充分發揮晚年的影響力
2025年4月21日By Jim Langley
充分發揮晚年的影響力
MAXIMIZING THE LEVERAGE OF OUR LATTER YEARS
多年前，我開始撰寫一系列，名為「第四季度策略」(Fourth Quarter Strategies)的短文。我的前提是，雖然我們職業生涯的每個階段都很重要，但是最後一個季度，應該要是我們最好的階段。如果我們能保持健康，活到八十歲甚至是更長壽，在現今會是合理的期待。這意味著我們生命最後的二十多年，可能會是一生最有果效的時期－因為我們既有專業知識，又有豐富經驗。
不久前，CBMC的主任艾倫•史密斯(Alan Smith)，與一小群年長的基督徒企業領袖(其中一些已經退休了)會面。他鼓勵他們要認識到，他們無論是對神，還是對在當地職場中，與他們互動的年輕專業人士而言，仍然具有無與倫比的價值。
史密斯提供了六處聖經經文，作為「思考的靈糧」，它們有一個共同點：都出自所屬書卷的第一章第三節。我們相信這並不是偶然，而是屬天的設計，要強調年長的基督徒，對於神旨意的重要性。經文如下：
結果子沒有時間限制。「他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子，葉子也不枯乾。凡他所做的盡都順利。」(詩篇1篇3節)
智慧要代代傳承下去。「你們要將這事傳與子，子傳與孫，孫傳與後代。」(約珥書1章3節)
我們可以作為其他人跟隨的榜樣。「在神－我們的父面前，不住地記念你們因信心所做的工夫，因愛心所受的勞苦，因盼望我們主耶穌基督所存的忍耐。」(帖撒羅尼迦前書1章3節)
靈命成長永遠沒有終點。「弟兄們，我們該為你們常常感謝神，這本是合宜的；因你們的信心格外增長，並且你們眾人彼此相愛的心也都充足。」(帖撒羅尼迦後書1章3節)
我們的禱告會成就永恆的影響。「我感謝神，就是我接續祖先用清潔的良心所事奉的神。祈禱的時候，不住的想念你。」(提摩太後書1章3節)
智慧、知識和信心要被分享出去。「我們將所看見、所聽見的傳給你們，使你們與我們相交。我們乃是與父並他兒子耶穌基督相交的。」(約翰壹書1章3節)
同為基督徒，我同意史密斯對於我們晚年價值的觀點。我們當中的許多人，已經不再受到工作需求的束縛，有更多時間可以來服事、教導、指導和門訓他人。神不希望我們在餘生退居幕後，把自己束之高閣。
在寫給腓立比教會的信中，使徒保羅精簡地總結道：「因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益處。」(腓立比書1章21節)保羅的一生，為我們樹立了美好的榜樣，教導我們如何為主耶穌而活，直到生命的盡頭。我鼓勵你加入我，一起抱持著長跑運動員，決心要剛強堅定地衝過終點線的態度，專注於前方的獎賞！
©2025 Jim Langley在擔任人壽和健康保險業務的同時，寫作超過 30 年。近年來，他的熱情轉向書寫他與神的關係。他的目標是鼓勵其他人也親近神。作為 CBMC 的長期成員，他於 2014 年開始撰寫「第四季度策略」(Fourth Quarter Strategies)。
反省與問題討論
第一、你對於這篇週一嗎哪的內容，什麼地方會讓你感同身受呢？如果你是仍然在建立事業，年輕的商業或專業人士，你是否有善用年長同事的智慧與經驗呢？如果你已經進入晚年，你是否有意識到，自己仍然能夠為職場－以及每天遇到的那些人－所帶來的價值呢？
第二、在職場中，有哪些障礙會阻止年長者和年輕人成功的互動，或是妨礙彼此互惠互利呢？
第三、如果你是職場中的年輕人，有一位年長者願意與你會面，分享他／她的智慧、經驗和知識，你會希望從他們那裡，得到什麼呢？
第四、如果你是本文提及的對象：職場老將或是已退休人士，你認為你能為年輕人，提供些什麼呢？你打算如何尋找，值得投資的對象，分享你在職場多年所獲得的經驗、洞見和智慧呢？
挑戰思考
無論我們處於職業生涯的哪個階段－剛起步、正值壯年，還是邁向退休(或者是已經退休)－我們都有很多可以分享並造就彼此的事情。本週請試著花時間思考，在你的職場上，年長者和年輕人互相合作所產生的協同效應(synergy)，可以如何使你受益。如果你意識到了，與處於不同職業階段的人相處的好處，請考慮主動接觸某人，開始建立起這樣的關係。向神禱告，引導你找到合適的人。
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:
詩篇92篇12-14節
92:12 義人要發旺如棕樹，生長如黎巴嫩的香柏樹。
92:13 他們栽於耶和華的殿中，發旺在我們神的院裏。
92:14 他們年老的時候仍要結果子，要滿了汁漿而常發青
腓立比書1章21-26節
1:21 因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益處。
1:22 但我在肉身活着，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。
1:23 我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。
1:24 然而，我在肉身活着，為你們更是要緊的。
1:25 我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上又長進又喜樂，
1:26 叫你們在基督耶穌裏的歡樂，因我再到你們那裏去，就越發加增。
提摩太後書4章6-8節
4:6 我現在被澆奠，我離世的時候到了。
4:7 那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所信的道我已經守住了。
4:8 從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，就是按着公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。
希伯來書12章1-2節
12:1 我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍着我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，
12:2 仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌。他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。
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MAXIMIZING THE LEVERAGE OF OUR LATTER YEARS
MONDAY MANNAApr 21, 2025
MAXIMIZING THE LEVERAGE OF OUR LATTER YEARS
By Jim Langley
Years ago, I began writing a series of essays I called “Fourth Quarter Strategies.” The premise is that while every stage of our professional life is important, our final quarter should be our best. If we remain healthy, living to age 80 and beyond is a reasonable goal. That would mean the last 20-plus years of our lives could be the most productive of all – because of both expertise and experience.
Some time ago Alan Smith, a staff director for CBMC met with a small group of older Christian business leaders (some of them were retired). He encouraged them to recognize the incredible value they still had for the Lord as well as for younger professionals they interact with in the local marketplace.
Smith offered six Bible verses as “food for thought” that share one thing in common: All are found in the first chapter and third verse in their respective books. We believe this is not coincidental, but by design, to underscore the importance older followers of Christ have for God’s purposes. Here are those verses:
There is no time limit to being fruitful. “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).
Wisdom is to be passed down through the generations. “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation” (Joel 1:3).
We can serve as examples for others to follow. “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
Spiritual growth never ends. “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Our prayers make an eternal impact. “I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers” (2 Timothy 1:3).
Wisdom, understanding and faith are to be shared. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may also have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).
As a fellow follower of Christ, I agree with Smith’s perspective on the value of our latter years. Many of us are less encumbered with work demands and more available to serve, teach, mentor and disciple others. God does not want us to sit back and put ourselves on a shelf for our remaining years on earth.
In his letter to the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul succinctly concluded, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). His life gives us a beautiful example of how to live our lives to the very end for the Lord Jesus. I encourage you to join me with the attitude of a distance runner determined to reach the finish line strong, focusing on the prize that lies ahead!
© 2025, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. How do you relate to the content of this Monday Manna? If you are a younger business or professional person, still building your career, have you taken advantage of the wisdom and experience of older colleagues? If you are in your latter years, have you recognized the value you can continue to bring to the workplace – and to those you encounter each day?
2. What are obstacles that can prevent or inhibit older and younger people in the marketplace from successfully interacting and benefiting mutually from one another?
3. If you are a younger person in the marketplace, and an older person were available to meet with you to offer his or her wisdom, experience and knowledge, what things would you like to receive?
4. If you are one of the people referred to, a veteran of the workforce or retired, what things do you think you have to offer to younger people? How would you go about trying to find someone you could invest in to share experience, insights and wisdom you have gained through many years in the marketplace?
Challenge for This Week
Regardless of where we are in our working careers – just getting started, in the midst of our prime years, or moving toward retirement (or already there) – we have much to offer that can benefit one another. This week, try to take some time to think about how you might benefit from the synergy of older and younger people collaborating where you work.
If you recognize the benefits of spending time with another person in a different stage of his or her career, consider approaching someone to begin such a relationship. Pray that God would lead you to the right person.
NOTE:
For more about what the Bible says about this topic, consider the following passages:
Psalm 92:12-14; Philippians 1:21-26; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 12:1-2
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