我家的牧場計劃一項重要的建築工程：用做為戰爭中受到嚴重身體、精神和情感傷害之退伍軍人的服務設施。這個建築物需要大量的改建與裝修，我們要盡快完成這項工作。

有一個人來和我們討論這個工程，並說他可以做，所以我們與他簽了合約。但是他沒有在承諾的時間出現。我打電話給他，他給了我另一個日期，向我保證他會準時來，但他還是沒出現。我盡可能地有耐心和存理解的心，再次打電話給他。他給了我另一個開工的日期，並向我保證他一定會來，但是令人驚訝的是，他竟然第三次的沒出現。三次揮棒落空，就該出局了！於是我解雇了他，僱用了另外一家公司。值得慶幸的是，現在工作已經完成了。

最近，令我非常驚訝的是，我解雇的那個人打電話給我，說他要為我們的退伍軍人事工提供一筆大額捐款。我問他為什麽。他說，好的事工都應該得到支持。他說的很好聽，但我決定對這個承包商進行更深入的了解，我不止一次的學習到，上帝永遠在工作，即便有時我們並不知道祂在做什麽。

我會形容這個人，像釘子一樣地堅韌。但是，當他告訴我他極其嚴重的、瀕臨死亡的健康狀況，以及他公司所面臨的重大問題時，他竟然開始哭泣了。因此，我決定開80多公里的車，和他進行一對一、面對面的會談。我問了一些問題，然後我傾聽；我繼續問更多問題，然後又聽他說了更多。

這個人所告訴我的，是很了不起的。如果有任何人，能通過做好事上天堂，那麼這個人一定是其中之一了，因為他透過自己的建築生意，雇用和培養了很多人。50多年來，他為他的社區做出了不少重大和成功的貢獻。

然而，真正的真理是，如果「好行為」可以讓任何人進入天堂，那麽耶穌基督一定是個傻瓜，祂竟然甘願上十字架，只為了我們的「罪」而受死。羅馬書3章10節告訴我們：「就如(經上)所記：沒有義人，連一個也沒有。惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，上帝的愛就在此向我們顯明了。」（羅馬書5章8節）

當我回顧這次，我認為是上帝所安排的會面時，我想到這個寶貴的經驗，可以讓我們每個人都受益：

1. 在生活和工作中，要有所保留地答應，但超出努力的實現(under-promise and over-perform.答應的少、做到的多)。
2. 如果出現了問題，寧願告訴別人壞消息，而不要根本沒有消息。
3. 不要過度承諾。
4. 以終為始，並貫徹執行。
5. 也許最重要的是：作為基督徒，我們代表著祂，即便是對那些讓我們失望而且沒有遵守承諾的人。我們可能是別人唯一在讀的「聖經」。我們應該時刻準備好活出並分享神的真理。

耶穌說：「你們的話，是，就說是；不是，就說不是；若再多說就是出於那惡者 。」（馬太福音5章37節）貫徹我們所承諾的事情，並不會讓我們惹上麻煩。

Ken Korkow居住在美國內布拉斯加州的奧馬哈市，他擔任該地的CBMC區域總監。本篇文章改編自他的「生活傳真｣專欄。經許可使用。

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：
箴言10章9節
10:9 他埋伏在暗地，如獅子蹲在洞中。他埋伏，要擄去困苦人；他拉網，就把困苦人擄去。
箴言11章3節
11:3根基若毀壞，義人還能做甚麼呢？
箴言12章19節
12:19口吐真言，永遠堅立；舌說謊話，只存片時。
箴言20章25節
20:25人冒失說，這是聖物，許願之後才查問，就是自陷網羅。
箴言24章26節
24:26應對正直的，猶如與人親嘴。
馬太福音5章36節
5:36又不可指着你的頭起誓，因為你不能使一根頭髮變黑變白了。
雅各書5章12節
5:12我的弟兄們，最要緊的是不可起誓；不可指着天起誓，也不可指着地起誓，無論何誓都不可起。你們說話，是，就說是；不是，就說不是，免得你們落在審判之下。

反省與問題討論

1. 當別人沒有遵守或落實承諾時，你通常會如何反應？
2. 你是否曾經沒有履行自己所做的重要承諾？你是如何處理的？被你辜負的人有什麽反應？
3. 聖經中有關於饒恕（沒有得到我們所應得的）和恩典（得到我們所不應得的）的教導。在工作場所活出我們的信仰時，饒恕和恩典在我們的商業交易中會放在任何重要的位置嗎？如果是，是以什麽方式呈現？如同前述，一個人沒有履行承諾，和饒恕與恩典有什麽關係呢？
4. 在本週的週一嗎哪結尾處引用的經驗中，哪些對你來說似乎是最有意義或最重要的？請解釋一下你的答案。

LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH FAILURE

By  Ken Korkow 

We had a major construction job at my family’s ranch where we have established facilities for serving military veterans who have suffered serious injury – physical, mental, and emotional – in combat. The building required considerable repairs and we needed the work completed as soon as possible. 

An individual came to discuss the project and said he would do it, so we awarded him the contract. Then he did not show when he had promised. I called him, and he gave me another date, assuring me he would be there as promised. But again, he did not show up. So, trying to be as patient and understanding as I could be, I called him again. He gave me another date for starting the work, assuring me that he would be there as promised. Amazingly, he failed to show up a third time. Strike three, you’re out! I fired him and hired another company. Thankfully, the job is now completed.

Recently, to my great surprise, the guy I fired called me. He said he was going to make a significant donation to our work with combat veterans. I asked why. He said good work deserves support. What he said was nice to hear, but I decided to probe deeper with this contractor – I have learned time and again that God is always at work, even when we cannot understand what He is doing.

I would describe this fellow as tough as nails. However, he started to cry as he told me about his
extremely serious, to-the-point-of-death health issues, as well as critical issues he was facing in his company. So, I decided to drive more than 50 miles to have a one-on-one, face-to-face meeting with him. I asked questions. Then I listened. I asked more questions. Then listened some more. 

What this man told me was amazing. If anyone could get to heaven by doing good deeds, this guy would be it, because he has hired and developed many men through his construction business. For more than 50 years he has made significant and successful contributions to his community.

The truth is, however, that if “good” could get anyone to heaven, then Jesus Christ was a fool to willingly go to the cross and die for our sins. Romans 3:10 tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…there is no one who does good, not even one.” But the good news is, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

As I reviewed this encounter, which I considered a divine appointment, it occurred to me that it taught valuable lessons that could benefit every one of us:

1. In life and work, under-promise and over-perform. 
2. If problems come up, be willing to deliver the bad news rather than to give no news at all. 
3. Do not get over-committed. 
4. Begin with the end in mind and follow through. 
5. Perhaps most important: As followers of Jesus Christ, we represent Him, even to people who have disappointed us and even failed to keep their commitments. We may be the only ‘Bible’ others are reading. We should always be ready to live out and share God’s Truth.

It was Jesus who said, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” (Matthew 5:37). It is difficult to get in trouble by following through on what we have promised to do.

© 2023. Ken Korkow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., where he serves as an area director for CBMC. This is adapted from his “Fax of Life” column. Used with permission.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How do you typically react when people fail to keep their promises or follow through on their
   commitments?
2. Has there ever been a time when you did not fulfill an important commitment you had made? How did you deal with that? How did the person or people you failed react?
3. The Bible teaches about mercy (not receiving what we deserve) and grace (receiving what we do not deserve). In living out our faith in the workplace, do mercy and grace have any place in our business dealings? If so, in what ways? How would they relate to a circumstance such as that described above,when a person fails to follow through on promises?
4. Which of the lessons learned cited at the end of this Monday Manna seem most significant or most important for you? Explain your answer.

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 10:9, 11:3, 12:19, 20:25, 24:26; Matthew 5:36; James 5:12

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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