無論如何信靠神的帶領 TRUSTING IN GOD’S DIRECTION, NO MATTER WHAT

賴瑞任職資訊系統公司執行長時，有人對他的公司提起了無理的訴訟。雖然公司一直以來都沒有任何不法的行為，但很多人都催賴瑞解決官司。這些人說，打官司的費用和時間不合理，所以庭外和解是最佳的解決方案。

不過賴瑞沒有聽從他們的建議，而是轉向神禱告求智慧和方向，神果然令賴瑞印象深刻。神告訴他，因為公司沒有不法，他要為公司辯護而不是和解。長時間的法律程序確實花費了數百萬美元，但公司最終被證明是清白的，不需要負擔那些不當的索賠。

此同時，上帝也保守公司業務成長，讓訴訟費變得微不足道。當賴瑞重新思考這件麻煩又令人緊張的事情時，他總結地說，公司在逆境中茁壯成長的事實反映了上帝祂喜悅賴瑞的順服。

我們在聖經中反覆地讀到，在遇到困難的決定時，我們應該尋求上帝的忠告。箴言15章22節說：「不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。」但和人商量並不能保證所有的建議都是正確的，我們要直接尋求神的旨意。當神的旨意違背我們從人那裡得到的忠告時，我們仍然要按照神的旨意行事。

親密和值得信賴的朋友是一種資產，但他們永遠不能取代神，也不能取代神給我們的忠告。耶穌告誡他的門徒要與神保持親密：「你們若常在我裏面，我的話也常在你們裏面，凡你們所願意的，祈求，就給你們成就。」(約翰福音15章7節)。聖經常常強調全然信靠上帝的重要性：

不明白時仍然相信。有時上帝用非常理的方式呼召我們，就像神要賴瑞拒絕和解無理的訴訟。「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」 (箴言3章5-6節）。

即使使害怕災難，也要相信。情緒可能會促使我們尋求看似最快、最容易解決問題的辦法。但是，相信神會保守我們最大的利益，我們需要仰望祂而不是我們的環境。「耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。」（耶利米書29章11節）。

即使神的方式看起來不實際，仍然相信。如果神告訴你要挺身而出，即使別人不同意也要相信祂。「又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。」（詩篇37篇4-5節）。

版權所有2019 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 最新出版的書提供用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。

反省與問題討論

1. 你知道為什麼有些人明知道賴瑞的公司沒有錯，還是要他庭外和解？是甚麼原因讓這些人提出 這樣的建議以及行動？
2. 你覺得做出和周圍的人給的「良心建議」背道而馳的決定是一件困難或容易的事？解釋你的答 案。
3. 在本文中，賴瑞禱告尋求神的引導，感覺自己應該做和別人所說的不一樣。你做過類似的事 嗎？你如何尋求神的智慧，面對和挑戰所面臨的困難？
4. 箴言3：5-6告訴我們：「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上 都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」從這段經文當中你學到什麼？

備註：如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多和這個主題相關的內容，請參考：
詩篇37篇1-7節
37:1 不要為作惡的心懷不平，也不要向那行不義的生出嫉妒。
37:2 因為他們如草快被割下，又如青菜快要枯乾。
37:3 你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以他的信實為糧；
37:4 又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。
37:5 當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。
37:6 他要使你的公義如光發出，使你的公平明如正午。
37:7 你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他；不要因那道路通達的和那惡謀成就的心懷不平。
詩篇37篇34節
37:34 你當等候耶和華，遵守他的道，他就抬舉你，使你承受地土；惡人被剪除的時候，你必看見。
箴言11章14節
11:14 無智謀，民就敗落；謀士多，人便安居。
箴言16章5節
16:5 凡心裏驕傲的，為耶和華所憎惡；雖然連手，他必不免受罰。
箴言12章26節
12:26 義人引導他的鄰舍；惡人的道叫人失迷。
箴言18章24節
18:24 濫交朋友的，自取敗壞；但有一朋友比弟兄更親密。
箴言19章20節
19:20 你要聽勸教，受訓誨，使你終久有智慧。
箴言24章5-6節
24:5 智慧人大有能力；有知識的人力上加力。
24:6 你去打仗，要憑智謀；謀士眾多，人便得勝。

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TRUSTING IN GOD’S DIRECTION, NO MATTER WHAT

By Rick Boxx

When Larry was CEO of an information systems company, someone filed an unwarranted lawsuit against the company. Along the way, even though Larry’s company was innocent of any wrongdoing, many people urged him to settle the lawsuit. The cost of mounting a defense, even if unjustified, as well as the time defending the case would require, made an out of court settlement the most reasonable course of action, they contended.

Rather than conceding to those recommendations, Larry prayed for wisdom and direction. As he did that, God impressed upon Larry that rather than settling, he should defend the company because it was innocent. The prolonged legal process did cost millions of dollars in legal fees, but the company was ultimately vindicated and cleared of the wrongful claims.

In the meantime, God blessed and prospered the business so much that the legal fees became insignificant in size. Reflecting back on that troublesome and stressful time, Larry concluded that the fact his company had thrived in the midst of great adversity was a reflection of God’s favor for obedience.

Repeatedly in the Scriptures we read that we should seek God-inspired counsel when confronted with difficult decisions. For instance, Proverbs 15:22 states, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” However, that does not guarantee that all the advice we receive is necessarily correct. We need to consult the Lord directly, and when He leads us in ways contrary to the counsel we have received, we still must do as He instructs.

Close, trusted friends are an asset, without question. But they can never replace and should not supplant the counsel of the One we should trust the most. Jesus spoke to His followers and admonished them about the importance of remaining close to Him: If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” John 15:7). The Bible often underscores the importance of having complete trust in God:

Trust even when we don’t understand. Sometimes God calls us to act in counterintuitive ways, as Larry did in rejecting the recommendation to settle the unwarranted suit.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trust even when we fear disaster. Emotions may cause us to seek the fastest, seemingly easiest solutions to pressing problems. However, belief that God has our best interests at heart should encourage us to look to Him, rather than at our circumstances. “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Trust even when God’s way doesn’t seem practical. If God is leading you to take a stand, trust in Him, even when others disagree. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:4-5).

© 2019, Unconventional Business 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.” CBMC INTERNATIONAL: Jim Firnstahl, President 2850 N. Swan Road, Suite 160▪ Tucson, Arizona 85712 ▪ U.S.A. TEL.: 520-334-1114 ▪ E-MAIL: [email protected] Web site: www.cbmcint.org Please direct any requests or change of address to: [email protected]g

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you understand why people urged Larry to seek an out of court settlement, even though he knew his company had done no wrong? Why do you think they recommended he take that course of action?
2. How easy – or difficult – do you think it is to make decisions the run counter to the seemingly well-intended counsel you are receiving from people around you? Explain your answer.
3. In the case described, Larry prayed about what he should do and then felt impressed to act contrary to the advice he had received. Have you ever done something like this? How would you go about seeking God’s wisdom and will regarding a difficult challenge you were facing?
4. What does it feel like to “not lean on your own understanding,” as Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs? Can you think of a time when you had to do this, even if with reluctance? Describe the situation and what its outcome. What did you learn from it?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:1-7,34; Proverbs 11:14, 12:5, 12:26, 18:24, 19:20, 24:5-6

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