在我擔任國際銀行家和跨國製造公司財務長的職業生涯中，我了解到品格因著許多原因，而顯得很重要。事實上，在工作中由值得信賴、誠實和愛工作夥伴所組成的品格，可能是一個人職業生涯中最重要的成功因素。

作為財務長時，我曾被要求，為一份我知道不正確的財務文件簽名。當我拒絕時，總裁和公司老闆讓我知道，這樣做可能接下來會被解僱。我告訴他我不能簽，也大膽而謙虛地告訴他，他也不應該簽，因為銀行有特殊的法律保護，如果他簽字證明這些數字是正確的，他可能會面臨牢獄之災。

他從來沒有從這個角度思考，會有這樣的後果。平常，他就很隨意告訴客戶和供應商一些方便但不真實的事情。但這是一份具法律責任的文件，這次他聽了我的話。他後來感謝我的建議，這種互動使我們之間，就公司的財務狀況和評估時，可以有更加公開和誠實的討論。他知道他可以信任我。

誰掌握著我們的注意？你可以這樣想：在你和同事的會議上，你最想聽到誰發言呢？是喜歡說話但不坦率、不誠實或知識不淵博的人嗎？還是那個你知道可以信任、會善意地說真話的人？在我40年的職場生涯中，我了解到，會議室中最有影響力和最多人聽的，是人們最信任的人。

我們希望別人怎樣對待我們？作為基督徒，我知道上帝希望我們「彼此相愛」，如同約翰福音 13章34節和其他多處經文所說的那樣。意思是我們願意對他人說實話，並以尊重和友善的態度對待他們，就像我們喜歡被對待的方式一樣。所謂的「黃金法則」就是「你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。」（路加福音6章31節），這是一個不變的法則。

你是否準備好為堅持正直而付出代價？不可避免地，我們會遇到很難說真話的情況：當我們可能失去一筆交易、一個升遷的機會、一份獎金，甚至是我們的工作時。在這些情況下，我都會試圖提醒自己，上帝正在觀看和傾聽，而我的品格正岌岌可危。我努力永遠不要忘記上帝只會看重誠實，以及我只期待人們信任我。箴言10章9節說：「行正直路的，步步安穩；走彎曲道的，必致敗露。」

很有意思的是，我們與上帝的關係只能建立在信任的基礎上（或者我們有時稱之為信心）。當然，同樣的道理，我們與人們最親密的關係也只能建立在信任的基礎上，人們想要了解並接近自己確信可以信任的人。正如箴言20章6節所說，「 人多述說自己的仁慈，但忠信人誰能遇著呢？」

在每一個良好的工作環境中，值得信賴的人是最有影響力和最受重視的。作為職場領袖和經營者，我們應該記住，培養信任和愛工作夥伴的環境會帶來巨大的回報 – 無論是現在還是永恆。

© 2022。James D. Firnstahl 自2011 年起擔任 CBMC國際總幹事，與來自90 個國家的商業和專業男性和女性團隊合作，他們共同熱衷於看到以耶穌基督的福音轉化全球工商職場。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多與這個主題相關的內容，請參考下面的經文：

詩篇78篇70-72節
78:70 又揀選他的僕人大衛，從羊圈中將他召來，
78:71 叫他不再跟從那些帶奶的母羊，為要牧養自己的百姓雅各和自己的產業以色列。
78:72 於是，他按心中的純正牧養他們，用手中的巧妙引導他們。
箴言6章20-23節
6:20 我兒，要謹守你父親的誡命；不可離棄你母親的法則（或譯：指教），
6:21 要常繫在你心上，掛在你項上。
6:22 你行走，它必引導你；你躺臥，它必保守你；你睡醒，它必與你談論。
6:23 因為誡命是燈，法則（或譯：指教）是光，訓誨的責備是生命的道，
箴言12章19、22節
12:19 口吐真言，永遠堅立；舌說謊話，只存片時。
12:22 說謊言的嘴為耶和華所憎惡；行事誠實的，為他所喜悅。
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17章10節
17:10 一句責備話深入聰明人的心，強如責打愚昧人一百下。
箴言25章13節
25:13 忠信的使者叫差他的人心裏舒暢，就如在收割時有冰雪的涼氣。
箴言27章5節
27:5 當面的責備強如背地的愛情。
提摩太後書2章15節
2:15 你當竭力在　神面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人，按著正意分解真理的道。

反省與問題討論

1. 以 1 到 10 (10 為最高分)的量表來評量，無論是在工作場所還是在其他地方，信任（或可信任度）對於你在建立和維護關係方面會給幾分呢？請解釋你的答案。
2. 想一想，當有人背叛了你的信任時，你是如何回應的？你能夠與那個人重新建立信任關係嗎？如果有，做起來有多難？
3. 你是否同意在會議中，觀點最多被聆聽的人，是團隊中最受信任的人呢？請問為什麼？
4. 你是否曾經遇過，因為你對正直的堅持，決定無論如何都要誠實，卻可能會帶來嚴重後果的時候呢？請描述那是什麼樣的情況以及結果如何。

THE VALUE OF TRUST IN THE MARKETPLACE

By James D. Firnstahl

During my career as an International Banker and then as Chief Financial Officer of an international manufacturing company, I learned that character matters for many reasons. In fact, a character that consists of trustworthiness, honesty, and love of neighbor at work may be the most important success factors in one’s career.

Once as CFO, I was asked to sign my name to certify a set of financial documents that I knew were inaccurate.  When I refused, the President and owner made it known that my dismissal might follow.  I told him I could not sign it, but boldly and humbly told him that he should not sign it either. I informed him banks have special legal protection and that he could face prison time if he signed to certify the numbers as accurate.

He had never thought about the ramifications in this way. Normally, he was comfortable telling customers and suppliers things that were convenient but not true. But this was a legal document, and he listened to me. He later thanked me for this advice, and this interaction led to more open and honest discussions between us about the financial position and valuation of the company. He had learned he could trust me.

Who commands our attention? Think of it this way: In a meeting of your colleagues, who is the person you most want to hear from? Is it the person who likes to speak and often does, but not with candor, honesty, or knowledge? Or is it the person you know you can trust, someone you know will speak the truth in kindness? In my 40 years of doing business, I learned that the most influential and listened to person in the meeting room is the one people trust the most.

How would we want to be treated? As a Christ-follower, I know that God expects us to “love one another,” as it says in John 13:34 and numerous other passages. This means being willing to tell others the truth and treat them with respect and kindness, just the way we like to be treated. The so-called “Golden Rule,” which says we are to “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31), is an unfailing principle to follow.

Are you prepared to pay what a commitment to integrity might cost? Inevitably, we will encounter situations in which it seems almost impossible to tell the truth; when we may lose something – a sale, a promotion, a bonus, or even our job. In these situations, I tried to remind myself that God is watching and listening, and that my character is on the line. I strived never to forget that God can only honor truthfulness, and that I wanted people to trust me. Proverbs 10:9 states, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”

It is interesting to note that our relationship with God can only be based on trust – or faith, as we sometimes call it. Of course, we can also say that our closest relationships with people are also based on trust. They want to know and get close to other people they feel certain that they can trust. As Proverbs 20:8 affirms, “Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?”

In every good workplace environment, trustworthy people are the most influential and highly valued. As business leaders and owners, we should remember there is a huge return – for the present as well as for eternity – in cultivating an environment of trust and neighborly love.

© 2022. James D. Firnstahl has served as President of CBMC International since 2011, working with a team of business and professional men and women in 90 countries who share a passion to see the global marketplace transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being highest, how important is trust (or trustworthiness) for you in building and maintaining relationships, whether in the workplace or elsewhere? Explain your answer.
2. Think of a time when someone betrayed your trust. How did you respond? Were you ever able to reestablish a trusting relationship with that person? If so, how difficult was that to do?
3. Do you agree that in a meeting, the persons whose perspectives are most anticipated are the ones who hold the most trust within the group? Why – or why not?
4. Have you ever been in a situation when you realized that your commitment to integrity, your determination to be truthful no matter what, came with a risk of serious consequences? Describe what those circumstances were like – and the outcome. 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 78:70-72; Proverbs 6:20-23, 12:19,22, 13:6, 17:10, 25:13, 27:5; 2 Timothy 2:15

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