第55章 传道工作中的节约
§1
第五十五章 传道工作中的节约
§2
Economy in Mission Work
§3
我们都是上帝所领导的工人。我们必须智慧、节约、谦卑地工作。有些人承担太多的工作，成就却很少。我们的努力应该更加集中，不要无的放矢。在欧洲的工作象在美国一样，不得不从小规模开始；然而即使在那里的工作也可以管理得在很大程度上自立。使欧洲的工作能自养的一大助力，就是那些已经在真理里的人要精心努力把将会成为工作力量并且能维持圣工的人带进来。脱颖而出的几个在真理上充分站稳的人，会象第一批门徒一样，成为为他人作工的人。{GW92 355.1}
§4
We are all laborers under God; and we must work with intelligence, frugality, and humility. There are those who undertake too much, and by so doing accomplish little. Our efforts must be more concentrated. Every stroke must tell. The work in Europe, as in America, has had to begin small; but even there it can be managed so as to be largely self-sustaining. One great means by which this can be accomplished will be by the well-directed efforts of those already in the truth to bring in others who will be a strength and support to the work. A few souls brought out and fully established on the truth, will, like the first disciples, be laborers for others.{GW92 355.1}
§5
我们的工人必须有坚定的决心打破人们的常规惯例，只要这对推进上帝的圣工来说是必要的。如果一些接受真理的人不是如此执着于民族的风俗和习惯的话，欧洲的工作可能会有更大的发展。他们提出我们的传道人要努力依从这些习俗和偏见，否则将一事无成。这就使得圣工从一开始就受到了束缚。{GW92 355.2}
§6
There must be a firm determination on the part of our laborers to break away from the established customs of the people whenever this is essential to the advancement of the work of God. The work might be much farther advanced in Europe if some of those who have accepted the truth were not so wedded to national habits and customs. They plead that the efforts of the ministers must be made to conform to those customs and prejudices, or nothing will be accomplished. This has had a binding influence upon the work from its beginning.{GW92 355.2}
§7
工人们应该一起磋商。谁也不要实施自己独立的判断，按照自己的心意作工，不顾同工的意见。我们若以为自己足能管理上帝的工作，靠我们自己的智慧制定和执行计划以取得成功，就可期待失败和损失；因为必定如此。我蒙指示看到，不可将工作计划委托给没有经验的人。那些没有充分广博经验的人，不是要负大责任的人，尽管他们可能以为自己有资格这么做。弟兄们会在他们只看到完美的地方看到缺陷。如今形势很危险，不可冒险从主的库中拿钱投资。要是有什么人想要试验弟兄们并不认可的事，就让他用自己的钱自养，以便招致损失时，只有他自己受损。工人不多，钱财也不充裕；工作必须量力而为。上帝的计划并不是要从库中提取大量金钱养着工作方式看不出特别效果的工人。{GW92 355.3}
§8
The laborers should counsel together. No one is to strike out on his independent judgment, and work according to his own mind, regardless of the counsel of those connected with him. If we think ourselves sufficient to manage the work of God, and depend for success on our own wisdom to plan and execute, we may expect defeats and losses; for they will surely come. It has been shown me that the planning of the work must not be trusted to inexperienced men. Those who have not had full breadth of experience are not the ones to take large responsibilities, although they may think themselves qualified to do so. Their brethren may see defects where they see only perfection. Too much is at stake now to allow any great risks to be run in investing means from the Lord’s treasury. If any one wishes to try experiments which his brethren do not sanction, let him sustain himself from his own funds, so that if losses occur, he alone will be the loser. The workers are not many; the means are not abundant; and the work must be fashioned accordingly. It is not God’s plan that large draughts should be made upon the treasury to support workers who labor in such a way that no special results can be seen. {GW92 355.3}
§9
要开动脑筋找出接触周围之人的最佳办法。我们常常为了做远方希望更小的工作而坐失了身旁的机会。于是两个地方的时间和经济都受到了损失。在我们工作历史的这个时期，我们可能会大大扩张，分散努力，耗尽我们的光阴和金钱，可是却没什么成果表明我们的工作，——愿意用自己的努力和财力帮助维持圣工的人很少。{GW92 356.1}
§10
The mind must be active to discern the best ways and means of reaching the people next us. We often let opportunities within our reach slip away, in order to do a work at a distance from us which is less hopeful, and thus our time and means may be lost in both places. At this point in the history of our work we may spread over a great deal of territory, scatter our efforts, use up our time and money, and yet have little fruit to show for our labors,—few souls who will help to sustain the work by their efforts and their means.{GW92 356.1}
§11
我们的传道士必须学会节约。最大的蓄水池，虽有大量的活泉流入，但如果有漏洞让水流出，池中的水仍必供不应求。不要由一个人来决定某一个园地是否需要大笔投入。如果一个园地的工人在工作时动用了大笔款项，他们就阻塞了通道，使我们无法进入其他可能更有效地使用这笔经费的重要园地。我们年轻的工人应该满足于在经验丰富的人指导之下，沉着稳重地在众人中间工作。许多人理想太高。但如果采用更谦卑的工作方法，就会取得良好的结果。看到青年进入传道的园地，满腔热情地工作，真是一件鼓舞人心的事。但我们不要听任他们自行其是，让教会背上债务。大家都应该努力，聪明办事，认真工作，达到收支相抵。他们应努力使教会自养，并教导信徒自力更生。{GW92 356.2}
§12
Our missionary workers must learn to economize. The largest reservoir, though fed by abundant and living springs, will fail to supply the demand if there are leakages which drain off the supply. It must not be left for one man to decide whether a certain field will warrant large efforts. If the workers in one field so fashion the work as to incur large expenses, they are barring the way so that other important fields—fields which perhaps would better warrant the outlay—cannot be entered. Our younger laborers must be content to work their way among the people slowly and surely, under the advice of those who have had more experience. The ideas of many are too high. A more humble manner of working would show good results. It is encouraging to see the young enter the missionary field, enlisting all their ardor and zeal in the work; but they must not be left to manage for themselves, and keep the cause of God weighed down with debt. All should strive by wise management and earnest labor to gather enough to pay their own expenses. They should labor to make the cause self-sustaining, and should teach the people to rely upon themselves. {GW92 356.2}
§13
我们的传道人如果没有认识到布道之后个人工作的责任，就不要任意动用大笔资金来租用开布道会的场所。这事的结果十分渺茫，所以不当如此迅速地花费钱款。如果有教堂或厅院开放给工人使用，又有人希望听道，他们就该把握机会努力工作。但若是一位工人单独出动，自以为有慕迪或桑基那样的才智，而动用大笔资金，那是不聪明的。{GW92 357.1}
§14
Our ministers should not feel at liberty to pay large sums for halls in which to hold meetings, when they do not feel the burden of following up the interest by personal labor. The results are too uncertain to warrant the using up of means so rapidly. If churches and halls are opened to any of the laborers, and there is a desire to hear, they should embrace the opportunity and do the best they can; but it is not wisdom for a single individual to strike out as though he had some great talent, as though he were a Moody or a Sankey, and make a lavish outlay of means.{GW92 357.1}
§15
我们在派遣传道士去国外时，应当选择懂得节俭和家庭负担不大的人。他们必须意识到时间的短促，有大工要完成，愿意尽量摆脱一切让自己心思离开这项工作的事物。妻子若愿意献身圣工，没有牵累，与丈夫并肩服务，她所成就的，就不亚于她的丈夫。我们所需要的，是名符其实的传道士。他们必须愿意抛弃自私的念头，把上帝的工作摆在首位，在工作时单单仰望上帝的荣耀，作随时应战的精兵，到主所吩咐的地方去，肯作任何工作来传播真理。传道园地所需要的传道人，应该有敬爱上帝又能帮助丈夫工作的妻子。{GW92 357.2}
§16
In sending missionaries to foreign countries, we should select those who know how to economize, who have not large families, and who, realizing the shortness of time and the great work to be accomplished, will keep themselves as free as possible from everything that would divert their minds from their one great work. The wife, if devoted, and left free to do so, can, by standing by the side of her husband, accomplish as much as he. We want missionaries who are missionaries in the fullest sense of the word; who will put aside selfish considerations, and let the cause of God come first; and who, working with an eye single to his glory, will keep themselves as minutemen, to go where he shall bid, and to work in any capacity to spread the knowledge of the truth. Men who have wives that love and fear God, and that can help them in the work, are needed in the missionary field.{GW92 357.2}
§17
我们的工人应该学会实行节俭，不仅在推进真理的事业上，而且在自己的家庭开支上。他们应当把家安置在最能减少费用的地方。我们得到的捐款和遗赠不如其他教派多。凡没有学会量入为出的人一定要学会，否则就当改行。作妻子和母亲的放纵自我的习惯，缺乏机智和技能，往往使财源枯竭。然而作母亲的依然以为自己尽到了努力，因为她从来没有学过怎样限制自己和孩子的欲望，也从未获得过家务的技能和机智。因此维持一个家庭或许就需要两倍于维持其他同样大小家庭的费用了。{GW92 358.1}
§18
Our laborers must learn to exercise economy, not only in their efforts to advance the cause of truth, but in their own home expenses. They should locate their families where they can be cared for at as little expense as possible. Donations and bequests do not come to our people as they do to other denominations; and those who have not educated themselves to live within their means, will surely have to do this now, or engage in some other employment. Habits of self-indulgence, or a want of tact and skill on the part of the wife and mother, may be a constant drain upon the treasury; and yet that mother may think she is doing her best, because she has never been taught to restrict her wants or the wants of her children, and has never acquired skill and tact in household matters. Hence one family may require for its support twice the amount that would suffice for another family of the same size.{GW92 358.1}
§19
没有节约习惯的人应当马上学习这门功课。人人都应学会怎样记账。有些人忽略这项工作，认为无关重要，这是错误的。一切开支都要准确地记录下来。这是我们许多工人所必须学习的事。{GW92 358.2}
§20
Those who have not habits of economy should learn the lesson at once. All should learn how to keep accounts. Some neglect this work as nonessential; but this is wrong. All expenses should be accurately stated. This is something that many of our laborers will have to learn.{GW92 358.2}
§21
我们在从事上帝圣工的时候，不应该变得散漫拖拉。人人都应敏捷迅速，在主的事业上作机警的商人。上帝不喜欢处理祂圣工事务的人缺乏秩序和准确性。即使在区会的事工会议上，只要稍微注意一下遵守时间，就可以节约许多光阴，避免许多错误。与上帝圣工有关的每一件事，都应尽人的大脑和手所能的做到完美。—MS.{GW92 358.3}
§22
We should not become loose and dilatory in our habits while we are engaged in God’s work. All should be prompt, wide-awake business men in his cause. The Lord is not pleased with the present lack of order and accuracy among those who do business in connection with his work. Even in the business meetings of the Conference much time could be saved, and many mistakes avoided, by a little more study and punctuality. Everything that bears any relation to the work of God should be as near perfect as human brains and hands can make it.—MS.{GW92 358.3}