你知道你的財寶在哪裡嗎?
2024年7月22日By Robert J. Tamasy
你知道你的財寶在哪裡嗎?
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS?
你曾經參加過尋寶遊戲嗎?尋寶遊戲有很多種形式。有些包含了粗略繪製的尋寶地圖,像是幾個世紀前的傳奇海盜所依據的那種。地圖上的「X」標記了財寶藏匿的地方。有些尋寶遊戲是逐步進行的,「尋寶者」根據一個線索找到下一個。在某些情況下,這些線索是隱密的,需要解開謎題才能前進到下一個線索。
或多或少,我們每個人都在進行某種形式的尋寶遊戲,但我們自己可以定義那個財寶是什麼。在商業和專業世界中,財寶可以是日益增加的收入和利潤。有些人則認為他們的財寶,是事業的成功和更多的報酬。
對於其他人來說,財寶可能是追求聲望和權力。在很多情況下,這個「財寶」並沒有附帶一張尋找它的地圖。事實上,它可能是一個移動的目標。例如,多年前一位以其龐大財富聞名的工業巨頭被問到:「多少才算足夠?」他眼裡閃爍著光芒,將拇指和食指微微分開,回答道:「只要再多一點點。」
如果有人問你什麼是你的財寶,你會怎麼回答呢?也許你並沒有想到以上所列的任何東西。它可能是你的家人,一件個人財產,如車子或房子,或甚至是在興趣或娛樂中達到卓越,也許你不確定它是什麼。
耶穌基督對一大群人說話時,提供了一種簡單的方法,來辨別我們生命中最珍貴的東西。祂說:「因為你的財寶在那裡,你的心也在那裡。」(馬太福音6章21節) 換句話說,不管我們的熱情是什麼,每天激勵我們的是什麼,這都揭示了我們的財寶是什麼。
在祂說話時,耶穌也警告說:「不要為自己積儹財寶在地上;地上有蟲子咬,能銹壞,也有賊挖窟窿來偷。只要積儹財寶在天上;天上沒有蟲子咬,不能銹壞,也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。」(馬太福音6章19-20節)
什麼是蟲子咬和能銹壞的財寶呢?任何我們可能珍視的物質東西,如車子、房子、珠寶、衣服,以及許多我們找到用來娛樂自己的「玩具」。即使是那些捐贈巨款,並在醫院、學校建築或體育場館上刻上名字的慈善家,可能有一天也會發現,當有更大的捐助者出現時,他們的名字會被取代。
但是,什麼是可以積儹於天上、不會被蟲子咬和能銹壞的東西呢?多年前,一位CBMC的智者泰德.迪莫斯(Ted DeMoss)常說:「只有兩樣東西會存到永恆:上帝的話語和人。」如果這是真的,那麼當我們每一天進行工作和履行責任時,我們應該時刻記住,要推動上帝的話語,並在我們遇到和我們一起工作的人們生命中,產生永恆的影響。
1956年,宣教士吉姆.艾略特(Jim Elliot)和另外四名宣教士在試圖向厄瓜多爾的一個原始部落傳福音時被殺。他在日記中寫道:「那些放棄他不能保留的,來獲得他不能失去的人,並不是傻瓜。」他確定知道他的財寶在哪裡。那不是在成功、名聲或讚譽中,而是在忠心地服事他的上帝。多年後,那個部落-奧卡族的成員成為了基督徒。
©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。
反省與問題討論
第一、當你聽到「財寶」這個詞時,你想到的是什麼?
第二、如果你曾經參加過尋寶遊戲,那是一種什麼樣的體驗呢?事先知道你要找的財寶究竟是什麼是否有幫助?
第三、你會如何形容你生命中最珍貴的東西?這如何影響你每天的生活,無論是在工作中,還是在個人時間的花費上?
第四、你認為耶穌基督告訴那些在聽「積攢財寶在天上」的人是什麼意思?我們可以如何做到這一點?你目前在做什麼來積攢天上的財寶呢?請解釋你的答案。
挑戰思考
本週的某個時候,可能是個進行「尋寶」的好時機-不是尋找埋藏的財寶,而是誠實地評估你生命中最珍視的是什麼。一旦你做到了這一點,與一位好朋友、導師或顧問分享你的結論,並邀請他們提供意見。他們可能也希望你為他們做同樣的事情。
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 : (因篇幅有限,請自行參閱未列出的經文:馬太福音6章25-34節、路加福音12章13-21節)
箴言23章4節
23:4 不要勞碌求富,休仗自己的聰明。
馬太福音13章44-46節
13:44「天國好像寶貝藏在地裡,人遇見了就把他藏起來,歡歡喜喜的去變賣一切所有的,買這塊地。
13:45天國又好像買賣人尋找好珠子,
13:46遇見一顆重價的珠子,就去變賣他一切所有的,買了這顆珠子。
路加福音12章32-35節
12:32 你們這小群,不要懼怕,因為你們的父樂意把國賜給你們。
12:33 你們要變賣所有的賙濟人,為自己預備永不壞的錢囊,用不盡的財寶在天上,就是賊不能近、蟲不能蛀的地方。
12:34因為,你們的財寶在那裡,你們的心也在那裡。」
12:35你們腰裡要束上帶,燈也要點著,
羅馬書6章23節
6:23 因為罪的工價乃是死;惟有神的恩賜,在我們的主基督耶穌裡,乃是永生。
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DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS?
MONDAY MANNAJuly 22, 2024
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS?
By Robert J. Tamasy
Have you ever been on a treasure hunt? They come in a variety of forms. Some involve a crudely drawn treasure map like legendary pirates of centuries ago followed. An ‘X’ marked where their treasure had been hidden. Some treasure hunts are progressive, with ‘hunters’ guided by one clue that points to the next one. In some cases, the clues are cryptic – puzzles to solve before advancing to the next clue.
In one way or another, every one of us is engaged in a treasure hunt of sorts, but we are the ones who define what that treasure is. In the business and professional world, the treasure can be ever-increasing revenues and profits. Some regard their treasure as career success and more compensation.
Treasure for others consists of the pursuit of prestige and power. In many cases, the ‘treasure’ does not come with a map for finding it. In fact, it can be a moving target. For example, years ago an industrial magnate known for his vast wealth was asked, “How much is enough?” With a twinkle in his eye, he held his thumb and index finger slightly apart and responded, “Just a little bit more.”
If someone were to ask what your ‘treasure’ is, how would you answer? Perhaps you are not thinking of any of the things listed above. It could be your family, a personal possession like a car or house, or even achieving excellence in a hobby or pastime. Maybe you are not certain what it is.
Speaking to a large crowd of people, Jesus Christ offered a simple way for identifying what we treasure most in our lives. He said, “For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Stating this a slightly different way, whatever our passions are, whatever motivates each day, reveals what our treasure is.
As He was speaking, Jesus also warned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
What are treasures moth and rust can destroy? Any of the material things we might cherish, like a car, a house, jewelry, clothing, and the many “toys” we can find to amuse us. Even philanthropists who donate huge sums and have their names put on hospitals, college buildings or sports arenas might find their names one day being removed when a larger donor comes along.
But what are the things that can be stored in heaven, ones that moth and rust cannot destroy? Ted DeMoss, a wise CBMC leader years ago, used to say, “The only two things that will last for eternity, the Word of God and people.” If that is true, then as we proceed through each day, running our businesses and performing our work responsibilities, we should never lose sight of seeking to advance the Word of God and have an eternal impact in the lives of people we encounter and with whom we work.
Missionary Jim Elliot, one of five missionaries killed in 1956 while trying to evangelize a primitive tribe in Ecuador, wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” He knew for certain where his treasure was. It was not in success, fame or acclaim, but in faithfully serving his God. Years later, members of that tribe – the Aucas – became Christ followers.
© 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; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. When you hear the word ‘treasure,’ what comes to your mind?
2. If you have ever been on a treasure hunt, what was that experience like? Does it help to know in advance what exactly is the treasure you are trying to find?
3. How would you describe what you treasure most in life? How does that influence how you go about each day, whether at work or in spending personal time?
4. What do you think Jesus Christ meant when He told those who were listening to “lay up treasures in heaven”? In what ways can we to do that? Are you presently doing anything to lay up treasures in heaven? Explain your answer.
Challenge For This Week
Sometime this week might be a good time for a ‘treasure hunt’ – not looking for buried treasure but making an honest personal assessment of what are those things in your life that you treasure most.
Once you have done that, share your conclusions with a good friend, mentor or advisor, and invite them to offer their comments. They might want you to do the same for them.
NOTE:
For more about what the Bible says, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 23:4; Matthew 6:25-34; 13:44-46; Luke 12:13-21,32-35; Romans 6:23
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