路加福音12章: 贿赂与经商
我有一个好朋友, 他是主内的弟兄, 在国内有自己的小生意. 他相信神, 真心想要跟随主, 但却面临着中国生意场上普遍存在的贿赂问题.
客户和供应商们往往想要拿”红包”, 有些生意人甚至想要包括卡拉OK和小姐的”娱乐”.
基督徒显然是不能参与这些事的. 又或者—或许他们可以? 送礼使交易顺利又有何妨? 哪怕是基督徒生意人也送客人圣诞礼物. 那么,问题就在于: 什么是礼物? 什么是贿赂? 神向我们展示了两者的区别.
我们读到:”神爱世人, 甚至将他的独生子赐给他们…”(约翰福音3:16) 神爱我们, 所以他将主耶稣赐给了我们. 因此, 礼物首先是基于爱. 再看一下主耶稣的态度:”仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣. 他因那摆在前面的喜乐, 就轻看羞辱, 忍受了十字架的苦难…”(希伯来书12:2) 主耶稣在喜乐中为我们舍己! 所以, 真正的礼物是欢欢喜喜给出的. 最后, 神从未迫使我们给予或接受礼物. 真正的礼物, 决不搀杂任何压力或要求.
礼物所联系的是爱, 喜乐和0压力. 贿赂不适用于以上条目. 贿赂是黑暗和遮掩的.
我写以下内容, 为的是鼓励基督徒生意人跟从主耶稣. 我们会使用路加福音12章.
主耶稣说, 掩盖的事, 没有不被显露出来的, “你们在暗中所说的,将要在明处被人听见;在内室附耳所说的,将要在房上被人宣扬.” (路加福音12:2-3)
不要参与不道德的商业行为. 是的, 客户会给压力, 买家会给压力, 检查人员会给压力, 老板会给压力, 但主耶稣告诉我们:”我的朋友, 我对你们说, 那杀身体以后不能再做什么的, 不要怕他们. 我要指示你们当怕的是谁, 当怕那杀了以后又有权柄丢在地狱里的. 我实在告诉你们: 正要怕他.” (路加福音12:4-5)
谁真正对你的生命掌权?-- 独一的真神上帝. 任何人对你所具有的权力, 都是神交在他们手中的.(约翰福音19:10,11) 我们当单单敬畏神, 在众人面前敬畏神. 对神的敬畏并非像是对敌人的惧怕. 神爱世人, 所以对神的敬畏更像是尊重. 再看一下上面的经文, 看到了吗, 主耶稣称呼你为”朋友”.
在中国, 我们都知道关系网的重要性. 主耶稣称你为朋友, 他还说:”五个麻雀不是卖二分银子吗? 但在神面前, 一个也不忘记, 就是你们的头发也都被数过了. 不要惧怕, 你们比许多麻雀还贵重.” (路加福音12:6-7)
神想让我们知道的是, 他了解我们一切的需求, 他会照看我们. 看一下主耶稣还告诉了我们什么,”我又告诉你们:’凡在人面前认我的, 人子在神的使者面前也必认他; 在人面前不认我的, 人子在神的使者面前也必不认他.’” (路加福音12:8-9)
尊重神, 神必尊重你. 中国人重视关系, 但有什么关系更胜于我们和神的友谊呢?!
就在上周, 文中提到的那位朋勇敢地说:”神就是我公司的C.E.O, 我是总经理, 我已经把我的公司都交托给了神. 神要让这家公司继续下去或是结束, 我都很平安.”
神祝福这样的态度, 事实上这就是在众人面前”承认” 主耶稣. 我的这位朋友能与神有这样的友谊是多么蒙福啊! 你也可以!
德明，翻译：Gadfly
Luke 12: Bribery & Business
I have a good friend – a brother – who owns a small business in China. He believes and truly wants to follow Jesus, but is faced with “normal” Chinese business practice of bribery.
Customers and suppliers often expect “hong bao,” or a red packet. Furthermore businessmen often expect “entertainment” which often involves karaoke evenings with young pretty escorts, followed by massages.
Christians obviously cannot be involved in this. Or can they? What is wrong with giving a gift to smooth a transaction? Even Christian businesses give Christmas gifts to customers. The question is: when is it a gift, and when is it a bribe? God shows us the difference.
We read: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16.) God gave Jesus because He loved. So, firstly, gifts are love-based. Furthermore, look at Jesus’ attitude: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2.) Jesus gave His life for us in joy! So, true gifts are given in joy. Lastly, God never demands that we give or accept gifts. Neither pressure nor demands are involved in true gift giving.
Love, joy and zero pressure are linked to gifts. Bribes do not fit this category. They are dark and secretive.
I write the rest of this paper to encourage Christian business people to follow Jesus. We will use Luke 12.
Jesus says that whatever is done in secret will be exposed: “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
Don’t be involved in immoral business practices. Yes, there is pressure from customers, buyers, inspectors and bosses, but Jesus says: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.”
Who really has power over your life? Only God does. Any power anyone thinks they have over you, it is by God’s authority. (Read John 19:10,11.) Fear only God. We should fear Him before people – but this is not fear like one fear an enemy. God loves you. This is rather a respect for God. Look again at the above verse. Can you see? Jesus calls you, “friend.”
In China we know that relationship is very important. Jesus calls you friend, and then: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
God is saying that He knows your every need and will take care of you. Look what else Jesus says: “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”
Stand up for God and Jesus will stand up for you. In China relationship is very important. What better relationship can there be than one with God?
Just last week my abovementioned friend made these bold statements for God. He said, “God is the C.E.O. of my company and I am just the G.M. I have given my company to God. He can grow it or destroy it and I feel peace.”
God blesses such attitudes. In fact, this is called “acknowledging” Jesus before men. My friend is blessed to have God as his friend. You can too.
德明，翻译：Gadflyy
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