祈求和感謝
2005 年 5 月

事奉更上一層樓 (一) : 「用腦筋」
江錦培牧師  總幹事

容我在此與大家分享一下，我對於令「事奉更上一層樓」的心得點滴。此分享將分為兩部份，第一部份是如何「用腦筋」事奉。
「用腦筋」的事奉就是：
1. 善用基本意識
我所指的是保持禮貌和良好態度：當你請求或已得到別人幫助時，記住說句「唔該！」、「謝謝！」。見面或離開時不妨說聲「早晨！」或「再見！」。必須準時上班或出席會議。如果不能勝任，就不要逞強；即使勝任有餘，亦要謙虛不辭。以鼓勵和欣賞代替批評或埋怨。錯了就說「對不起」。對某事一竅不通，即管坦白承認。面對一件工作時，自問：我想做些甚麼？我為何要做？我會如何做？我何時去做？我在何處去做？誰會受到影響？
這些基本意識不是我們從學校裡學習得來，而是從小潛移默化已成的觀念。當我們能夠運用這些基本意識，就能與人建立更美好及和諧的關係。我在事奉上有足夠的基本意識嗎？

2. 增進知識和技巧
基本意識讓我們知道，無人是萬能通天曉。因此我們需要汲取知識和技巧，才能令事奉不斷進步。而這意味著要下苦功。但在現今的「即食文化」中，任何事都要即時、馬上，如即食麵、即沖咖啡、即飲罐頭湯、「叮叮」晚餐。只須打開包裝、翻熱，馬上可以送入肚腹。味道可能不錯，只是營養欠奉。
同樣道理，如果我們在事奉上仍抱持著「即食」心態，我們就會變得膚淺，與人的關係表面化。如果沒有把根深種泥土，將難以結出茂盛花果。
我們必須一面事奉，一面學習、閱讀和實踐。如果我們是無知或毫無準備的，人們定能一眼看穿。我曾經見過司琴在崇拜時「練琴」，主日學老師只將教師本的內容照唸如儀。有捷徑可走，的確令人心癢癢。但是沒有辛勞，哪有收成？希望你我都不會貪走捷徑。

上帝讓我們事奉祂，是我們的榮幸。願我們「用腦筋」，使事奉更上一層樓，善用我們的基本意識、知識和技巧，榮耀上帝。

(此文章的第二部份將刊登於下期通訊) 

Improving Our Serve 1: with our HEAD
Rev. Edwin Kong  Executive Director

Allow me to share with you my understanding of how to "improve our serve" in the ministry. I have developed this as a two-part series. The first part regards serving with our HEAD.
Serving the Lord with our head simply means:
1. Using Common Sense
I'm referring to issues such as being polite and well-mannered: To remember that "Please & Thank You" are essential when we seek help or have received help. To say "Good morning, and good-bye" when we come and go. To be punctual for work or for meetings, to be honest for things we can't, and to be humble for things we can. To encourage and appreciate one other rather than to criticise or complain. To say "I am sorry" when we make a mistake. To admit it when we do not know anything about a topic. When we approach a task, ask ourselves: What do I want to do? Why am I doing it? How will I do it? When will I do it? Where will I do it? And who will be affected?
We cannot gain common sense from going to school but it is something we should have been learning since we were toddlers. When we exercise it, our call to serve others will be marked by more fulfilling and rewarding relationships. Do I have enough common sense in my ministry?

2. Acquiring Knowledge & Skill
Common sense tells us that we do not know everything, so we must acquire knowledge and the skills to improve our serve. That means hard work. In our "instant culture", we want everything immediately. We have instant noodle, instant coffee, canned soup, and microwave dinners. Simply open the package, reheat it and consume it. Tasty perhaps, but mostly not very healthy.
Similarly, if we adopt the "instant" mentality in our ministries, we become shallow and our relationships remain superficial. Where roots are not planted deeply, flowers and fruit will be scarce.
When we serve, we must take time to study, to read, and to practice. If we are ignorant or unprepared, we cannot hide it from others. I have seen pianists "practicing" during services, and Sunday school teachers simply reading through the teacher's guide. It is tempting to take the easy way but where there is no pain, there is no gain. I hope you are not one to take that route.

God has given us the honour to serve Him. Let's improve our serve with our Head and use our common sense, our knowledge and skills well for His glory.

(The second part of this series will follow in the next issue.)