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有效生命投资的提示
By Lane Kramer
在上周的“周一吗哪”我们思考从投资人的观点去看生命和工作中的成功。所有投资人的共同目标是要使他们的投资报酬变得最大。但我们要如何充分运用我们已得到的技能、恩赐、经验和其他资源来完成“生命投资”？
我建议作一次“生命投资的检查”──清点各方面，以帮助自己适当地评估我们做什么、我们如何做，以及我们为何那么做。若想要作个检查，看看我们是否是我们生命的好投资人，我们要检视什么呢？更重要的是，那位指派我们管理每天资源的上帝会看什么呢？
首先，我建议要看看自己与上帝和别人的关系。问你自己：“我是否将耶稣基督放在我生命中的第一位？我是否每天花时间与祂在一起，求引导、智慧、能力、供应──以及当我犯罪时，求赦免？我能否诚实地展现祂是我生命中的第一位？”
我是否真的看重、爱、并顺服上帝？这证据在于我如何对待我的妻子、女儿、亲戚、朋友、其他信徒、顾客、供应商、还有甚至是邮差，在某些方面邮差是我最宝贵的供应商。
第 二个证据可从我们的支票簿显示出来，看看我们是把托付给我们的钱财投资并花用到哪里。当上帝把帮助别人的机会放在我们的道路中，我是否常常寻找方法去把上 帝的资金投资到祂的国度里？我是否储存适当的金额，以备将来我不能工作时得以支付生活费用？我是否谨慎地作财务投资决定，以便将来我能如圣经所说，留下财 产给我的子孙？
第三，我必须看我的行事历。我花多少小时工作？我认为上帝要我投资那么多时间在那一天或那一周吗？我是否让上帝成为我企业 的执行长，为祂的目的使用我的企业，或者我把我的职业视为我个人的资产，我用它来赚钱，然后花在我自己的欲望上？我是否每天花适当的时间，安静与上帝在一 起；与我的家人和朋友相聚；在社区中服事、帮助别人，使他们的生活更好；运动使我的身体健康、强壮，并享受一些休闲的活动？
如何投资我们生命的选择权完全在于我们自己。我们不能把这责任推给其他任何人。当我们咽下最后一口气，站在上帝面前，我希望祂对我说：“做得好，你忠心又良善地投资了我赐给你的生命。进到我的天国来，在我为你预备的地方享受永恒的安息与奖赏！”
若你最近还没有花一些时间考虑如何投资你的生命，我劝你离开办公室，花一个早上，仔细地检视你的生命投资决定。你可能会发现一个重新分配生命资源的方式──而且你将很高兴你那么做了。祝你快乐地作生命投资！
连恩．克拉玛是德州达拉斯的商人，他成立一个会员制的组织“执行长协会”，帮助执行长建立符合圣经原则和价值观的世界级公司。他的网站是www.ceoinst.com。
省思 / 讨论题目
- 你对于作“生命投资检查”有何看法？你是否曾作过个人的清点或评鉴？
- 若你准备要作一个这样的个人检查，你期待会发现什么？你是否相信自己是一个好管家或好经理，把上帝托付你照顾的各种能力、才干、经验、时间和其他资源都作了好的投资？
- 若有人要检查你的支票本、或你的行事历，他们会认为你把什么事当作你生活和事业中最重要的事？
- 你是否如作者所建议，愿意作一次生命投资的检查？为什么？请考虑把这检查排入你的行程中－－并且要求某一个人检验你是否真的做到。
注：若你有圣经且想要看有关此主题的其他经文，请看：箴言4章23节，16章2、9节，21章5节，28章20节；传道书3章1-12、22节，12章13-14节；路加福音14章28-29节
TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE LIFE-INVESTING CHECKUP
By Lane Kramer
In last week’s “Monday Manna” we considered the concept of viewing success in life and work from the perspective of an investor. One of the common goals of all good investors is the desire to maximize the return on their investments. But how can we accomplish that in terms of “life investing,” using to the fullest the skills, gifts, experience and other resources we have received?
Let me suggest a “life-investing checkup” – an inventory of sorts to help in properly assess what we are doing, how we are doing, and why we are doing it. If we want to do a checkup and see if we are being good investors of ourlives, what will we look at? Even more important, what will God look at – the One who has appointed us stewards of the resources available to us every day?
First, let me suggest that we look at the quality of our relationships with God and other people. Ask yourself, “Am I putting Jesus Christ first in my life? Am I spending time with Him on a daily basis, asking for direction, wisdom, strength, provision – and forgiveness, when I fail? Can I honestly demonstrate He is number one in my life?”
The proof of whether I really value, love and obey Godshows in how I treat my wife and daughter, other family members, friends, fellow believers, customers, vendors, and even the mail carrier, who in some respects is my most valuable business vendor.
Second, the proof is also revealed by looking at my checkbookand seeing where I am investing and spending money entrusted to me. Am I constantly looking for ways to invest God’s capital in His Kingdom as He puts opportunities in my path to help other people? Am I also saving an appropriate amount of money to help pay future expenses at a time in my life when I can no longer work? Am I making prudent financial investment decisions to eventually have money to leave to my children’s children, as it says to do in the Bible?
Third, I have to look at my calendar. How many hours do I spend at work? Isthat the amount of time I believe God wants me to invest on a particular day or week? Am I allowing God to be the CEO of my business and use it for His purposes, or do I view my career as a personal possession I use to earn moneyto spend on my own desires? Do I spend appropriate time with God in daily quiet time; developing relationships with my family members and friends; serving others in the community to help them improve their lives; exercising to keep my body healthy and fit, and enjoying some recreational activities?
The choice of how we invest our lives is ours alone. We cannot pass that responsibility on to anyone else. When I take my last breath and stand before God,I want Him to say to me “Well done, good and faithful investor of the life I gave you. Enter into My heavenly kingdom and enjoy eternal rest and rewards in the place I have prepared for you!”
If you have not dedicated some time lately to consider how you are investing your life, I would urge you to spend a morning away from the office and do a careful review of your life investment decisions. You may discover a reallocation of life resources is in order – and you will be glad you did. Happy Life Investing!
Lane Kramer is a Dallas, Texas business who founded The CEO Institute, a membership-based organization to help CEOs build world-class companies consistent with biblical principles and values. His website is www.ceoinst.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- What do you think about the idea of doing a “life-investing checkup”? Have you ever done a personal inventory or assessment like that before?
- If you were to undertake such a personal checkup, what might you expect to discover? Do you believe you are being a good steward or manager of the various abilities, talents, experience, time and other resources that have been entrusted to your care?
- If someone were to examine your checkbook, or your calendar, what might they conclude about the things you regard of greatest importance in your life and business?
- Would you be willing to do a life-investing checkup, as Mr. Kramer has suggested? Why or why not?Consider scheduling it on your calendar – and asking someone to hold you accountable to follow through on that commitment.
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Proverbs 4:23, 16:2,9, 21:5, 28:20; Ecclesiastes 3:1-12,22, 12:13-14; Luke 14:28-29
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