Ready Giver 甘心捐献的人

我读过一个故事说,有一个富翁非常吝啬.有一天,他跟教会的牧师谈话时间牧师说'何以人们总指摘我吝啬,虽然他们知道我在遗嘱上写明,我死后,财产全部播充善举?'

According to a story I read, a wealthy man had a reputation for being stingy with his money. One day as he talked to the pastor of his church, he asked' why do people accuse me of being a miser even though they know that I have stated in my will that when i die all my money will be given to charity?'


 牧师讲了一个关于猪和牛的寓言,来回应他的问题.猪埋怨说,他不明白为何人人喜欢牛多于猪.他说'我知道你们牛有奶可以给人喝,但我们猪能给予他们熏肉和火腿啊!' 牛回答:'不错,你说得对.不过有一个极大分别.我们牛在生存期间已乐意的供给奶,你们猪只是在死后才供给.'

The Minister responded by telling a fable about a pig and a cow. The pig complained that he couldn't understand why people liked cows more than pigs. He said' I know that you cows give milk to people. But we pigs give them bacon and ham.'  Yes'. said the Cow. 'that's true. But there's one big difference. We cows are glad to do our giving while we're living. You pigs only do your giving after you're dead.'

我们在遗嘱里,把有价值的东西在死后捐出,那是值得称赞的--但比不过上在今生就欢欢喜喜的捐献.倘若我们以为因为害怕生活方式有所改变,或对物欲的满足有冲突,而不肯慷慨捐献,我们便失丧神对我们的丰富恩宠.当日以色列人那样甘心的为建造会幕慷慨奉献,神一定是很喜悦,所以摩西吩咐他们不必在奉献了.

It certainly is commendable to include worthy because in our wills--but not at the expense of cheerful giving right here and now. If we fail to give generously because it would alter our lifestyle or conflict with our desire for things, we lose out on God's full favor. How pleased the Lord must have been when the Israelites gave so willingly and generously for the building of the tabernacle that Moses had to tell them not to bring any more!

请记住,神喜爱捐的乐意的人.你属于哪一类奉献者呢?
Remember, the Lord loves cheerful givers. What kind of giver are you?

Never Too Old 永不太老

求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱,好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐.Satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

                                                                                                 -----Psalm 90:14

一些人年纪虽大,仍大有成就.祖母摩西在100岁时,仍然绘画.萧伯纳以94岁高龄写了一个剧本.鲁宾斯坦89岁的时候,尚在卡内基音乐厅做大型演奏,丘吉尔在82岁时,就写了一本'英语民族史'.

Look at what some people have accomplished despite advancing age. When Grandma Moses was 100, she was still painting. George Bernard Shaw wrote a play at 94. Arthur Rubinstein gave a great recital at Carnegie Hall when he was 89. And at 82, Winston Churchill wrote a History of the English--Speaking People.

圣经告诉我们,有许多敬虔的人,并没有因年事已高而停滞不前--像迦勒和摩西便是例子.迦勒在80岁的时候,奉派往迦南窥探.后来,他还蒙神准许进入应许地.摩西一直衷心带领以色列人,直至120岁.他们的成功秘诀,就在于衷心服事神,并且持着坚定不移的态度,直至神呼召他们归回天家.

The Bible tells of many godly people who didn't let the advancing years stop them-- Caleb and Moses, for instance. At 80, Caleb was one of the men sent to spy out the land of Canaan, and later he was allowed to enter the Promised Land. And Moses continued to lead the people of Israel faithfully until he was 120. The secret of their success was faith in God and an attitude of steadfastness until God called them home.

诗篇90:10说到,世上有不少人存活远超过70岁.借着鼓励别人以及一把精力用在事奉神方面,'他们年老的时候仍要结果子'(诗92:14).另一方面,有些十分年轻的人却希望可以不劳而获.


There are many people who have lived far beyond the 70 years mentioned in Psalm 90:10. They are still bearing 'fruit in old age' by encouraging others and using their energy in God's service. Others, however, far younger, have decided to coast home.


只要我们仍有力气,我们便要献上自己事奉主.这样,不管我们的年纪有多大,我们都能'欢呼喜乐'

As long as we have strength, we need to dedicate ourselves  to the Lord's service. Then, no matter what our age, we can 'rejoice and be glad'

It Hurts To Love 爱的伤痛

When Israel was a child, I loved him... My people are bent on backsliding from Me. 以色列年幼的时候,我爱他...我的民偏要背道离开我.

                                                                                       Hosea 何11:1,7

你若想在你的生命路途中,尽量减少忧伤和痛楚,你就不要爱上任何人.每逢你让自己去爱,你便要打开苦痛之门.人恋爱结婚可能会因配偶患病或死亡,洒下眼泪.爱自己儿女父母,看着儿女成长时,必然会忍受不少伤痛.

If you want to go through life with as little sorrow or pain as possible, don't love anybody. Every time you let yourself love,you open the door to pain. A person who falls in love and marries may shed many tears over the illness or death of the spouse. Parents who love their children will suffer many hurts as they watch them grow up.

我们若不让自己在情感与任何人连上关系,必可免去很多痛苦.不过,者也使我们失丧人生的最大快乐.诚然,我们爱的越深,痛苦也更深.不过,无私之爱,也同样是得到最大快乐的途径.

We can spare ourselves much pain if we don't let ourselves become emotionally attached to anyone. But we will also miss out on some of the greatest joys in life. The more we love, the more we suffer. That's true. But the path of selfless love is also the path to some of our greatest joys.

在何西阿书第11章,神将出他对以色列的爱.他将自己比作一位照顾幼儿的慈父.可是原该使他喜乐的以色列人,反令他痛苦.他们拒绝他的爱和引领,不尊敬他.神说,他要整治他们;然而他的怜爱顿生,他应该不会毁灭这个国家.

In Hosea 11, God spoke of His love for Israel. He compared Himself to a father caring for a child.(vv3-4). But the people who should have brough Him joy caused Him pain instead. They rejected His love and guidance and did not honor him(vv5-7). God said He would discipline them,yet His sympathy was stirred and He promised He would not destroy the nation(v.9)

爱别人虽然使我们容易受伤害和失望,但那份赏赐却是巨大的.因此我们应选择去爱,即使爱会带来痛苦.

Loving others makes us vulnerable to hurt and disappointment,but the rewards are great. Let's choose to love in spite of the pain it may bring.

为刺而感谢 Thanks For Thorns

我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的

I take pleasure in infirmities,....in distresses, for Christ's sake.

                                                                            (林后12:10)


我们很难在各种境遇下都心存感谢.当我们的身体被疾病毁坏,或刚刚获知我们染上不治之症,或正在失业,又或一种深刻的关系已告破裂,我们就不会觉得感恩了.但我们可以学习感谢神,因他在我们软弱之时赐给我们力量.

To give thanks in every situation is sometimes very difficult. When our bodies are wracked by pain, or we have just learned that we have a physical problem for which there is no cure, or we have lost our job, or a cherished relationship has been broken, we don't feel grateful. But we can learn to thank God because He gives us strength when we feel weak.

这就是为什么使徒保罗说'我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的'.作为信徒,我们能够心存感恩,是由于透过这些经验,神正成就对我们最好的事务.甚至借着受苦,神仍是为着我们的益处而工作.

That is why the apostle Paul could say, 'I take pleasure in infirmities,...in distresses, for Christ's sake.' and as believers, we can be grateful that through such experiences God is accomplishing what is best for us. Even through suffering He is working for our good

一位苏格兰的传道人兼作家马席孙,他虽然失明,仍发出这样的祷告'我曾为生命的玫瑰和欢乐向神感谢千万次,却从未为我的刺感谢一次...请指教我,懂得我所付十字架的荣耀;教导我懂得'刺'的价值.请让我看清楚,在痛苦的路上我一步一步爬近你.请让我看清楚,我的眼泪已造成了我美丽的彩虹.

Scottish author and preacher George Matheson,who was blind,expressed this prayer:'I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn'....teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn'. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.'

当我们将自己向主降服,并记得他所做的每一件事情都是为了达成我们最终的益处;我们就能感谢神,甚至在我们被刺戳伤的时候.

As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and remember that He is working in everything to accomplish our ultimate good ,we can thank Him when we are pierced by 'thorns'

在世末日 Last Day on Earth

你们今日若听他的话,就不可硬着心. Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts

                                                                                            ---Hebrew 4:7

假若你知道自己仅剩下一天的时间活在世上,你会做些什么呢?这是甘劳亚在12所职业中学向625名年青的德国学生提出的问题.他发现被提问的年青人中,有20%宁愿在地上最后一天喝酒,吸毒,追求年轻的女孩子

What Would you do if you knew you had only one day left to live? That's what Gunther Klempnauer asked 625 young German students in 12 vocational schools. His findings revealed that 20% of the young men questioned would spend their last day on earth drinking, taking drugs, and pursuing young women.

其中一个与众不同的回应是来自一位18岁的少女,她说:"我最后的一天情愿在教会中度过,与神独处,感谢神赐予我一个充实而快乐的生命."

A different response came from an 18 years old woman who wrote 'I would like to spend my last evening in church (to be alone with God) to thank Him for a full and happy life.'

现在让我问你: 如果你知道这是你的最后24小时,你想你会做什么呢?如果你不是一个跟随基督的人,最聪明的就是信靠他为你的救主.如果你已是一个基督徒,你就可能要处理一些尚未完成却影响你的属天奖赏的事务.

Let me ask you: What do you think you'd do if you knew this was it -- your last 24 hours?If you are not a follower of Christ, the wisest things to do would be to trust Him as your Savior. Or if you are a Christian, you may need to take care of some unfinished business that could affect your heavenly rewards. Is there someone you need to apologize to? Do you owe anyone money, a visit, or just a word of encouragement? If it's within your power to act, now is the time to do it.

当然,你可能还有许多时间,但另一方面,你可能没有.为什么不把这一天当你的最后一天那样做呢?'现在'是遵行神旨意的最佳时间,因为'现在'是你能掌握到的!

Sure, you may have many more years, but on the other hand, you may not. Why not act as if this day is your last? Now is always the best time to do God's will, because now is all you have for sure!

神的声音 The Voice Of God

耶和华的声音大有能力. The Voice of the LORD is powerful

                                                                                                   -- Psalm 29:4


世俗的社会,认为科学和人的能力机会能做任何的事情.结果,许多人都觉得不需要神.即使他们相信神的存在,也推说神是缄默的,是不可知的.

Secular society exalts science and man's ability to do almost anything. As a result, many people feel no need for God. Even if they believe He exists, they say that He is silent and cannot be known.

我们身为基督徒要小心,使自己不受世俗思想的影响,我们应该听一听大卫在诗篇第29篇里说些什么.他清楚的告诉我们,神有好些令人印象深刻和无可否认的办法,叫我们感觉到他的临在.例如,雷声尚未传达岸边,还在远处水面隆隆作响之时,就称为'耶和华的声音'. 他提醒我们,他是大有能力,蛮有威严的.

We are Christians need to be careful that we are not influenced by secular thinking. We should listen to what David said in Psalm 29. He made it clear that God has some impressive and undeniable ways to make us sense His presence. For instance, the thunder that rumbles over distant waters before it comes ashore is called' the voice of the LORD.' It reminds us that He is powerful and majestic.

当然,大卫描述的只是神创造大能可闻可见的一面;并不像不信主的人所崇拜的死偶像.如果我们以信心之耳朵来聆听,神往往会以威严可敬畏的方式来显示他的临在,那启示是明白无误的.对大卫来说,神的声音,乃是一种呼召,叫人来敬拜这位独一的神.他不单统管宇宙,又'赐力量给他的百姓'

What David was describing , of course, is an audible and visible expression of God's creative power. Unlike the dead idols that unbelievers trust, God reveals His presence in awe inspiring ways that are unmistakable if we listen with the ears of faith. For David, the voice of God was a call to worship the One who not only rules the universe but also gives 'strength to His people'

你是否有时觉得神离开太远,与生命脱节?那么,请看一看闪电,听一听雷声!像大卫那样,想象这就是神以伟大的能力和威严来说话的声音.

Do you sometimes feels that God is far off somewhere, removed from life? Then observe the lightning. Listen to the thunder. As David did, think of it as the voice of God speaking with great power and majesty.

渴求 The Longing

他....知道自己未死以前,必看见主所立的基督

He would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.---Luke 2:26

 请你环顾一下在你四周的人们;购物者在各场巡视,为了要抢购限期沽清的廉价商品,各雇员就在自己做工的地方忙个不停.你认为他们有否找到幸福快乐呢?

Look at the people around you:the shoppers walking the malls hunting for last --minute Christmas gifts,the enthusiastic fans at football and basketball games, fellow employees in the workplace.Do you think they've found happiness?

 当人常为生活奔波--忙于支薪及付款,上班和下班,周而复始做着同样的工作或事情--他们其中有许多都觉得内心无限虚空.他们渴望有些东西能令他们生存得更充实,更有意义.

 As people rush through life--hurrying from paycheck to payment and from job to home and then doing it all over again-- many of them feel empty inside. They long for some think to make their existence more meaningful and fulfilling.

许多人并不像我们在路加福音第2章独到的西面,他们是不知道什么会带来幸福快乐的.圣灵曾告诉西面,他在看见神所应许的弥赛亚之前必不会死.当那个特殊的日子来到,西面在圣殿看到耶稣,他便得着了平安和满足的保证.

Unlike Simeon ,whom we read about in Luck, chapter 2, many people don't know what will bring happiness. the Holy Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die until he had been the promised Messiah. When that extraordinary day came and Simeon came to the temple to meet Jesus, peace and contentment were guaranteed.

环绕我们周遭的人,只要他们与耶稣相遇,必会得着同样的平安和满足.所以当我们每天看见芸芸众生,我们应获提醒去祷告,祈求圣灵感动他们的心,令他们渴望得见耶稣.他们可能终日奔走营谋,而内心仍有空位在等待着弥赛亚,就是主耶稣来填满.

All around us are people who could have that same peace and contentment if they could just meet Jesus As we see the crowds each day, we should be reminded to pray that the Holy Spirit will touch their hearts and make them want to see Jesus. They may be rushing around, but in their hearts they have a void waiting to be filled by the Messiah, the Lord Jesus

务要成长 Let's Get Growing

 你们却要在我们救主耶稣基督的恩典和知识上有长进

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

                                                                               -----2 Peter 3:18

好几年前,我对花卉很有兴趣,所以我的家居像个苗圃.我欣赏生长中的植物,当我每天视察花儿生长进度,我从这些细小的绿色朋友身上,欣赏到生长的奇妙进程中的欣喜和必需步骤.

Several years ago my interest in flowers had my home resembling a nursery. There's something about the presence of growing plants that I find very enjoyable. As I daily inspected their progress, i gained from my little green friends a new appreciation of the joy and necessity of the wonderful process of growth.

我们基督徒,也好像植物一样,我们应当向下扎根,突破地土,伸展枝条,绽放花朵.不过,这种茁壮成长的情形在我们的生命中并非时常清晰可见.当每日的活动都平淡无奇照常规进行,我们容易变得无聊和懒散.我们往往只是得过且过的生活,没有稳步迈向成熟和结果子的境界.

As Christian, we too are like plants.We should put down our roots, break up through the earth ,spread out our branches, and burst into blossom. Such a thriving condition,however,isn't always evident in our lives.It's so easy to become bored and listless in the bland routine of our daily activities. Often we just hand on and merely exist without moving steadily toward maturity and fruitfulness.

此时,我们的属灵生命停滞不前,须要让'公义的日头'耶稣,用他的爱重新温暖我们的心.我们必须借着昼夜思想深深扎根神的话语中.然而,我们必会像一颗栽在活水河流旁边的果树,我们的树枝向外伸展,令影响力和见证不断增加.我们的心将会满载反映公义生活的美丽花朵.

As such time we are at a spiritual standstill and must allow Jesus the 'Sun of Righteousness' to warm our hearts anew with his love. We must send our roots deep into the Word of God by medititing on it day and night. Then we will be like a fruitful tree planted by rivers of living water, and our branches will extend outward in an ever-increasing influence and witness. They will be filled with blossoms that reflect the beauty of righteous living.

假如我们已进入冬眠状态,让我们都成长起来吧!
If we've become dormant, let's get growing

现在!

又有一个门徒对耶稣说:"主啊,荣我先回去埋葬我的父亲. 

基督徒最大的挣扎,通常不在于做出顺服基督的决定,而在于是否愿意马上顺服.我们可能会承认自己需要跟随耶稣,以及完全委身于神要我们去做的事.然而,当神向我们启示他的旨意时,就是我们顺服的时刻!神旨意的启示是他的邀请,需要你立即回应.

有些人自称是基督徒,信誓旦旦的要跟随耶稣,但他们却又说自己还没有准备好.在耶稣时代,犹太人有责任要奉养年老双亲到他们离世.有一个门徒表示,要等到为父母送终之后,才要跟随耶稣.这似是高尚的延迟,他得在人生重要责任和主的呼召之间选择.神认识这个人,也认识这人的父亲.这要这人跟随耶稣,神会看顾他的父亲.他本来有机会与神子同行,但他对生活的忧虑,超过了自己对神的顺服.

我们顺服的时候,是个重要的关键.由神来的邀请是有回应的限制.如果没有马上领受它,我们会失去一些服事神的机会.帮助其他信徒的时候稍纵即逝.当神邀请我们为某人代求,我们立即放下手中的工作,调整自己对准神的作为,这是十分重要的.失去事奉主的机会是个悲剧.当你收到深的邀请时,当立即回应.

没有一句话会落空

你们是一心一意地知道,耶和华-你们神所应许赐福与你们的话没有一句落空,都应验在你们身上. (约书亚记33:14下)

在约书亚走到生命的尽头时,他和以色列人重温自跟随神以后,神所有的作为.神给了他们一个不可能完成的使命,就是要他们征服自己强大的敌人,敌方拥有强大的军事力量以及坚固的防御工事城邑.以色列人除了神同在与神必看顾的应许之地,别无可靠.当约书亚回顾过去的经历,他提醒以色列人,神信守每个应许.

有时候,我们在事后对神的信实的作为恍然大悟.在危难中,我们会怀疑神是否信守诺言.当我们只专注自己的问题时,对神的信心就开始摇动.在神应许赐给亚伯拉罕与撒拉一个儿子之后,他们等了24年才等到神成就的应许.当大卫逃命时,他可能不确定神会信守诺言,让自己作王,一直到长期而成功的统治以色列百姓的尾声,他能够肯定神信守每个诺言.

你一样也能依靠神的信实.你是否正处于危难中?要牢牢抓住主给你的应许!他不会忘记自己对你的应许.回头检视你基督徒的生活,重新数算神如何信守他的话语.