第29章 从事世俗的业务
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第二十九章 从事世俗的业务
§2
Engaging in Secular Business
§3
传道人应专心从事领人归向真理的伟大工作，心无旁骛。为此，他们应全力以赴。他们不可经商、行销，或进行这项大工之外的任何业务。给提摩太的严肃告诫以同等的分量落在他们身上，使他们负有极其严肃的义务和十分可怕的责任。“我在上帝面前，并在将来审判活人死人的基督耶稣面前，凭着祂的显现和祂的国度嘱咐你：务要传道，无论得时不得时，总要专心；并用百般的忍耐，各样的教训，责备人、警戒人、劝勉人。”“你却要凡事谨慎，忍受苦难，作传道的工夫，尽你的职分”（提后4:1,2,5）。{GW92 195.3}
§4
Ministers should have no separate interest aside from the great work of leading souls to the truth. Their energies are all needed here. They should not engage in traffic of any kind, or in any business aside from this one great work. The solemn charge given to Timothy rests will equal weight upon them, laying upon them the most solemn obligations and most fearful responsibilities: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” [2 Timothy 4:1, 2, 5.] {GW92 195.3}
§5
错误的生活习惯已削弱我们身心的敏感性，我们能从正确的生活得到并使我们处于最佳的健康和生活状况的一切力量，都应毫无保留地奉献于上帝所分派给我们的工作。我们担不起用我们所拥有的少许微薄残缺的精力去管理饮食或把上帝所交给我们的工作跟商品贸易混在一起。身心的每一分能力现在都是需要的。上帝的工作需要这个，在这项大工之外，没有哪项独立的业务不需花费光阴和身体的精力，从而减少我们在上帝圣工中的活力与精力的。如此行的传道人不会始终默想祈祷，也不会将所有清明的心思和心力用于了解那些需要帮助之人的情况，并且“无论得时不得时”都做好预备。在适当的时候说一句适当的话，可能会拯救某个可怜、犯错、怀疑、发昏的人。保罗劝勉提摩太说：“这些事你要殷勤去做，并要在此专心，使众人看出你的长进来”（提前4:15）。{GW92 196.1}
§6
Wrong habits of life have lessened our mental and physical sensibilities, and all the strength we can acquire by right living, and placing ourselves in the best relation to health and life, should be devoted unreservedly to the work which God has assigned us. We cannot afford to use the few enfeebled, crippled energies which we possess, in serving tables, or mingling merchandise with the work God has committed to us. Every faculty of mind and body is now needed. The work of God requires this, and no separate business can be engaged in aside from this great work, without taking time, and strength of mind and body, and thus lessening the vigor and force of our labor in the cause of God. Ministers who do this will not have all that time for meditation and prayer, and all that strength and clearness of mind which they should have to understand the cases of those who need help, and to be prepared to “be instant in season, out of season.” [2 Timothy 4:2.] A word fitly spoken at the right time may save some poor, erring, doubting soul. Paul exhorted Timothy, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” [1 Timothy 4:15.]{GW92 196.1}
§7
在基督给祂门徒的使命中，祂告诉他们：“凡你们在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你们在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放”（太18:18）。如果这就是上帝的传道人要做的负有可怕责任的工作，那么他们全然献身这工作并为灵魂警醒好像将来交账的人一样，乃是多么重要啊。岂可有任何个别或自私的利益插进来使人在这工作上分心吗？有些传道人留恋自己的家，在安息日跑出去，然后又回来，在自己的农事上或在照顾家事上耗尽自己的精力。他们全周为自己工作，然后用疲惫精力的残余部分为上帝作工。但这等微薄的努力并不蒙祂悦纳。他们没有智力或体力可以节省。他们最好的努力也是十足软弱的。他们既在每周的工作日全神贯注地陷于今生的挂虑和困惑混乱中，就完全不适合上帝崇高神圣的重要工作。生灵的命运悬在他们所走的路线和所做的决定上。因而他们在凡事上节制是多么重要啊，不仅在吃喝上，而且在工作上节制，好使他们的力量不衰退并专心于他们的圣召。…… {GW92 196.2}
§8
In Christ’s commission to his disciples, he tells them, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [Matthew 18:18.] If this is the fearfully responsible work of God’s ministers, how important that they give themselves wholly to it, and watch for souls as they that must give an account! Should any separate or selfish interest come in here and divide the heart from the work? Some ministers linger about their homes, and run out on the Sabbath, and then return, and exhaust their energies in farming or in attending to home matters. They labor for themselves through the week, and then spend the remnant of their exhausted energies in laboring for God. But such feeble efforts are not acceptable to him. They have no mental or physical strength to spare. At best their efforts are feeble enough. But after they have been engrossed and entangled all through the laboring days of the week, with the cares and perplexities of this life, they are wholly unfitted for the high, the sacred, the important work of God. The destiny of souls hangs upon the course they pursue and the decisions they make. How important, then, that they should be temperate in all things, not only in their eating, but in their labor, that their strength may be unabated and devoted to their sacred calling.... {GW92 196.2}
§9
一些人没有负起工作的重任。他们觉得在离开讲台后自己的工作就完成了。探访是另一回事，谈话也是另一回事；真心渴望获得为他们预备的一切好处的人，和想听想学以便可以看清一切的人，却没有受益也没有得到满足。传道人给自己找藉口，说因为他们很疲劳，可是他们中有些人却把自己宝贵的精力和光阴耗费在某项别人也能象他们做得一样好的工作上。他们应当保持道德上和身体上的活力，以便作为上帝忠心的工人，完全尽到自己所负的责任。—1T. 470-473.{GW92 197.1}
§10
The responsibility of the work rests very lightly upon some. They feel that after they leave the desk, their work is done. It is a burden to visit, a burden to talk; and the people who are really desirous of getting all the good there is for them, and who wish to hear and learn, that they may see all things clearly, are not benefited and satisfied. Ministers excuse themselves because they are weary; and yet some exhaust their precious strength and spend their time in work which another could do just as well as they. They should preserve moral and physical vigor, that as faithful workmen of God they may give full proof of their ministry.—Testimonies for the Church 1:470.{GW92 197.1}
§11
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§12
传道人不能一面担负圣工的责任，一面经营农场或其他实业，把心思放在属世的财宝上，否则他们的属灵识别能力就会迟钝。他们不能领会上帝圣工的需要，因此就无法作出直接的努力，应付圣工的紧急需要，促进圣工的利益。在传道人所服务的整个地区中，很快就会觉察到他没有完全献身于圣工。他自己的标准如果降低了，就不能使人接受更高的标准。—MS. {GW92 197.2}
§13
Ministers cannot carry the burden of the work while at the same time they are carrying the burden of farms or other business enterprises, having their hearts on their earthly treasures. Their spiritual discernment is dimmed. They cannot appreciate the wants of the cause of God, and therefore cannot put forth well-directed efforts to meet its emergencies and to advance its interests. They constantly seek to shape the work in accordance with their circumstances, in place of shaping circumstances to meet the demands of the cause of God. The want of a full consecration to the work on the part of the minister is soon felt all through the field where he labors. If his own standard is low, he will not bring others to accept a higher one.—MS. {GW92 197.2}
§14
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§15
参加这工作的传道人受到他们所传讲的真理的能力和精神所激励，然后他们就会有一种感化力。信徒很少会兴起高过他们的传道人。传道 人里面若有一种爱世界的精神，就会对他人产生极大的影响。人们会以他的缺陷为藉口，掩饰自己爱世界的精神。他们安抚自己的良心，以为他们可以自由地去喜爱今生的事，且对属灵的事漠不关心，因为他们的传道人就是这样的。他们欺骗自己的心灵，且保持与世俗为友，使徒宣布这就是与上帝为敌。传道人应当作群羊的榜样。他们应当对生灵表现出不死的爱和他们希望从信徒身上看到的同样的献身精神。—2T. 645，646.{GW92 198.1}
§16
The people will seldom rise higher than their minister. A world-loving spirit in him has a tremendous influence upon others. The people make his deficiencies an excuse to cover their world-loving spirit. They quiet their own consciences, thinking that they may be free to love the things of this life, and be indifferent to spiritual things, because their ministers are so. They deceive their own souls, and remain in friendship with the world, which the apostle declares to be enmity with God. Ministers should be examples to the flock. They should manifest an undying love for souls and the same devotion to the cause which they desire to see in the people.—Testimonies for the Church 2:645.{GW92 198.1}
§17
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§18
“凡在军中当兵的，不将世务缠身，好叫那招他当兵的人喜悦”（提后2:4）。{GW92 198.2}
§19
“No man that warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” [2 Timothy 2:4.]{GW92 198.2}
§20
原则总是严格的。我们的国家要求父母让他们的儿子、兄弟、丈夫离开家园到杀人流血的战场去。他们必须忍受缺乏和饥饿，疲倦和孤独；他们必须长行军，双脚酸痛疲惫，经历夏暑和冬寒；他们必须面对危险，冒生命的风险。他们被迫服从指挥官，甚至服从至死。而这一切严峻的经验都是由于罪的缘故。有一位仇敌要对付，有一位仇敌要抵抗；我们国家的敌人会摧毁她的和平，带来灾难和毁灭，除非他们被战胜。“要么征服要么死”乃是座右铭。{GW92 198.3}
§21
Principle is always exacting. Our country claims of fathers and mothers, their sons, the brothers, the husbands, to be given up, to leave their homes for the field of carnage and bloodshed. They must endure privation and hunger, weariness and loneliness; they must make long marches, footsore and weary, through summer’s heat and winter’s cold; they must face peril, run the risk of life. They are compelled to follow the commander, even to the death. And all this severe experience is in consequence of sin. There is an enemy to meet, an enemy to be resisted; enemies of our country will destroy her peace and bring disaster and ruin, unless they are overcome. “Conquer or die” is the motto. {GW92 198.3}
§22
基督徒的战争也是这样。我们有一位仇敌要对付，他很警惕，片刻也不放松戒备。国家的要求并不高于上帝的要求。既然士兵们为自己国家的利益作战时要忍受艰难经受考验，十字架的精兵就更应该乐于为基督的缘故忍受缺乏、克己和任何辛劳了。—MS.{GW92 199.1}
§23
Thus it is with the Christian warfare. We have an enemy to meet, who is vigilant, who is not off his guard one moment. The claims of country are not higher than the claims of God. If hardships are borne and trials endured by soldiers fighting in behalf of their country, how much more willingly should the soldiers of the cross endure privation, self-denial, and any taxation for Christ’s sake.—MS.{GW92 199.1}
§24
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§25
主不能藉着想既侍奉上帝又侍奉玛门的传道人使自己的名得荣耀。我们不要劝人投资矿业股票或城市地产，引诱人说在短期内就可翻本。我们给现代的信息是：“你们要变卖所有的，周济人；为自己预备永不坏的钱囊，用不尽的财宝在天上，就是贼不能近，虫不能蛀的地方。因为你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在那里”（路12:33-34）。{GW92 199.2}
§26
The Lord cannot glorify his name through ministers who attempt to serve God and mammon. We are not to urge men to invest in mining stock, or in city lots, holding out the inducement that the money invested will be doubled in a short time. Our message for this time is, “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” [Luke 12:33, 34.]{GW92 199.2}
§27
在以色列人即将进入迦南的时候，撒但曾设法诱惑他们，引他们拜偶像，想让他们灭亡。今日他也用同样的方法作工。一些本来可以被上帝接纳为祂同工的青年，为地产所吸引，竟变卖了他们对真理的志趣，以求世俗的利益。许多人因贪求世俗的利益而不为上帝服务；撒但就利用他们引诱别人也走上错路。试探者来到人面前，就象当年来到耶稣面前一样，指出世界的荣华。到了他们的投机有了一定的收获时，他们就会贪求更多的利益，失去爱真理的心，他们的灵性也就丧失了。在他们眼前，不朽的产业和耶稣的爱，被今生的过眼云烟所淹没了。—MS. {GW92 199.3}
§28
Just before Israel entered the land of Canaan, Satan sought to seduce the people, and lead them to idolatry, thinking to compass their ruin. He works in the same way in our day. There are young men whom God would accept as workers together with him, but they have become absorbed in this real-estate craze, and have sold their interest in the truth for the prospect of worldly advantage. There are many who hold themselves away from the service of God, because they desire worldly gain, and Satan uses those who claim to believe the truth, to seduce souls. The tempter comes to men as he came to Jesus, presenting the glory of the world; and when a measure of success attends the ventures of men, they become greedy for more gain, and their spirituality dies; they lose their love for the truth. The immortal inheritance, the love of Jesus, is eclipsed to their vision by the fleeting prospects of the world.—MS. {GW92 199.3}