2007-5-14
在變化無常的世界裡有信心

想像你的手緊緊地握住高空鞦韆的把手，眼睛看了看80英尺以下的地面。當你深呼吸，從平台上盪出去，就將腦中的一切疑慮拋開，不去擔心你的表演夥伴是否會接住你。

當你盪得愈來愈高，到達最重要的關鍵點，你是否會鬆開把手，放掉自己的所有控制權？或者你會繼續握緊鞦韆的把手，盪回平台上，讓你的夥伴和觀眾失望？

若你鬆開把手，就是向夥伴展現你毫不懷疑的信心，相信他/她會掌握準確的時間，且有足夠的力量接住你。你的這個希望是根據過去的經驗，但這一刻還是未知數。幾年前我看馬戲表演時，看到了空中飛人扣人心弦的演出。一位飛人表現出信心，另一位展現精準，都同樣地吸引人。

聖經新約希伯來書11章1節：「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」我們許多人都會面臨需要我們有某種程度的信心才能作出的決定，雖然那決定不一定是在80英尺的高空中盪鞦韆。我們信心的焦點可能是，我們要將一件重大的企劃案交給一位員工處理，而這位員工不一定能做得像你這麼好。或者，你的公司要建造或購買一個新設備，但你不確定在新設備完工時，營業收入是否足夠支付那設備的費用。

在工商界，尤其是21世界中，每一天的風險都需要我們有某種程度的信心去因應。當然你也可以堅守幾件確定的事，而避開不確定的事，但這可能會導致災難。若你逃避風險，可能只是暫時安全，後來可能會遭遇更惡劣的狀況。另一方面，藉著信心的一躍，可能帶來更大的報酬和更光明的未來。偉大的領袖、光榮的成就、和卓越的公司都是願意靠信心行動的結果。有時甚至是在事實似乎與重大決定相反的時候。

若你面臨事業上或個人生命中的關鍵時刻，請思想你的信心是在誰或什麼事上，然後就準備放開鞦韆的把手，將你的信心展現在你所信任的人或事上。這就是為何有成千上萬的人，每天工作都以禱告開始，表達他們對上帝的信心，因為神知道哪些事是我們盼望的。他們的禱告所反映的，不是他們想要的事物，而是對上帝的信心，因他們所敬拜、所服事的神是信實的，是關懷他們的，神會引導他們的思想、話語及行動。

摩西死後，約書亞承接帶領兩百萬以色列人的艱難任務。約書亞可能不確定自己是否能面對未來的困難，但上帝不斷地告訴他：「當剛強壯膽！」約書亞要如何剛強壯膽？上帝告訴他如何做到：「我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為你無論往哪裡去，耶和華你的神必與你同在」（約書亞記1章9節）。


思想 / 討論題目

1. 在你的工作中，你是否曾覺得像空中飛人的表演者，必須信任夥伴在你鬆手時會接住你？若是，請描述那情況並說明那感覺。

2. 本篇週一嗎哪引述希伯來書11章1節：「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」另一個翻譯這麼定義信心：「我們所盼望之事的實體，我們尚未看到之事的證據。」你同意這個定義嗎？你會如何用自己的話解釋信心？

3. 你是否曾將你每天的工作視為信心的表現？或者這對你而言是一個新的看法？請解釋。

4. 面對今日商場上未知和不確定的事，你是否已發現禱告是處理這些事的最佳辦法？為什麼？


註：若你有聖經請看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
馬太福音6章28-34節，17章20-21節；羅馬書1章17節，10章17節；以弗所書6章16節；希伯來書10章22-23節，11章6節

MONDAY MANNA
A service to the business community
May 14, 2007

FLYING FAITH IN A FICKLE WORLD

By: Rick Boxx

Imagine your hands firmly gripped on the trapeze handle as you glance down 80 feet or more at the floor below. As you take a deep breath and shove off from the trapeze stand, you push any doubts from your mind; doubts about whether or not your aerobatic partner will be waiting to catch you when needed.

As you swing higher and higher you arrive at the crucial defining moment. Are you going to release the handle of the trapeze, along with your total control over the outcome, or are you going to hang on and return to your perch, disappointing the crowd – and your performing teammate?

If you release the handle you are unequivocally demonstrating your faith in your partner, that his or her timing – and grasp – will be perfect. Your hopes would be based on your past experiences, but this moment is still in question. As I watched a Cirque du Soleil performance some time ago, I witnessed this incredible scenario play out in just moments. The faith required on the part of the participants, and the precision with which it was handled, were equally impressive.

In Hebrews 11:1 of the Bible’s New Testament, we are told, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Many of us are faced with decisions that require us to exercise some measure of faith, even if it’s not exactly flying on a trapeze 80 feet in the air. The focus of our faith may be a major project that must be passed off to an employee who may or may not be able to do it as well as you could. Or maybe it involves building, or buying, a new facility for your business, with no guarantee on whether your sales will be strong enough to cover the cost when the work on the structure is completed.
In the business world, perhaps even more than ever in the 21st century, each day brings risks that require some degree of faith. Of course, you could cling to the few things that seem assured, avoiding the uncertain, but that could lead to disaster. If you avoid the risk you may be safe for now, but likely will encounter serious embarrassment – or worse – later. Taking a leap of faith, on the other hand, can bring great rewards and a bright future. Great leaders, accomplishments, and companies all result from the willingness to act in faith, sometimes even when the facts seem to contradict critical decisions.
If you are faced with a defining moment in your business, your career – or even your life – consider carefully who or what your faith is depending on, and then be prepared to let go of the handle of the “trapeze,” demonstrating your faith in the object of your trust. This is why millions of people – men and women – start each work day with prayer, expressing their faith in the God who knows for certain the things we can only hope for, who clearly sees those things that we cannot. Their prayers reflect not wishful thinking, but confidence and assurance that the God they worship and serve is faithful and attentive, and will guide their thoughts, their words and actions.
In the Old Testament, Joshua had assumed the daunting task of leading two million Israelites after the death of Moses. If anyone felt challenged about being sure of what he hoped for and certain of things he could not see, it was Joshua. But God repeatedly said to him, “Be strong and courageous.” How could Joshua do this? God told him how: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).


(Copyright 2007, Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. For more information about receiving Integrity Moments in their e-mail box, write to: rboxx@IntegrityMoments.com and type "subscribe" in the subject line or visit his website, www.IntegrityResource.org.

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Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. In your business or professional career, have you ever felt like a trapeze artist that was flying through the air, trusting that your partner would not fail to catch you if you let go? If so, describe the situation and what the experience was like.





2. As we saw in this “Monday Manna,” Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Another translation defines it as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Do you agree with these definitions? How would you state what faith means in your own terms?





3. Have you ever regarded your typical work day as an act of faith, or is this a new perspective for you? Explain your answer.





4. In facing the unknowns and uncertainties of today’s workplace, have you found prayer a valuable resource in dealing with these issues? Why or why not?




NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to consider other passages that relate to this topic, look up the following:

Matthew 6:28-34, 17:20-21; Romans 1:17, 10:17; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 10:22-23, 11:6