幾年前，一家我提供諮詢的客戶是從事印刷相關行業的。這公司的主要合夥人在印刷產業中有很多機會，其中很多個都對公司的未來發展具有戰略性意義。

這就是為什麼我發現這個客戶的兩位合夥人，正在認真地討論要加盟甜甜圈生意時，我感到十分錯愕。甜甜圈和印刷有什麼關係？幸運的是，我說服了他們，跟他們說這是一個糟糕的主意。

商業領袖，尤其是那些成功的、且吸引多人注意的人士，幾乎每天都會得到新的機會。有時候，推銷方式和獲利願景聽起來很誘人，但是如果沒有自我控制，這些機會就很容易吸引人去追逐偏離神心意的那份呼召或目標。

聖經告訴我們自我控制以及專注思考的必要性：「人不制伏自己的心，好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。」（箴言25章28節）問題是，面對那麼多誘人的機會，我們該如何過濾並確定哪些值得追求呢？

這就是為什麼使命宣言對公司和個人都很重要的原因之一。它們有助於定義「我們是誰？」、「我們要做什麼？」、「我們為什麼在這裡？」以及「我們打算完成什麼？」等事項。我認識幾位企業老闆和主管精心制定使命宣言，且時常回顧這些內容，用來指引自己及公司努力的方向。它能做為自我控制的機制，避免我們偏離自己的使命和目標。

另一句符合這個主題的箴言是：「沒有異象（或譯：默示），民就放肆；惟遵守律法的，便為有福。」（箴言29章18節）這節經文能應用在很多地方，但確定的是，有清楚的使命和異象能幫助我們維持自我控制，以免被雜音誤導而偏離正道。

知名的加拉太書5章22-23節描述了「聖靈的果子」，這是忠實跟隨耶穌基督、真正屬靈的人的特徵。聖靈所結的果子，就是「仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制」。而且「這樣的事沒有律法禁止」。

這些都是商業和專業界基督徒應該表現出來的特質，成為哥林多後書5章20節所說的「基督的使者」。自我控制就是不被不屬神的事物所掌管或消耗，並表現出合宜的行動和言語。自我控制也有助於避免破壞成果的不明智決定，就像是我的客戶的例子。

除了有明確的使命宣言之外，保持自我控制的另一項好處是，你會不斷地意識到上帝在你生命中的同在和引導。當你尋求去評估一個全新的、有趣的機會時，請謹記：「人心多有計謀；惟有耶和華的籌算才能立定。」（箴言19章21節）為了保護你企業的未來，請學會自我控制，並勇於對不符合目標的一切說「不」。

© 2020版權所有非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊 物主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx最新出版的書「提供實用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。」

反省與問題討論

1. 請用最低1分、最高10分，評價你自我控制的能力。並解釋你的答案。
2. 你曾經不明智的回應某個機會，事後悔恨不已嗎？或是你認識的人有這樣的例子嗎？那是什麼情況，結果如何？
3. 你的公司是否有使命宣言？如果有，它多常被回顧、使用？你曾否考慮過編寫個人的使命宣言，作為要在何處如何投資你的時間、才能和資源的指南，讓自己不會因為不合適的機會而分心？
4. 如果你自認在自我控制方面有些不足，你能如何改進？

備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關經文，請參考下面的內容：

箴言16章2-3節
16:2 人一切所行的，在自己眼中看為清潔；惟有耶和華衡量人心。
16:3 你所做的，要交託耶和華，你所謀的，就必成立。
箴言16章9節
16:9 人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。
箴言20章24節
20:24 人的腳步為耶和華所定；人豈能明白自己的路呢？
箴言27章1節
27:1 不要為明日自誇，因為一日要生何事，你尚且不能知道。
提多書2章2節
2:2勸老年人要有節制、端莊、自守，在信心、愛心、忍耐上都要純全無疵。
彼得後書1章5-7節
1:5 正因這緣故，你們要分外地殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知識；
1:6 有了知識，又要加上節制；有了節制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；
1:7 有了虔敬，又要加上愛弟兄的心；有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心。

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONTROL

Rick Boxx

Years ago, a consulting client of mine was in a printing-related industry. The principal partners enjoyed numerous opportunities within their industry, many of which were strategic to their company’s future growth.

This was why, however, I was stunned when I discovered the two partners were seriously discussing buying a donut franchise in addition to their business. What do donuts have to do with printing? Fortunately, I was able to convince them it was a bad idea.


Business leaders, especially those who are successful and attract attention, are offered new business opportunities almost daily. Sometimes sales pitches and projections can sound very tempting. Without self-control, it can easily lead to chasing something far off track from your God-given calling or purpose.

We find the need for self-control and focused thinking addressed in the
Bible: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Proverbs 25:28). The question is, with so many enticing opportunities coming our way, how do we sort through them and determine which are the ones worth pursuing?

This is one reason mission statements are important, both corporately and personally. They help to define things such as, “who are we?”, “what do we do?”, “why are we here?”, and “what do we intend to accomplish?” I know of business owners and executives who have crafted mission statements and regularly refer to them as constant reminders of what they and their companies should be about. These can, in effect, serve as self-control mechanisms to keep us from diverting away from our mission and goals.

Another proverb that fits this discussion is, “Where there is no revelation [prophetic vision], the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18). There are many applications for this verse, but certainly having a clear sense of mission and vision can help us in maintaining self-control, rather than following rabbit trails that can take us far off track.

A well-known passage, Galatians 5:22-23, describes the “fruit of the Spirit,” characteristics of a truly spiritual person who is faithfully following Jesus Christ. These are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and…self-control.” Then it says, “Against such things there is no law.”


These are all traits that should be exhibited by believers in the business and professional world – what 2 Corinthians 5:20 calls, “Christ’s ambassadors.” The self-control spoken of relates to not becoming controlled or consumed by ungodly things, and demonstrating proper actions and words. But it also can apply to being able to avoid – as did the business partners I was working with – making unwise decisions that could hurt their effectiveness in the workplace.

Besides having a clearly defined mission statement, one other asset for maintaining self-control is seeking to remain constantly aware of the presence and guidance of God in your life. When seeking to evaluate a new, intriguing opportunity, it helps to remember, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). To protect the future of your business, learn self-control and the courage to say “No” to everything that doesn’t fit your mission.

© 2020, Unconventional Business Network Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more, visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. If you were to rate yourself in terms of self-control, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, how would you rank yourself? Explain your answer. 
2. Can you think of a time when you unwisely responded to an opportunity and later you regretted having done so? Or if not, can you recall an example of someone you know? What was that situation, and what was the outcome?
3. Does your company have a mission statement? If so, is it referred to often? What about yourself – have you ever considered writing a personal mission statement to serve as a guide to where and how you invest your time, talents and resources – and not become distracted by opportunities that do not fit your mission statement?
4. If you conclude you are somewhat deficient in the area of self-control, how might you go about trying to improve in that area?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:

Proverbs 16:2-3, 16:9, 20:24, 27:1; Titus 2:2; 2 Peter 5-7

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