you followed by getting it started.
- Mr. Boxx compares his experiences of starting businesses without God and those he started by involving God, His wisdom, principles, and provision. What is your reaction to that kind of approach? Does it seem simply idealistic to you, or can you see practical benefits of committing a business to the Lord from the onset?
- What if you are employed by a business or organization, and you do not have influence in determining whether it is dedicated to God. How could you still determine to work with God as you carry out your assignments and responsibilities?
- A verse from the Bible declares, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). Do you believe that? Explain what you understand this passage to be saying.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 16:7; 24:27,30-34; Matthew 6:24,33; Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:17, 23-24
Challenge
During the coming week, find some time to reassess your perspective on your work. Who are you working for – is it yourself or are you ultimately seeking to work for God and trusting Him to guide you in your decisions and your actions.
Sometimes good intentions are not enough. Having people to encourage you in your desire to follow Jesus Christ where you work can be very helpful. If you are in a CBMC group, you can find this kind of support. If you aren’t, pray and ask God to guide you to fellow believers who can provide needed assistance.
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