履歷或個人簡歷是有趣的文件。上面呈現出教育程度、工作經驗、專業技能、成就和認證，能夠幫助評估求職者的能力與資質，作為完成特定工作的憑據。

但是，一個關鍵的特質卻很少出現在履歷中：品格。和其他特質一樣，品格在許多方面會產生很大的影響：一個人的工作表現、個人如何與團隊中的其他成員建立關係並合作，以及他們在哲學觀和價值觀方面，如何適應公司或組織的文化。

傳奇大學籃球教練約翰．伍登（John Wooden）的加州大學洛杉磯分校（UCLA）球隊，在1964年至1975年之間贏得了10次全國冠軍。他說，如果要在建立良好名聲和培養堅強品格之間做出選擇，一定要選擇後者：「比起名聲，要更注意自己的品格，因為你的品格就是你真正的本性，而名聲僅僅是別人對你的看法而已。」

已故的馬丁路德．金恩（Martin Luther King, Jr.）博士一生致力於社會正義，在著名的演講＜我有一個夢想I Have a Dream＞中說：「我有一個夢想，就是我的四個孩子有一天會住在一個不會根據膚色，而是根據他們的品格來評斷他們的國家。」

在一個重視外在的世界裡，內在的品格決定了我們如何行事為人、如何與他人互動、所信奉的價值觀，以及堅持的信念。在道德困境中，品格能幫助人做出正確的選擇，而非方便行事。

整本聖經都在強調品格的重要性。耶穌基督譴責專用外表掩飾邪惡動機的宗教領袖時，並沒有閃爍其詞。「你們這假冒為善的文士和法利賽人有禍了！因為你們好像粉飾的墳墓，外面好看，裏面卻裝滿了死人的骨頭和一切的污穢。」（馬太福音23章27節）過了一會兒，祂說：「你們也是如此，在人前，外面顯出公義來，裏面卻裝滿了假善和不法的事。」（馬太福音23章28節）

舊約中有類似的觀察：「火熱的嘴，奸惡的心，好像銀渣包的瓦器。」（箴言26章23節）用21世紀的觀念來比喻，就像用薄薄的金子覆蓋廉價的塑膠玩具一樣。外觀看似無價之寶，內在卻依然毫無價值。

也許聖經中關於品格最多傳講的啟示，發生在先知撒母耳尋覓以色列國王掃羅的繼任者的過程中。先知幾乎評估過所有耶西的兒子之後，上帝告訴撒母耳，他們雖然儀表堂堂，卻都不合適：「耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌；耶和華是看內心。」（撒母耳記上16章7節）另一名兒子——牧羊人大衛要被帶來，後來他為上帝成就了大事。

某種意義上來說，履歷可能會告訴其他人我們的名聲。但是，我們希望他們如何認識我們的品格？

© 2020. 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。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多和這個主題相關的內容，請參考以下經文：

反省與問題討

1. 你有多重視良好的名聲？你又有多在乎其他人是否有好名聲?尤其是當他與你有關，或要與你做生意的時候。
2. 從個人的觀點，你認為名聲和品格之間的區別是什麼？如何建立良好的名聲？又該如何樹立良好的品格？兩者的步驟是否相同？請解釋你的答案。
3. 你能想到某位你認識或曾經認識，雖然有良好名聲，但熟識之後才發現其品格很差的人嗎？你是如何發現的？
4. 你覺得為什麼聖經—換句話說，上帝—如此重視良好的品格，不只是外表好，也要重視內在？你覺得一個人要如何培養屬神的品格？

箴言4章23節
4:23 你要保守你心，勝過保守一切（或譯：你要切切保守你心），因為一生的果效是由心發出。
箴言16章2、7節
16:2 人一切所行的，在自己眼中看為清潔；惟有耶和華衡量人心。
16:7 人所行的，若蒙耶和華喜悅，耶和華也使他的仇敵與他和好。
箴言20章9、27節
20:9 誰能說，我潔淨了我的心，我脫淨了我的罪？
20:27 人的靈是耶和華的燈，鑒察人的心腹。
箴言21章2節
21:2 人所行的，在自己眼中都看為正；惟有耶和華衡量人心。
箴言22章11節
22:11 喜愛清心的人因他嘴上的恩言，王必與他為友。
路加福音11章37-44節
11:37 說話的時候，有一個法利賽人請耶穌同他吃飯，耶穌就進去坐席。
11:38 這法利賽人看見耶穌飯前不洗手便詫異。
11:39 主對他說：「如今你們法利賽人洗淨杯盤的外面，你們裏面卻滿了勒索和邪惡。
11:40 無知的人哪，造外面的，不也造裏面嗎？
11:41 只要把裏面的施捨給人，凡物於你們就都潔淨了。
11:42 「你們法利賽人有禍了！因為你們將薄荷、芸香並各樣菜蔬獻上十分之一，那公義和愛　神的事反倒不行了。這原是你們當行的；那也是不可不行的。
11:43 你們法利賽人有禍了！因為你們喜愛會堂裏的首位，又喜愛人在街市上問你們的安。
11:44 你們有禍了！因為你們如同不顯露的墳墓，走在上面的人並不知道。」
使徒行傳23章3節
23:3 保羅對他說：「你這粉飾的牆，　神要打你！你坐堂為的是按律法審問我，你竟違背律法，吩咐人打我嗎？」
加拉太書6章12節
6:12 凡希圖外貌體面的人都勉強你們受割禮，無非是怕自己為基督的十字架受逼迫。

CHARACTER – AN OVERLOOKED PROFESSIONAL QUALITY

By Robert J.Tamasy

Resumes, or if you prefer, curriculum vitae, are interesting documents. They can represent education, work experience, professional skills, achievements and certifications. They help in evaluating a job candidate’s competence and credentials – their qualifications for performing specific work.

But one key element is rarely, if ever, shown on a resume or curriculum vitae: Character. And yet, perhaps as much as any single quality, character can have a great impact in many ways: a person’s job performance; how the individual relates to and works with other members of the team, and also how they fit into a company’s or organization’s culture, both in terms of philosophy and values.

Legendary college basketball coach John Wooden, whose UCLA teams won 10 national championships between 1964 and 1975, said if given a choice between having a good reputation and cultivating strong character, always choose the latter: “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

The late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who dedicated his life to the pursuit of social justice, said during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

In a world in which outward appearances receive so much attention, inner character determines how we conduct ourselves, how we interact with others, what values we embrace, and the beliefs we hold dear. In an ethical dilemma, character enables someone to choose right over expedience.

The importance of character is underscored throughout the Bible. Jesus Christ did not mince words when He denounced religious leaders who specialized in presenting an outward façade that belied their evil motives. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27). Moments later, He declared, “In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:28).
 
In the Old Testament we find a similar observation: “Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). To carry the metaphor into the 21^st century, this would be like covering a cheap plastic toy with a thin layer of gold. Outwardly it might look like a priceless object, but on the inside it remains something of very little value.

Perhaps the most telling revelation about character in all of the Scriptures occurred when the prophet Samuel was seeking the successor to Israel’s King Saul. After the prophet had assessed nearly all of the sons of Jesse, God told Samuel that despite appearances, not one of them was suitable: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Another son needed to be brought forth, David, a shepherd boy, who accomplished much for God.

In one sense, a resume may tell others about our reputation. But what do we want them to know about our character?

© 2020. Robert J. Tamasy has written numerous books, including Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Tufting Legacies;The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard; and has edited other books. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How much importance do you place on having a good reputation? What about other people – how important is it for you to associate with, or do business with people having good reputations? 
2. What, in your view, is the difference between reputation and character? How is a good reputation built? How about forming good character – are the steps the same? Explain your answer. 
3. Can you think of someone you know – or have known – that had a good reputation but, once you got to know them, they proved to be of poor character? How was that revealed? 
4. Why do you think the Bible – and ultimately, God – place such a high premium on having good character, of not just looking good on the outside, but also on the inside? How do you think a person goes about cultivating godly character?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 4:23, 16:2,7, 20:9,27, 21:2, 22:11; Luke 11:37-44; Acts 23:3; Galatians 6:12

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