MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
June 5, 2006

EVERY JOB DESCRIPTION SHOULD INCLUDE HONESTY

By: Robert J. Tamasy

Honesty, it seems, is a trait we tend to associate with some professions more than others. For instance, we expect physicians to be honest. The same with school teachers, banking executives, clergy, and accountants. Perhaps this is why, on the rare occasions when we hear of someone in any of these roles accused of wrongdoing, we are so shocked and dismayed.

Then there are professions where honesty is not always assumed, where trust must be earned. These include used car sales people, lawyers, and politicians. This is because we either have had a personal experience with someone acting dishonestly in these professions, or we have heard about such instances from other people. However, I know several people who sell used cars that I trust implicitly. I also know a number of attorneys who have maintained lives of high integrity. And I have heard a rumor that an honest politician was recently found – and is now undergoing intense scientific study. They may even try to clone him. (Only kidding!)

The reality is, no profession is either honest or dishonest by its very nature. Some professions may present greater temptations to act in a dishonest manner, but honesty is an individual decision and commitment, whether you are a dentist, a car mechanic, an engineer, or a real estate salesperson. Ultimately, an honest lifestyle – a determination to live with integrity – comes out of one’s personal worldview, which shapes their values and governs their behavior.

If our only concern (our worldview) is our own best interests, to get what we want when we want it, as quickly as possible, then dishonesty may seem the most expedient way to accomplish that. However, if our desire is to serve and be of benefit to others, as well as ourselves, and we find motivation from something – or Someone – beyond ourselves, then honesty is the best, most rewarding and most fulfilling approach. Consider what the time-tested book of Proverbs, called by many “the book of wisdom,” has to say about honesty and dishonesty:

Our outward behavior reveals our inner selves. Just as a filled bucket spills its contents when it is bumped, our external actions reveal our inward character and motivations. “A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies” (Proverbs 12:17). “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies” (Proverbs 14:5).

Devotion to honesty pleases our Creator. Just as we would expect God to act toward us in an equitable, just manner, as His creations we are expected to reflect the Creator. “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” (Proverbs 11:1). “Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making” (Proverbs 16:11).

A lifestyle of deceit inevitably inflicts pain. Someone might ask, “What’s the harm in a little lie, a little stretching of the truth?” Dishonesty is painful – first to the person being deceived, and then to the one doing the deceiving – and when the lie is discovered, damage can be severe. “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor” (Proverbs 25:18).

Dishonesty ultimately results in dire consequences. It may seem that “good liars” can avoid suffering penalties, but dishonesty eventually is discovered and the cost – in terms of credibility and reputation, as well as material ramifications – will be substantial. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish” (Proverbs 19:9).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. He is author of the newly published book, Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace (River City Press) and with David A. Stoddard has coauthored, The Heart of Mentoring: 10 Proven Principles for Developing People to Their Fullest Potential (NavPress). For more information, see www.rivercitypress.net or www.leaderslegacy.com

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Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Do you agree that we tend to regard some professions as being more honest than others? Is it fair to stereotype people in these professions? Why or why not?


2. How does a person maintain a commitment to honesty in a working environment where dishonesty is accepted, or perhaps even encouraged?


3. What do you think of the idea that a person’s worldview – their inner beliefs and motivations – shapes their values and subsequently, their outward behavior?

If this is true, how does a person go about changing his or her worldview to develop and maintain character qualities like honesty? In your opinion, does a belief that we are creations of God mean we should be accurate reflections of the Creator?


4. Does dishonesty always bring negative consequences? Can you think of any circumstances when someone you knew “got away” with acting dishonestly? If so, how did/do you feel about that?


NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider more principles on the topic of honesty and dishonesty, here just some additional passages from Proverbs on the topic:

Proverbs 12:19, 12:22, 17:4, 17:23, 20:17, 21:6, 24:26




週一嗎哪
服事全球工商界
2006.6.5

每一種職業都應要求誠實

我們似乎認為某些職業比較需要誠實。例如，我們期待醫生、教師、銀行主管、神職人員和會計師要誠實。可能因為如此，當我們偶爾聽到這些行業中若有人做了不正當的事，我們會很驚訝、不安。

而在一些行業中，人們就不怎麼認為需要誠實，但他們卻需要努力去贏得別人的信賴。這些行業包括二手車銷售員、律師、從政者。這是因為我們曾經歷這些行業的人行事不誠實，或者我們從親友處，聽到他們不誠實的事。然而我認識許多賣二手車的人是我絕對信任的。我也認識一些律師維持高道德的生活。而且我還聽到一個謠言說：最近發現了一位誠實的政治家－－目前正進行密集的科學檢驗。他們甚至想複製這位政治家。（只是開玩笑！）

事實上，沒有那一個職業的本質是誠實或不誠實的。有些職業會面臨較大的試探，去做不誠實的事。但誠實是一個人的決定和委身，不論你是牙醫、汽車技工、工程師或房地產銷售員。誠實的生活方式（決定過正直的生活）終究是來自一個人的世界觀。這世界觀塑造出他的價值觀，也影響他們的的行為。

當我們唯一關心的事（我們的世界觀）是我們最大的利益，儘快去得到我們想要的東西，那麼不誠實可能是最方便的途徑。然而，若我們想要去服事別人，想要對別人也對自己有幫助，我們就是在自己以外的某事或某人上找到動力。這時，誠實就是最好、最有價值，且最能實現的方法。箴言經過時間的考驗，被稱為「智慧之書」。請思想它所提到的誠實與不誠實。

我們外在的行為顯示出我們的內在。就像一個裝滿液體的桶子，在受撞擊時，桶中的液體就會潑出來。我們外在的行動也顯示出我們內在的品格與動機。「說出真話的，顯明公義；作假見證的，顯出詭詐。」（箴言12章17節）。「誠實見證人不說謊話；假見證人吐出謊言。」（箴言14章5節）。

誠實能討造物主的喜悅。就如我們期待神以公平、公正對待我們。身為受造者，我們也被期待能反映出造物主的特性。「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）。「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16章11節）。

欺騙的生活形態會受到無可避免的痛苦。有人可能會問：「一個小謊話會帶來什麼傷害？」不誠實是痛苦的－－首先是對被騙的人，接著是對欺騙者－－而當謊言被揭穿時，傷害就很大。「作假見證陷害鄰舍的，就是大槌，是利刀，是快箭。」（箴言25章18節）。

不誠實最終導致可怕的後果。似乎「善意的謊言」可以避免懲罰，但當別人發現你不誠實，其代價（不論是信用、名譽、物質）將會很重大。「作假見證的，不免受罰；吐出謊言的，也必滅亡。」（箴言19章9節）。


思想 / 討論題目
1. 你是否同意我們會認為某些行業比較誠實？ 對這些行業的人刻板印象是否公平？ 為什麼？

2. 在欺騙被接受，或甚至被鼓勵的工作場所中，一個人要如何維持誠實？

3. 一個人的世界觀（內在信念與動機）塑造出他的價值觀和外在行為。你對這觀點有何看法？

若這觀點是正確的，一個人要如何改變他的世界觀，去發展並維持誠實的品格？ 我們是神的受造物，就表示我們應正確地反映造物主的屬性嗎？

4. 不誠實是否一定會帶來負面的結果？ 你是否看過你所認識的人雖不誠實，但還是能「逃脫」？
若是如此，你感覺如何？


註：若你有聖經且想要看有關誠實與不誠實的原則，請看：
箴言12章19節，12章22節，17章4節，17章23節，20章17節，21章6節，24章26節


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