一事如是，百事皆然──HOW WE DO ANYTHING IS HOW WE DO EVERYTHING
最近，我很榮幸被邀請向一群企業家演講，關於「一事如是，百事皆然（HOW WE DO ANYTHING IS HOW WE DO EVERYTHING）」的主題。這個觀念與誠信正直密切相關。誠信（Integrity）一詞源自於「整數」（integer）相同的詞根，意思是「一個」或「整合」，也就是整體一致。
這個觀點是我們可以觀察自己生活中的一個領域，或者他人的生活領域，然後將其應用到其他領域。例如，一個衣著得體且整潔的人，可能也會保持汽車和住屋的整潔。有人提出以現金方式支付發票費用，因為他們認為這樣可以逃避收入報支，這樣的人，絕對不會是我考慮作為業務合作夥伴的對象。一個具有藝術天賦的人，很可能會有搭配合宜的家俱和色彩豐富的牆壁。基本上，這是因為一事如是，百事皆然。
雇主在帶應徵者出去吃午餐時，會顯明一些事情。他們會讓應徵者自己開車，觀察他們的車子狀況，然後留意應徵者對待服務生的態度。他們明白，一個人對待服務生的態度，就能反映出他們對待客戶的態度，同樣地，他們對待公司設備的方式，也不會比對待自己的車子更好。這些都是很好的測試，因為一事如是，百事皆然。
我們也可以用同樣的角度來看待企業。如果一家企業對待員工不公平，我們可以預期它對待客戶的態度也會類似。另一方面，如果一家企業，通常情況下，有員工在那裡工作了20或30年，我們有理由相信這是一個好的工作環境，同時也是一家值得合作的好公司。而對於一位駕駛著充滿凹痕且保養不良車輛的水電工，我不會對他們的工作有信心。
我們可以用這個原則來檢視自己。我有哪些壞習慣，會影響到我生活的其他層面？相反地，我們可以檢視我們喜歡或擅長的事情，看看哪種工作最適合我們。如果我們真的喜歡做預算或追蹤個人的財務狀況，我們很可能適合擔任理財顧問、會計師或報稅代理人的工作。如果我們不喜歡處理金錢，就不應該在銀行應聘工作。而聖經對此有何教導呢？
我們內在的本質會透過外在的表現顯露出來。有些人試圖欺騙他人，裝出與他們真實本性不符的外表。然而，最終我們對於自己的內在本質和外在所作所為，都要向上帝交帳。「人一切所行的，在自己眼中看為清潔；惟有耶和華衡量人心」（箴言16章2節）「人所行的，在自己眼中都看為正直；惟有耶和華衡量人心。」（箴言21章2節）
我們的信仰透過我們的行為展現出來。口頭上說我們相信上帝，是一回事，但透過我們在工作中的行為展現出來，則是另一回事。「因為我們是與神同工的；你們是神所耕種的田地，所建造的房屋」（哥林多前書3章9節）「你當竭力在神面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人…」（提摩太後書2章15節）
一事如是，百事皆然。行為是假冒偽善的試金石，若聲稱或假裝與真實自我或信仰相反，很容易會顯露出來。我們不能僅僅根據外表來判斷，但最終真實的自我總會浮現。「因為他心怎樣思量，他為人就是怎樣…」（箴言23章7節）「水中照臉，彼此相符；人與人，心也相對。」（箴言27章19節）
©2023 Jim Mathis是堪薩斯州歐弗蘭帕克的作家，攝影師和企業主。他的最新著作是【駱駝和針: 基督徒看財富和金錢。The Camel and the Needle：A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money】他曾任堪薩斯州堪薩斯城和密蘇里州堪薩斯城的咖啡店經理和CBMC執行理事。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請考慮下面的經文：
撒母耳記上16章7節
16:7耶和華卻對撒母耳說：不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為，耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌；耶和華是看內心。
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7節
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。
歌羅西書4章5-6節
4:5你們要愛惜光陰，用智慧與外人交往。
4:6你們的言語要常常帶著和氣，好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。
彼得前書3章15-16節
3:15只要心裡尊主基督為聖。有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔、敬畏的心回答各人；
3:16存著無虧的良心，叫你們在何事上被毀謗，就在何事上可以叫那誣賴你們在基督裡有好品行的人自覺羞愧。
反省與問題討論
- 對於「一事如是，百事皆然」這個說法，你的第一反應是什麼？你能想到任何例子證明這句話不正確嗎？
- 看看自己的生命，根據你與他人互動的方式，無論是與餐廳的服務生，還是每天與你共事的人，人們會如何評價你呢？
- 你認為有些人試圖假裝成某種樣子，但實際上，跟他們的本質是截然不同，你認為這對他們而言，是否很辛苦呢？
- 如果有的話，考慮到上帝不是根據我們外在的樣子，而是根據我們的內心和動機來審判我們，這一點有多重要呢？如果你相信這一點，這種理解會如何影響你整天的行為舉止呢？
HOW WE DO ANYTHING IS HOW WE DO EVERYTHING
By Jim Mathis
Recently I was honored to be asked to speak to a group of businessmen on the subject, “How we do anything is how we do everything.” This idea is closely connected with integrity. Integrity comes from the same root word as integer, which means “one” and “integrate” – meaning all together.
The thought is that we can observe one area of our life, or someone else’s for that matter, and translate that to other areas as well. For example, someone who dresses impeccably probably has a clean car and a clean house. Someone who offers to pay an invoice in cash because they think it would be a way for the business to avoid reporting the income would never be someone I would consider to be a partner in my business. An artistic person is quite likely to have well-coordinated furniture and walls painted in interesting colors. Basically, this is because how we do anything is how we do everything.
Employers find it revealing when they take potential employees out to lunch. They have the applicant drive to see what condition their car is in, then note how the prospective hire treats the server. They understand that individuals will treat clients no better than they treat a server at a restaurant – and will maintain company equipment no better than they do their own car. These are good tests because how we do anything is how we do everything.
We can also look at businesses through the same lens. If a business treats their employees unfairly, we can expect that it will have similar attitudes toward customers. On the other hand, if a business typically has employees that have been there for 20 or 30 years, we have reason to believe it is a good place to work – and thus, also a good company to do business with. I would not have confidence in a plumber or electrician who drives a dented and poorly maintained vehicle.
We can use this principle to examine ourselves. What bad habits do I have that spill onto other areas of my life? Conversely, we can examine the things we enjoy or are very skilled at doing to see what type of work fits us best. If we really enjoy budgeting or keeping track of our personal finances, we would likely be a good financial planner, accountant, or tax preparer. If we dislike having to deal with money, we would be unwise to apply for a job at a bank. But what does the Bible have to say about this?
Who we are inside shows through who we are on the outside. Some people try to deceive others, putting on appearances that do not represent who they truly are. But God holds us accountable for who we are and what we do. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2).“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2).
Our faith is revealed through our actions. It is one thing to say we believe in God, but it is something else to demonstrate that through the way we conduct ourselves at work. “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed…” (2 Timothy 2:15).
How we do anything is how we do everything. One measure of hypocrisy is claiming to be or to believe something contrary to who we genuinely are or believe. We cannot always judge by outward appearances, but eventually the true self will show through. “As a he thinks within his heart, so he is” (Psalm 23:7). “As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man” (Proverbs 27:19).
© 2023. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer and small business owner in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is The Camel and the Needle, A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money. He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- What is your first reaction to the statement, “How we do anything is how we do everything”? Can you think of any examples when you have seen that to be inaccurate?
- Looking at your own life, how would people evaluate you based on the way you interact with other people, whether it is a server in a restaurant or those you work with every day?
- How difficult do you think it is for some people attempting to represent themselves as being one way when in fact they are someone very different?
- Why is it important, if at all, to consider that God judges us based not on how we appear on the outside, but according to our hearts – our motives? If you believe that, how does that understanding affect how you conduct yourself throughout the day?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 4:23, 16:7, 22:11; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 3:15-16
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