你使命的核心是什麼？──WHAT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUR MISSION？
For English version, please refer to the latter part of this page
多年來，我曾在多家公司和組織擔任過各種職務。其中大多數都有明確闡述的使命，有的甚至將使命宣言印出並擺放在公司重要的位置，以持續的提醒員工注意「我們為何存在？」、「我們在做什麼？」和「我們為什麼要這樣做」等問題的答案。
使命宣言可以視為企業的GPS（全球定位系統），來指導決策，類似像制定旅行計劃：我們在哪裡？我們想要去哪裡？我們要如何到達那裡？
這對我們個人來說，也是一個好主意。許多人從未問過這些問題，而我們不妨問一下自己，像是「我的使命是什麼？我希望在我的一生中實現什麼目標？為什麼？」一份個人使命宣言有助於找到這些重要問題的答案。這些問題可能帶來許多答案，從僅僅維持生計、滿足基本需求並支付帳單，到升遷並盡可能取得最大的成就。在了解了自己的天賦、能力和興趣後，我們可能會希望盡量成功地運用它們，並因此獲得認可。
應該有一個更加強而有力的因素，是用來確定我們的使命應該是什麼，尤其是對於在職場上有信仰，宣稱自己是基督徒的人。我曾經聽過最令人難忘的歌曲之一是史蒂夫·格林(Steve Green)多年前所錄製的「使命」(The Mission)。他在整首歌中一再重複的副歌是：「愛主我們的神，是我們使命的核心，是我們事奉湧流的泉源。」我經常問自己：「這是否是我使命的核心呢？」
100多年前，宣教士奧斯瓦爾德·章伯斯(Oswald Chambers)表達了類似的話語，被收錄在他的靈修書《竭誠為主》中。他說：「上帝的呼召流露出祂的本性；而在我的生命中所臨到的事奉，是最適合我的，同樣也是我本性的表現….. 因此，當我領受祂的本性並聽到祂的呼召時，祂從天上來的聲音，在祂的本性和我的本性中迴響，兩者在事奉中合而為一。」
在實際、日常生活中，這對每個人來說顯然會有不同的體驗。然而，這裡有一些來自聖經的原則可供參考：
我們是與上帝同工的人。我們有幸與神合作，實現祂永恆的旨意。「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)
我們是與上帝的代表– 無論我們走到哪裡。就像外交大使，代表著差遣他們的國家一樣，我們被呼召也代表上帝的家和祂的國度。「所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與神和好。」(哥林多後書5章20節)
我們是上帝的管家，管理祂託付給我們的一切。我們往往把我們的時間、天賦和資源視為自己的。只有在我們想要時，才願意分享給他人。然而，聖經教導我們，所擁有的一切都是上帝所賜給我們的，我們要為上帝的尊貴和榮耀，而使用和管理它們。「各人要照所得的恩賜彼此服事，作神百般恩賜的好管家。」(彼得前書4章10節)
© 2024. 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。也與導師之心的作者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.
挑戰思考
如果你從未考慮過制定個人的使命宣言，那麼考慮從本週開始著手。這不僅可以包括你的目標和志向，還可以包括你最看重的價值觀。如果你已經有了一個使命宣言，你會根據你在本週的週一嗎哪中，所讀到的內容來評估它嗎？也許你可以和朋友討論一下，比較看看你們的觀點。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考以下的經文：
箴言17章3節
17:3 鼎為煉銀，爐為煉金；惟有耶和華熬煉人心。
箴言27章17節
27:17鐵磨鐵，磨出刃來；朋友相感（原文作磨朋友的臉）也是如此。
哥林多後書6章1節
6:1我們與神同工的，也勸你們不可徒受他的恩典。
哥林多後書8章23節
8:23論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的。論到那兩位兄弟，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
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。
腓立比書2章25節
2:25 然而，我想必須打發以巴弗提到你們那裡去。他是我的兄弟，與我一同做工，一同當兵，是你們所差遣的，也是供給我需用的。
反省與問題討論
- 你的組織，是否已經擁有一份，書面且明確定義的使命宣言了呢？或者，僅只是假設員工知道他們為什麼在那裡，以及他們要實現的總體目標是什麼，如此而已呢？
- 你認為明確闡述一份，針對現有工作人員和未來的新員工，都能讀懂的使命宣言，有哪些好處呢？
- 你是否考慮過，為自己的職業生涯和個人生活，制定一份個人使命宣言呢？如果你有這樣的使命宣言，那它會是什麼內容呢？
- 你如何看待「愛主我們的神是我們使命的核心，是我們事奉的泉源」這個觀點呢？你是否同意這個觀點，尤其是就你的職業生涯而言？請解釋你的答案。
WHAT IS THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUR MISSION？
By Robert J. Tamasy
Over the years I have worked with several companies and organizations in a variety of roles. Most of them have had clearly stated missions. Some even printed and displayed their mission statements at strategic spots around their facilities to serve as continual reminders of the answers to questions like, “Why are we here?” “What are we doing?” and “Why are we doing it.”
A mission statement can serve as a kind of corporate GPS (global positioning system) to guide decision-making similar to trip planning: Where are we? Where do we want to go? How are we going to get there?
This is a good idea for us to do individually as well. Many people never ask the questions, but it would be beneficial to ask ourselves, “What is my mission? What do I hope to accomplish with my life – and why?” A personal mission statement can help in coming up with answers to those important questions. These can lead to a number of answers, ranging from simply earning a living, meeting basic needs and being able to pay bills, to ascending the corporate ladder and achieving as much as possible. Knowing our talents, abilities, and interests, we might desire to use them as successfully as we can – and receiving recognition for doing so.
There may be an even more compelling element for determining what our mission should be. Especially for people of faith in the marketplace, those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. One of the most memorable songs I have ever heard is “The Mission,” recorded years ago by Steve Green. The refrain he repeats through the song is, “To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission, the spring from which our service overflows.” I have often asked myself, “Is this the heartbeat of my mission?”
More than 100 years ago, missionary Oswald Chambers expressed similar words that were captured in his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest. He said, “The call of God is an expression of His nature; the service which results in my life is suited to me and is an expression of my nature…. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service.”
What this means in a practical, everyday sense obviously will be different for each of us. However, here are some principles from the Bible to consider:
We are co-workers with God. We have the privilege of collaborating with God in achieving His eternal purposes. “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
We are God’s representatives – wherever we go. Just as foreign ambassadors represent the nations that sends them, we are called to represent God’s family and His kingdom. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
We are God’s stewards, managers of what He has entrusted to us. We tend to regard our time, talents, and material resources as our own, only making them available to others when we feel inclined to do so. However, the Scriptures teach all that we have has been given to us by God to use and manage for His honor and glory. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
© 2024. 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
- Does your organization have a mission statement, one that has been written down and well-defined? Or does it simply assume its people know why they are there and what overall goals they are expected to achieve?
- What do you think can be the benefits of having a mission statement that has been clearly articulated, one that current staff members as well as future hires can read and understand?
- Have you ever considered formulating a personal mission statement, both for your professional life and personal life? If you have such a statement of mission, what is it?
- How do you relate to the idea, “To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission, the spring from which our service overflows”? Do you agree with it, especially in terms of your professional life? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 17:3, 27:17; 2 Corinthians 6:1, 8:23; Colossians 3:17, 23-24; Philippians 2:25
Challenge for This Week
If you have never considered formulating a personal mission statement, consider getting started on one this week. You might include not only your goals and aspirations, but also the values you hold most dearly.
Should you already have one, how would you evaluate it terms of what you have read in this edition of Monday Manna? Perhaps you might discuss this with a friend and compare your perspectives.
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