在「越快越好」的世界中耐性等候的困難
CBMC 週一嗎哪2025年3月10日
By Robert J. Tamasy
在「越快越好」的世界中耐性等候的困難
THE PROBLEM OF WAITING IN AN ‘ASAP’ WORLD
每個人似乎都很匆忙。這種情況已經持續很久了。這可能始於工業革命，當時世界上的大部分地區，開始從農業社會轉型。種植農作物時，農夫知道你無法加速這個過程。但是工廠製造產品，例如汽車、衣服或是電子元件時，生活和工作的步調就會顯著加快。
科技顯然更進一步地讓生活變得更即時快速。我們接收電子郵件、訊息和社群媒體貼文的速度，就像打嗝一樣快。即使我們待在家裡，我們也可以使用各種視訊會議工具，與老闆和員工進行線上的面對面會議。
因此，我們發現自己生活在「ASAP(As Soon As Possible)－越快越好」的世界中，需求和要求都會立即得到回應。問題是，在現實生活中，並非所有挑戰都能被「馬上」解決。客戶可能會延遲做出重要決定。期待已久的升遷可能來得很慢。嚴重的疾病要恢復健康的時間可能比預期更長。「越快越好」可能反而會需要很長的時間。
對於努力將信仰融入我們所做的一切，包括工作在內的人來說，情況有時候更是如此。我們遇到無法控制的環境，並且別無選擇，只能相信神會供應我們智慧和指引時，我們就能學會一個關鍵詞的含義：等候。
對於行動導向的人來說，他們的座右銘可能是：「不要只是站在那裡－做點什麼吧！」但是當我們閱讀像詩篇37篇這樣的經文時，我們會發現這並不總是神的計劃。這則詩篇的確是以某些行動開始：
「你當倚靠耶和華而行善，住在地上，以他的信實為糧；又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。當將你的事交託耶和華……」(詩篇37篇3-5節)
聽起來不錯，對吧？我們心想，「我可以做到這些事啊！」但是接著我們讀到一些，讓我們踩煞車的字句：「你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他……」(詩篇37篇7節)。彷彿是為了加強語氣，在同一篇的第34節告訴我們：「你當等候耶和華，遵守他的道……」通常，這不是我們想聽到的。我記得在我的職業生涯中，我無數次禱告尋求神對各種問題的指引。但是祂的回答通常是：「等候。」以下是我認為有幫助的經文：
專注於神。有時候，神要我們等候的目的是為了強化一個真理：祂是掌權者－是祂掌管一切，而不是我們，並且祂是值得信靠的。「你們要休息，要知道我是神！我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。」(詩篇46篇10節)
得到所需的休息。有時候，無論是從疾病中康復，還是從職業挫折中恢復，我們都需要時間重新整頓，得到恢復。「但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。」(以賽亞書40章31節)
耐心等候成果。我們確信自己正在做神呼召我們做的事情時，我們可以相信祂會掌管結果，無論這結果需要多麼長的時間才能實現。「所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多做主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裏面不是徒然的。」(哥林多前書15章58節)
挑戰思考
本週請試著找人討論我們所處的忙碌、快節奏的世界，以及我們應該如何正確回應這樣的世界。思想神曾經把你放在祂的「等候室」裡，讓你必須等待祂回應你的需要的時刻－以及你當時的反應。也許你發現，自己現在正處於不甘願的「等候」狀態。請與朋友、導師或是一些你信任的顧問討論這個情況，幫助你獲得正確的觀點，了解神可能要求你等候和保持耐心的原因。
反省與問題討論
第一、你是否經常發現自己很匆忙，像是在永無止境的跑步機上奔跑，不斷追求「越快越好」或是「我們現在就需要這個！」呢？這種感覺如何？這如何影響你從工作中獲得的樂趣呢？
第二、你發現哪些策略(如果有的話)對於應對，甚至擺脫忙碌的日常生活和工作節奏是有用的呢？
第三、你讀到聖經中神的話語：「你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他……」時，你有什麼反應呢？這個勸告是給你帶來喜樂和安慰，還是你用「但是我不想等候！我沒有時間！」的想法來回應呢？請解釋你的答案。
第四、等候的必要性如何被證明是有益的呢？以賽亞書中的經文說，「但那等候(或是盼望)耶和華的必重新得力……」。你是否有經歷過，這句話對你來說很真實的時刻呢？
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文（因篇幅有限，請自行參閱未列出的經文：出埃及記6:6-8、路得記3:16-18）：
詩篇42篇1-5節
42:1 神啊我的心切慕你，如鹿切慕溪水。
42:2 我的心渴想神，就是永生神；我幾時得朝見神呢？
42:3 我晝夜以眼淚當飲食；人不住地對我說：你的神在哪裏呢？
42:4 我從前與眾人同往，用歡呼稱讚的聲音領他們到神的殿裏，大家守節。我追想這些事，我的心極其悲傷。
42:5 我的心哪，你為何憂悶？為何在我裏面煩躁？應當仰望神，因他笑臉幫助我；我還要稱讚他。
使徒行傳1章4-5節
1:4 耶穌和他們聚集的時候，囑咐他們說：「不要離開耶路撒冷，要等候父所應許的，就是你們聽見我說過的。
1:5 約翰是用水施洗，但不多幾日，你們要受聖靈的洗。」
使徒行傳2章1-4節
2:1 五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。
2:2 忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子，
2:3 又有舌頭如火焰顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。
2:4 他們就都被聖靈充滿，按着聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。
加拉太書6章9節
6:9 我們行善，不可喪志；若不灰心，到了時候就要收成。
| 下載 |
FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE
MONDAY MANNAMar 3, 2025
SMALL AND STEADY APPROACH LEADS TO BIG THINGS
By Rick Boxx
Are you familiar with “The Tortoise and the Hare,” the fable by the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop? It is about a fast-running hare (a relative of the rabbit) that ridicules a slow-moving tortoise. Wearied by the hare’s arrogant behavior, the tortoise decides to challenge it to a race.
The race starts and the hare quickly leaves the tortoise far behind. Confident of victory, the hare decides to take a nap midway through the race. However, when the hare awakens to resume the race, it finds the tortoise – taking slow but steady steps – has arrived at the finish line before him and is declared the winner. The moral of this story is simple: ‘Slow and steady wins the race.’
Experience in my own life has taught me how true that statement is. As a young, impatient professional, at times I strived to get rich quickly. Sometimes I took what I regarded as shortcuts to making a lot of money. However, this approach led to foolish decisions that set me back rather than forward. The ‘can’t miss, quick return’ investment strategies I utilized failed miserably.
However, one activity far exceeded my expectations. It started when I was still a youth. A stockbroker persuaded me to invest $25 per month into a mutual fund, a slow-yield investment strategy. This was painful for me at times, especially during college. There were many ways I could have used the $25 I set aside monthly. But I determined to faithfully stay with the plan, saving that small amount each month.
Years later this small and steady investment approach paid off with a substantial reward. By the time I was ready to buy my first house, I had accumulated thousands of dollars for a down payment. You can imagine how grateful I was for those small, monthly investments I had made over the preceding years.
After I became a follower of Christ and began studying the Bible, I discovered this principle affirmed in the Scriptures. Proverbs 13:11 teaches, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” There is that principle again – small and steady.
Yes, we can find some examples of people who have succeeded in “getting rich quick.” Maybe they have won the lottery, received a huge inheritance from a wealthy relative, or stumbled upon a novel idea for a product that became a huge success. But for every example like that there are literally thousands of people who failed as they tried countless get-rich-quick schemes.
Admittedly, the small and steady approach requires patience – a virtue many of us lack. ‘I want it! And I want it how!’ is a mantra we often hear. You might have said it to yourself. But the book of Proverbs offers other insights that affirm the patient, slow and steady approach to life – and our finances.
For instance, Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” In my early years I learned this the hard way. And Proverbs 28:19-20 offer this assurance: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
If you are considering starting a business someday, you would be wise to avoid chasing get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, prayerfully consider investing monthly. You will find it more fruitful.
© 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments.” Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever been approached with a get-rich-quick scheme? If so, how did you respond?
2. Do you think it is inherently wrong to strive to make as much money as possible, as soon as possible? Why or why not?
3. If you are familiar with the tortoise and the hare fable, what are your thoughts about what it teaches? Especially if we apply the story to what we do in the contemporary marketplace?
4. Can you think of a good example of someone who has taken the small and steady approach to finances, or starting and developing a business? How would you describe that person and the results he or she has experienced?
Challenge for This Week
Over the coming days evaluate your own approach to life, your business or professional life, and your finances. Have you taken more of a small and steady strategy, or have you been seeking to realize more rapid progress?
It has been said, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…too good to be true.” Meet with someone, or a small group of friends, and pray about how God would want you to respond to seemingly lucrative proposals. Rely on trusted advisors to offer their wisdom and perspectives for your decision-making in such areas.
NOTE:
For more about what the Bible says, consider the following passages:
Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; James 1:12
| Download |