你為何工作？──WHATS THE REASON BEHIND YOUR WORK
By Robert J. Tamasy
你為何工作？對很多人而言，我們會毫不考慮就回答：「我工作是為了謀生。」、「我努力賺錢才能過上自己想要的生活。」、「我努力工作來付清賬單。」這些答案都沒錯，但它們是最佳回答嗎？
最近我參加了一個早餐會，演講者認為我們應該從另一個角度思考這個問題。他問道：「你工作的目的只是維生嗎？或者你工作是為了改變甚麼？」
的確，工作能維持生活，盡到我們的財務責任。帳單不會自動結清，食物、衣服和其他必需品不會從天上掉下來。我們需要的物品，就要有錢來買。但是，如同演講者所說，如果我們工作只是為了賺錢還債，那麼工作對我們而言就是一種義務，而非一個機會。
我們其實有很多方法可以透過自己的工作和承擔的責任帶出改變。例如，執法人員可以把自己的工作單純看做是被雇來逮捕違法者，或者他也可以秉持著要用自己的公權力，使社區成為更好居住地的堅毅決心而展開每一天。老師可以把自己的工作單純當作一份收入的來源，或者把它當作能對學生生命產生正面影響的一種方式，塑造學生成為對社會更有貢獻的人。
有一些職業如執業醫生或律師，以及高階管理人員通常都收入豐厚。但正如許多人的發現，無論你賺再多，錢永遠都不夠。一位富有的商人曾被問到「你認為多少錢是足夠的？」，他立即回答說：「再多一點。」所以，獲得報酬的興奮感很快就會消退，但如果你把重點放在改變世界或是個人生命上面，我們每天工作時能獲得無上限的無形報酬。
我們在聖經裡也可以看到許多論及此項真理的經文。以下舉例：
我們被造是為了做好事。聖經中沒有說工作的目的只是「為了謀生」。但是，它確實說道，我們被指派的職位與工作是特地為我們量身訂做的。「我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是 神所預備叫我們行的。」（以弗所書2章10節）
透過我們的工作，我們可以為日益黑暗的世界帶來光明。因為種種原因，我們生活在一個日益消極的世界中，世界變得越來越黑暗且令人沮喪。透過我們的工作，我們能帶來希望之光，證實上帝在聖經當中所說賜下生命的真理和原則。「你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。」（馬太福音5章16節）
我們能在工作當中自我實現。上帝賦予我們每個人獨特的天賦和能力。在我們工作以及服務他人的同時，我們也在榮耀上帝。「凡你手所當做的事要盡力去做…」（傳道書9章10節）「無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，….你們所事奉的乃是主基督。」（歌羅西書3章23-24節）
© 2019. 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, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com
反省與問題討論
- 當你一開始讀到這個問題「你為什麼工作？」時，你的答案是什麼？
- 你是否同意「『工作只是為了維生』並不能最好地解釋我們為什麼要工作」這句話？請分享你的答案。
- 我們的工作能帶來改變是什麼意思？你認為可以透過自己的工作做甚麼不一樣的事？或者你已經在做了？
- 我們如何能在必須做的例行無趣工作和責任中，「盡力」或「從心裏」工作呢？
備註：如果你手上有聖經，希望閱讀更多和這個主題的更多信息，請參考下面的經文：
箴言12章24節
12:24 殷勤人的手必掌權；懶惰的人必服苦。
箴言14章23節
14:23 諸般勤勞都有益處；嘴上多言乃致窮乏。
箴言22章29節
22:29 你看見辦事殷勤的人嗎？他必站在君王面前，必不站在下賤人面前。
傳道書11章6節
11:6 早晨要撒你的種，晚上也不要歇你的手，因為你不知道哪一樣發旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是兩樣都好。
羅馬書12章9-13節
12:9 愛人不可虛假。惡，要厭惡；善，要親近。
12:10 愛弟兄，要彼此親熱；恭敬人，要彼此推讓。
12:11 殷勤，不可懶惰；要心裏火熱，常常服事主。
12:12 在指望中要喜樂；在患難中要忍耐；禱告要恆切。
12:13 聖徒缺乏，要幫補；客，要一味地款待。
提摩太後書3章16-17節
3:16 聖經都是 神所默示的（或譯：凡 神所默示的聖經），於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的，
3:17 叫屬 神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。
WHAT’S THE REASON BEHIND YOUR WORK?
By Robert J. Tamasy
Why do you go to work? For many of us, we would not have to blink before answering: “I work to make a living.” “I work to earn an income that can support the kind of life I want to live.” “I work so I can pay my bills.” None of these answers are wrong, but are they good enough?
Recently I attended a breakfast meeting where the guest speaker said we should consider at this question from another perspective. “Do you work to earn a living?” he asked, “or do you work to make a difference?”
Without question, work does enable us to live and meet our financial obligations. Bills do not pay themselves. And food, clothing and other necessities don’t miraculously materialize. If we need something, it requires money to obtain it. However, as the speaker suggested, if we approach work only for the compensation we receive, we will regard it as an obligation and not an opportunity.
There are many ways we can make a difference through we work we perform and responsibilities we carry out. A law enforcement officer, for example, can either view his or her job as being paid to apprehend law breakers, or begin each day with an unwavering determination to use their roles of authority for making their communities better places to live. Teachers can regard their jobs as sources of income or as a way for having a positive impact in the lives of their students, helping to shape them into productive people.
Some professions, such as practicing medicine or law, or being top executives, often enable people to earn lucrative incomes. But as many people have discovered, no matter how much money you earn, it is never enough. When one wealthy businessman was asked, “How much is enough?”, he immediately responded, “Just a little bit more.” So the excitement over how much one gets paid soon fades, However, if the focus is on making a difference in the world, or in the lives of individual people, there is no limit to the intangible rewards we can receive as we go to work each day.
We see this truth addressed in the Scriptures in many ways. Here are some examples:
We are created to do good. Nowhere in the Bible does it say the purpose of work is only “to earn a living.” It does say, however, the work we are uniquely positioned and called to perform has been specially designed for do. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Through our work we can bring light to a world of growing darkness. For many reasons, we live in a world of growing negativity. Times often seem increasingly dark and disheartening. Through our work, we have the privilege of bringing the light of hope, affirming the life-giving truths and principles God has presented through His Word, the Scriptures. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
We can find fulfillment in work well done. God has entrusted each of us with specific, unique talents and abilities. In doing our work – and serving others – we also are honoring Him. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
© 2019. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
When you initially read the question, “Why do you go to work?” what was your answer?
Do you agree with the statement that working just to earn an income or to make a living is not a good enough reason for going to work? Why or why not?
What does it mean to make a difference through the work we do? What kind of difference do you think you can make – or are already making – through your work?
How can we go about working “with all our might” or “with all our heart,” even in the midst of mundane, uninspiring tasks and responsibilities we must perform?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 12:24, 14:23, 22:29; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Romans 12:9-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
