在新的管理之下工作
By Robert J. Tamasy
你曾經在開車時看過這個標誌「新的管理進駐」很明顯地掛在大樓的外面嗎？你覺得這句話給你正面的感覺嗎？
我可以想出一兩個我喜歡去的餐廳，他們開始做得很好，後來品質或是服務開始下降，以至於我越來越少去光顧這些餐廳。而當我看到他們的窗戶上掛著「新的管理進駐」我就會開始想：「要不要再去一次，看看是不是有甚麼改變？」
一樣地，在大公司裡面，當一個舊的領導人離開，一個新的執行長來告訴我們更大更好的未來藍圖。也許是汽車製造商、教育機構、或是一個知名的零售商，當一個組織掙扎於沒落或是處於困境中，「新的管理進駐」經常能讓股東感到安全，即便是暫時的，也能安撫一些失望的顧客和支持者。
如果把這個想法帶到個人的層面，你覺得自己的生活是否需要新的管理，也許是一些你覺得不好的行為模式會影響你和員工和同事、甚至是和客戶的溝通。或許是易怒的脾氣?甚至不知道自己在生氣甚麼，就是無法壓抑自己的怒氣？或是每天在生活中、工作上讓你苦惱的試探。你想要做一些改變或者行動，卻感到無助?不知道自己是不是能夠改變這些事情。
如果你有機會改變，也不需要花太多力氣，你願意嘗試看看嗎？幾年前，有人踏入我的生活，把一些能帶來改變的聖經真理告訴我。現在我也把它們分享給你：
我們有機會改變。成為耶穌基督的跟隨者，不是只接受饒恕和死後的永恆生命而已，也意味著我們在靈性上要過一個新生活。過一個新生活代表有能力能克服舊的壞習慣，不是靠著我們的意志力，而是耶穌基督給我們聖靈的能力。「若有人在基督裏，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。」(哥林多後書5章17節)。「我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活椾的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活；並且我如今在肉身活椾，是因信上帝的兒子而活；他是愛我，為我捨己。」 (加拉太書2章20節)。「所以，我們藉椾洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉椾父的榮耀從死裏復活一樣。」(羅馬書6章4節)
我們有能力可以從罪中被釋放得自由。有一些人把所謂基督徒的生活看作是：認同一套新規則、儀式和規定。但是聖經告訴我們，基督徒的新生命是有能力離開罪惡，罪的定義就是脫離神完美的標準，沒有辦法活出神希望我們活出的樣式。「這樣，你們向罪也當看自己是死的；向上帝在基督耶穌裏，卻當看自己是活的。」 (羅馬書6章11節)「你們既從罪裏得了釋放，就作了義的奴僕。」(羅馬書6章8節)
也許你需要開始把你生活的焦點轉向耶穌基督。或者，當耶穌的門徒，你還沒經歷到他的大能，讓你能夠「在新的管理之下」，也許今天就是一個起點，從祈禱和得到朋友的支持開始。
勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。
省思／討論題目
當你看到一些企業和組織宣稱：「在新的管理進駐」，你有甚麼感覺？ 你個人認為：「新的管理進駐」是甚麼樣的概念？甚麼時候，你會覺得這是個好主意，但是懷疑自己是否真的能達到？ 在本篇週一嗎哪裡面談到聖經告訴我們要更新，甚至成為一個完全新造的人，透過耶穌基督的大能，是真能做到的，而非天馬行空。你的反應是甚麼？你親身經歷過或者你現在正在經歷這樣的更新嗎？ 在職場或是個人生活的層面，你覺得聖經中所說「成為義的奴僕是甚麼？」你覺得它吸引你嗎？你覺得結果會如何呢，分享你的看法。
備註: 如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多關於這個主題的經文，請參考：約翰福音15:1-5; 使徒行傳 17:28; 羅馬書 6:3-14,16-23; 7:21-8:2; 腓立比書 4:13
WORKING “UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT”
By Robert J. Tamasy
Have you ever driven past a business and noticed the sign, “Under New Management,” prominently displayed on the exterior? It makes you wonder if that will prove to be a good thing or not, right?
I can think of a restaurant or two that I enjoyed going to until their quality and/or service declined, making it less appealing to continue patronizing them. When I saw “Under New Management” across the front window or marquee, I wondered, “Should I visit them again and see what has changed?”
The same applies to large corporations, where old leadership is removed and a new CEO is appointed with promises of bigger and better things to come. When an organization is struggling or falls on hard times, whether it is a for-profit auto manufacturer, an educational institution, or a well-known retail chain, the promise of being Under New Management often serves to calm stakeholders, at least temporarily, and placate disillusioned customers or supporters.
But taking this idea to a more personal level, have you ever felt the need in your life to be “under new management”? Maybe there are some behavioral traits you are not proud of. A hair-trigger temper that sometimes causes you trouble in your interactions with employees, colleagues or even customers? Perhaps underlying feelings of anger you find difficult to repress – even when you cannot identify exactly why you are angry? Or other temptations that plague you every day, whether at work or in your personal life? You would like to change, to feel or act differently, but feel helpless in being able to do so.
What would you say if presented the opportunity to make desired changes, and it would not take much effort on your part to experience it? Years ago someone came into my life and helped me to understand and apply some biblical truths that I found to be transformative – truly life-changing. Here are some of them, for your consideration:
We are offered the opportunity to become “new.” Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ means a lot more than receiving forgiveness for sins and assurance of life after death. It also means we truly receive new life spiritually. With this comes the capacity to overcome old habits and destructive behaviors, not through our own initiative but through the power of Jesus living in us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20). “…just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
We are freed from the power of our old ways. Some view the so-called “Christian life” as attempting to conform to a new set of rules, rituals and regulations. However, the Bible teaches we become freed from the power of sin – defined as “missing the mark” of God”s perfect standards – and instead are enabled to live as God always intended. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness”
Perhaps you need to turn your life over to Jesus Christ for the first time. Or maybe, even as one of His followers, you have failed to recognize and appropriate His power to become “under new management.” Today might be a good day to start, by praying and enlisting the support of trusted friends.
© 2016. Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Bob has written Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; and coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, as well as other books. His biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Describe a time you decided to patronize a business or organization that announced it was “under new management.” What do you think of the idea of being “under new management” personally? Have there ever been times when you thought that might be a good idea, but wondered if it was even possible to achieve? If so, in what ways? This “Monday Manna” talks about the Bible declaring that becoming new – even a “new creation” – is not a fanciful notion but a real possibility, through the power of Jesus Christ. How do you respond to that? Has that been your experience? Are you experiencing that now? Whether applied to the context of the workplace, or one”s personal life, what do you think it means when the Bible talks about becoming a “slave to righteousness”? Does that make you curious or sound interesting to you in any way? Does it sound ominous? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: John 15:1-5; Acts 17:28; Romans 6:3-14,16-23; 7:21-8:2; Philippians 4:13
