用最好的方式，使用話語做為武器──USING WORDS AS A WEAPON – IN THE BEST WAY
已故英國首相溫斯頓·邱吉爾是一個擁有多彩多姿歷史的複雜人物。他有許多顯著的政治經歷和成就，但他早年也有一些巨大的失敗。對他這個人來說，幸運的是，邱吉爾今天能被人們記住，是因為他在人生後期時的成就。在第二次世界大戰中，當勝利似乎非常渺茫的時刻，他勇敢的領導，鼓舞了英國及其盟國起來打敗德國。
儘管戰略是邱吉爾成功的一個重要部分，但他最好的才能，是他對話語的明智運用。事實上，他在語言溝通方面的技巧，成為英國最好的武器。由於他對話語的精心選擇，邱吉爾知道如何激勵人們，即便是不受歡迎的想法，也能把人團結起來。
以下是挑選出這位有名政治家最著名，有時也帶點幽默的語錄：
「成功不是結局，失敗也並非末日，重要的是有沒有勇氣繼續前進。」
「人有時會碰上真理， 但他們大多數會趕快避開，好像沒事發生。」
「我自認我是一個樂觀主義者，因為做別種人，我似乎也沒有什麼用。」
「成功是走過一次次的失敗，卻沒有喪失你的熱情。」
「只是盡己所能並不夠，有時候我們必須要能做到所要求的事情才行。」
而邱吉爾在1941年第二次世界大戰期間，發表過最著名的聲明是：「絕不，絕不，絕不，絕不，絕不屈服，絕不屈服，除了對於榮譽和智慧的信念外，不管是巨大的還是微小的、是重要的還是瑣碎的，不向任何事物低頭。」
這些話中的每一句都引發了許多思考。這位英國領導人顯然很了解語言的力量。但他並不是第一個認識到這一點的人。幾千年前，古代以色列國王所羅門就宣稱：「人口中的言語如同深水；智慧的泉源好像湧流的河水。」（箴言18章4節）。所羅門還指出：「生死在舌頭的權下，喜愛它的，必吃它所結的果子。」（箴言18章21節）
幾個章節之後，我們也發現針對話語的價值有這樣的評價：「有金子和許多珍珠( – 或譯：紅寶石)，惟有知識的嘴乃為貴重的珍寶。」（箴言20章15節）
我們都能想到，有時聽到某些人說話，並不注重所使用的話語。或許你自己也曾被一些人把話語當作武器所傷，所說的並不會讓聽的人受益。這也許就是為什麽我們在箴言中也發現了這個警告：「謹守口與舌的，就保守自己免受災難。」（箴言21章23節）
這些真理的應用是顯而易見的：如果我們在追求領導或希望能影響他人，也許是激勵他們向新的方向發展時，我們需要記住，我們的話語可以產生巨大的影響。制定目的和目標很重要，衡量生產力和追蹤利潤以及損失同樣也重要。但是，我們的話語卻是每天面對所有挑戰時，所能運用最偉大的武器 – 無論我們是用它們來傳遞異象，或是用來激勵和鼓舞 。
版權所有 @2022，非常規商業網絡。經“UBN Integrity Moments”許可改編，這是一篇關於工作中信仰問題的評論。 UBN 是一個為國際小企業社區服務的信仰事工。
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4章24節
4:24 你要除掉邪僻的口，棄絕乖謬的嘴。
箴言10章19-21節
10:19 多言多語難免有過；禁止嘴唇是有智慧。
10:20 義人的舌乃似高銀；惡人的心所值無幾。
10:21 義人的口教養多人；愚昧人因無知而死亡。
箴言10章32節
10:32義人的嘴能令人喜悅；惡人的口說乖謬的話。
箴言12章14節
12:14人因口所結的果子，必飽得美福；人手所做的，必為自己的報應。
箴言12章18節
12:18說話浮躁的，如刀刺人；智慧人的舌頭卻為醫人的良藥。
箴言13章3節
13:3謹守口的，得保生命；大張嘴的，必致敗亡。
箴言15章4節
15:4溫良的舌是生命樹；乖謬的嘴使人心碎。
箴言16章21節
16:21心中有智慧，必稱為通達人；嘴中的甜言，加增人的學問。
箴言17章27節
17:27寡少言語的，有知識；性情溫良的，有聰明。
箴言18章20節
18:20人口中所結的果子，必充滿肚腹；他嘴所出的，必使他飽足。
反省與問題討論
- 文章中所引用的溫斯頓·邱吉爾的哪句話讓你印象最深刻？為什麽它在你的腦海中會冒出來呢？
- 想一想什麽時候有人把話語當作武器攻擊人，而不是用來激勵聽的人，以得到更大的熱情和成就呢？當時對你的影響是什麽？當你聽到這些話語時，是否產生了有害的、甚至是洩氣的影響？
- 有句格言告訴我們：「棍棒和石頭可以打斷我的骨頭，但話語永遠不會傷害我。」你同意這樣的說法嗎？為什麽？請分享你的理由。
- 這篇週一嗎哪中提到一句箴言說：「知識的嘴乃為貴重的珍寶」，意味著它們比珍貴的寶石更有價值。你同意嗎？如果同意，請分享是如何的珍貴？
USING WORDS AS A WEAPON – IN THE BEST WAY
By Rick Boxx
The late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a complicated man with a colorful history. He had many notable political experiences and accomplishments, but his early years also included some colossal failures. Fortunately for him, Churchill is remembered today because of his accomplishments later in life. His courageous leadership spurred Great Britain and its allies on to defeat Germany in World War II when victory seemed very unlikely.
Although strategy was an important part of Churchill’s success, his best talent was his wise use of words. In fact, his skill at verbal communication became Britain’s best weapon. Because of his careful selection of words, Churchill knew how to inspire people and rally them around unpopular ideas.
Here is a sampling of some of the famous statesman’s most notable and sometimes humorous quotes:
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
“Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
“For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use to be anything else.”
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”
“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”
And perhaps Churchill’s best-known statement, made in 1941 during the midst of World War 11: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large, or petty – give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Each of those statements provokes much food for thought. The British leader certainly understood the power of words. But he was hardly the first person to recognize that. Thousands of years earlier, King Solomon of ancient Israel declared, “The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4). Some verses later, Solomon also observed, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
A couple chapters later, we find this assessment of the value of the spoken word: “Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel” (Proverbs 20:15).
We can all think of times when we heard people speak who did not have such high regard for the spoken word. Perhaps you have been victimized by someone who used words as a weapon for harm, rather than for the good of all who were listening. Perhaps this is why we also find this warning in Proverbs: “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity” (Proverbs 21:23).
The application of these truths is obvious: If we are seeking to lead or influence others, perhaps motivate them to move in a new direction, we need to remember that our words can make a great difference. The setting of goals and objectives is important, as are measuring productivity and keeping track of profits and losses. But our words – whether we use them to impart vision or to inspire and encourage – are among the greatest “weapons” at our disposal as we battle through the challenges of each day.
Copyright 2022, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Which of Winston Churchill’s quotations cited had the greatest impression on you? Why did it stand out in your mind?
- Think of a time when someone used words as a weapon, but not in a way to spur the hearers on to greater enthusiasm and accomplishments? What was the impact on you at that time – did what you heard have a detrimental, even deflating effect?
- An adage used to tell us, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
- One of the proverbs included in this “Monday Manna” says “lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel,” suggesting they are more valuable than precious gems. Do you agree – and if so, in what ways?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 4:24, 10:19-21,32, 12:14,18, 13:3, 15:4, 16:21, 17:27, 18:20
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