我們可以相信職場中的聖經原則──WE CAN TRUST BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE WORKPLACE
English version at the bottom of this page
多年前，我出版了一本書，名叫《企業巔峰：給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧》。這是由我多年來寫的一系列週一嗎哪靈修文章彙編而成。我的目標是體現豐富的聖經原則仍然適用於二十一世紀的職場，對這本書的回應大多是正面的。許多個人、商業團體和專業人士都將它們用於個人的反思和討論中。
然而，我確實也收到了一些尖銳的評論，抱怨這些文章內容不夠聚焦，可能讀者正在尋找自己面臨的特定問題或議題的答案吧。然而，正如每週的週一嗎哪一樣，我們的期待是展現那永恆、實用且與職場有關的聖經經文，並提醒我們從上帝的角度來看，所有的工作都是神聖的。
聖經沒有針對，如「我應該從事什麼工作？」或「我怎樣才能讓我們的供應商更積極回應？」等問題給出具體的答案；但它的確為我們在職場上該如何行事提供了基本與重要的原則。最近，一位我稱之為吉姆的朋友，講述了他多年前所面臨極其困難的情況時，我想到了這一點。
他是一家政府支持的公用事業品質控制檢查員，被指派嚴格按照詳細規範去檢查指定的工廠，「已經很接近了」是不能接受的。然而，他的勤奮並沒有得到那家工廠經理和主管的感謝，他被迫去忽略不合規定要求的設備，他甚至曾經收到死亡威脅。
吉姆忍受了三年的強烈反對 – 仍持續履行全面執行法規的職責 – 直到他調到另一家工廠。三年後，他被重新分配到原來的工廠，發現那裡的工作環境發生了很大的變化。所有反對他道德承諾的經理們都被解雇了，新的領導階層對嚴謹的檢查表示歡迎。
如果你問吉姆，聖經是否特別談到他所面臨的那種挑戰，他可能會告訴你沒有。但他確實知道，作為基督徒，妥協和掩蓋設計疏失不僅是不能接受，也是對他信仰的反面見證。以下是他勇敢堅守的一些聖經原則：
上帝非常看重誠實。職場上有很多誘惑想要掩蓋真相，但上帝總是期待誠實和正直。「詭詐的天平為耶和華所憎惡；公平的法碼為他所喜悅。」（箴言 11章1節）
不誠實的行為最終會被揭露。吉姆恢復原職務並非巧合，而那些堅持認為他在報告中作假的人已被免職。「口吐真言，永遠堅立；舌說謊話，只存片時。」（箴言12章19節）
保持正直是安全的。吉姆沒有親自去揭露那些反對他的人，但他們刻意的欺騙還是被發現了。「行正直路的，步步安穩；走彎曲道的，必致敗露。」（箴言 10章9節）
© 2022. 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
備註：如果你有聖經想閱讀更多內容，請考慮以下經文：
箴言11章3節
11:3 正直人的純正必引導自己；奸詐人的乖僻必毀滅自己。
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16章11節
16:11 公道的天平和秤都屬耶和華；囊中一切法碼都為他所定。
箴言17章23節
17:23 惡人暗中受賄賂，為要顛倒判斷。
箴言19章5、9節
19:5 作假見證的，必不免受罰；吐出謊言的，終不能逃脫。
19:9 作假見證的，不免受罰；吐出謊言的，也必滅亡。
箴言20章17節
20:17 以虛謊而得的食物，人覺甘甜；但後來，他的口必充滿塵沙。
箴言21章6節
21:6 用詭詐之舌求財的，就是自己取死；所得之財乃是吹來吹去的浮雲。
箴言24章26節
24:26 應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴。
箴言29節10節
29:10 好流人血的，恨惡完全人，索取正直人的性命。
反省與問題討論
- 對聖經中的原則是永恆、實用，且與職場有關的說法，你的看法如何？你相信這是真的嗎？請解釋你的答案。
- 在文章裡描述的情境中，品質控制檢查員不僅是維護一般意義上的道德標準，更是明白自己在工作中的表現是反映他對上帝的信心和信靠。即使那樣做看起來很危險，你是否同意他採取的立場？為什麼？
- 你有沒有經歷過覺得聖經原則很難堅持的時候，或者覺得它們不適用於某些特定的情況？如果有，請描述是甚麼情況以及你如何處理它們。回想起來，你是否希望自己採取不同的行動呢？
- 你是否相信不法行為，無論以何種方式，最終都會被揭露嗎？為什麼你會這樣想？置會如何影響我們做出的決定？
WE CAN TRUST BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE WORKPLACE
By Robert J. Tamasy
Years ago, I published a book called Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace. Compiled from a series of Monday Manna meditations I had written over several years; my goal was to present a wealth of principles from the Bible that apply to the 21st century marketplace. Response to the book was mostly positive. Both individuals and groups of business and professional people have used it for personal reflection and discussion.
I did receive a few critical comments, however, from readers who complained the writings were not focused enough. Maybe they were looking for answers for specific problems or issues they were facing. However, as it is for Monday Manna every week, our desire is to present the timeless, practical relevance of the Scriptures for the workplace and remind us that from God’s perspective, all work is sacred.
The Bible does not give specific answers to questions like “Which job should I take?” or, “How can I get our supplier to be more responsive?” But it does provide basic, essential principles for how we should conduct ourselves in the marketplace. I was reminded of this recently when a friend whom I will call Jim told of an extremely difficult situation he was confronted with years ago.
He was a quality control inspector for a government-supported utility, assigned to inspect plants strictly according to detailed specifications. “Close enough” was not acceptable. His diligence, however, was not appreciated by the managers and supervisors at the plant. He was pressured to overlook equipment that did not meet code requirements. He even received death threats.
Jim endured the intense opposition for three years – fulfilling his duty to fully enforce regulations – until he transferred to another plant. Three years later he was reassigned to the original plant, finding that the working environment there had changed dramatically. All of the managers that opposed his ethical commitment had been dismissed, and meticulous inspections were welcomed by the new leadership.
If you were to ask Jim if the Bible spoke specifically to the challenges he had faced, he probably would tell you no. But he did know that as a follower of Jesus Christ, compromising and covering up design failures were not only unacceptable, but also a poor witness to his faith. Here are just a few of the biblical principles he boldly defended:
God puts a high premium on honesty. Temptations are many in the marketplace to shade the truth, but God always expects honesty and forthrightness. “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight (Proverbs 11:1).
Dishonesty eventually will be exposed. It was no coincidence that Jim was restored to his former role, while those who insisted that he be deceptive in his reporting had been removed from their jobs. “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment (Proverbs 12:19).
There is security in maintaining personal integrity. Jim did nothing personally to expose those who had opposed him, but their determination to deceive was discovered, nevertheless. “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).
© 2022. 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
- What is your response to the statement that principles from the Bible are timeless, practical, and relevant? Do you believe this is true? Explain your answer.
- In the scenario described, the quality control inspector not only sought to uphold ethical standards in a general sense, but also understood that how he conducted himself on the job was a reflection of his faith and trust in God. Do you agree with the stance he took, even when it seemed dangerous to do so? Why or why not?
- Has there ever been a time when you found it difficult to stand up for biblical principles, or felt they did not apply in a specific situation? If so, describe the circumstances and how you dealt with them. In retrospect, do you wish you had acted differently?
- Do you believe that wrongdoing, one way or another, will eventually be revealed? Why do you think this way?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 11:3, 13:6, 16:11, 17:23, 19:5,9, 20:17, 21:6, 24:26, 29:10
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