第47章 福音的维持
§1
第47章 福音的维持
§2
Chap. 47 The Support of the Gospel
§3
主已使福音的宣传，有赖于祂所有子民的勤劳工作和乐意的捐款。凡向堕落的世人宣扬恩慈信息的人还有另一种工作，就是使群众明白他们在经济上有支持圣工的责任。他们的进款，有一部分是属于上帝的，必须分别为圣，拿出来为主的工作而用。这个道理，他必须教导他们。非但要用言语教导，还必须以身作则，自己实行，免得言行不符，而削弱其教训的说服力。{GW 224.1}[1]
§4
The Lord has made the proclamation of the gospel dependent upon the labors and the voluntary gifts of all His people. The one who proclaims the message of mercy to fallen men has another work also,--to set before the people the duty of sustaining the work of God with their means. He must teach them that a portion of their income belongs to God, and is to be sacredly devoted to His work. This lesson he should present by both precept and example; he should beware that he does not by his own course lessen the force of his teaching. {GW 224.1}[1]
§5
凡照圣经的话分别出来而属于上帝的钱财，要专作福音的经费，不再是我们的了。人若把上帝的钱财拿来，不论为自己，或为别人用在世俗的事上，这便与亵渎圣物无异。有些人已经做错，把专献给上帝的祭物移作非圣工的用途。我们大家对于这件事应该有正确的认识。决不可因偶然手头拮据，把献给教会的款子挪移借用，而以将来设法归还的话来安慰自己的良心。更好的办法是节省开支，量入为出，这比为世俗的目的挪用上帝的钱好多了。{GW 224.2}[2]
§6
That which has been set apart according to the Scriptures as belonging to the Lord, constitutes the revenue of the gospel, and is no longer ours. It is no better than sacrilege for a man to take from Gods treasury in order to serve himself or to serve others in their secular business. Some have been at fault in diverting from the altar of God that which has been especially dedicated to Him. All should regard this matter in the right light. Let no one, when brought into a strait place, take money consecrated to religious purposes, and use it for his own advantage, soothing his conscience by saying that he will repay it at some future time. Far better cut down the expenses to correspond with the income, to restrict the wants and live within the means, than to use the Lords money for secular purposes. {GW 224.2}[2]
§7
【十分之一的使用】
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关于十分之一的用法，上帝已有特别的指示给我们。祂并不希望祂的工作因缺乏经费而停顿。为免去工作上的任意性和错误，祂已把我们在这方面的责任说得十分明白。上帝所保留的一部分金钱，除了祂所指定的用途外，不可作为他用。无论何人，切莫以为可以随便扣留十分之一，照自己的判断而用。也不可用来解决自己的急需，或用在自己认为正当的事上；即使他们认为那是上帝的工作，也断乎不可。{GW 224.3}[3]
§9
【The Use of the Tithe】
§10
God has given special direction as to the use of the tithe. He does not design that His work shall be crippled for want of means. That there may be no haphazard work and error, He has made our duty on these points very plain. The portion that God has reserved for Himself is not to be diverted to any other purpose than that which He has specified. Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lords work. {GW 224.3}[3]
§11
传道人应该在言语和行为上教导百姓把十分之一视为神圣。决不可因自己是传道人，就可以把它留下而随自己的意思使用。这并不是他自己的。他也不得从中抽取自己以为是该得的钱；更不得赞同任何将献给上帝的十分之一和捐款转离其正当用途的计划。十分之一和当献的供物必须存入上帝的库里，由祂支配，为祂的圣工而分别为圣。{GW 225.1}[4]
§12
The minister should, by precept and example, teach the people to regard the tithe as sacred. He should not feel that he can retain and apply it according to his own judgment because he is a minister. It is not his. He is not at liberty to devote to himself whatever he thinks is his due. He should not give his influence to any plans for diverting from their legitimate use the tithes and offerings dedicated to God. They are to be placed in His treasury, and held sacred for His service as He has appointed. {GW 225.1}[4]
§13
上帝要祂所有的管家都不偏不倚地服从神圣的安排。任何时候，任何情形之下，他们都不可随己意──人的意思──用一些慈善的事或发放一些礼品，或作捐助来抵销上帝的计划，无论人怎么看为合理，都一概不行。人想改进上帝的计划，不依照祂的要求，反而随着自己心血来潮作权宜之计，这是非常卑劣的策略。上帝要我们大家都顺从祂的安排。祂已显明了祂的计划，凡愿与祂合作的人都必须实行祂的计划，不可擅敢作半点更改。{GW 225.2}[5]
§14
God desires all His stewards to be exact in following divine arrangements. They are not to offset the Lords plans by performing some deed of charity, or giving some gift or some offering, when or how they, the human agents, shall see fit. It is very poor policy for men to seek to improve on Gods plan, and invent a makeshift, averaging up their good impulses on this and that occasion, and offsetting them against Gods requirements. God calls upon all to give their influence to His own arrangement. He has made His plan known; and all who would co-operate with Him must carry out this plan, instead of daring to attempt an improvement on it. {GW 225.2}[5]
§15
主为以色列人吩咐摩西说：“你要吩咐以色列人，把那为点灯捣成的清橄榄油拿来给你，使灯常常点着”(出27:20)。这油是要百姓随时捐助的，使上帝殿中应用的必需品不致缺乏。现今上帝的百姓须记住：礼拜堂是上帝的产业，必须一丝不苟地照管好。但是礼拜堂的费用，不可从十分之一中支取。{GW 226.1}[6]
§16
The Lord instructed Moses, for Israel, Thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they may bring thee pure oil olive beaten for light, to cause the lamp to burn always. [Exodus 27:20.] This was to be a continual offering, that the house of God might be properly supplied with that which was necessary for His service. His people today are to remember that the house of worship is the Lords property, and that it is to be scrupulously cared for. But the funds for this work are not to come from the tithe. {GW 226.1}[6]
§17
为我们的教友，上帝已有一个十分清楚明确的信息告诉我。我奉命告诉他们说，他们正犯了一个错误，就是把十分之一用在虽有益，却不是上帝所指定该用的事上了。凡这样错用十分之一的人，便是背离了上帝的安排。上帝必审判这些事。{GW 226.2}[7]
§18
A very plain, definite message has been given to me for our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects, which, though good in themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe should be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lords arrangement. God will judge for these things. {GW 226.2}[7]
§19
有人想，十分之一可以用在教育的事业上；也有些人以为书报员和文字布道士该从十分之一上得着供养。然而十分之一的正当用途，究竟是什么呢？是供养传道人的。离了这个用途，便是大错！现今只有一位传道人的地方，应该有一百位合格老练的工人！{GW 226.3}[8]
§20
One reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used -- the support of the ministers. There should be today in the field one hundred well-qualified laborers where now there is but one. {GW 226.3}[8]
§21
【一个严肃的责任】
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十分之一是神圣的，是上帝为自己保留的，必须存入上帝的库中，用以供养传福音的工人出去传道。过去很长一段时间，主被人夺取了，因有人不明白十分之一是上帝为自己保留的款项。有些人心中不满地说：“我不再付十分之一了，因为我不信任教会领袖安排工作的作法。”然而因你认为工作安排得不妥当，就可以夺取上帝吗？你可以坦率而公开地以正当态度向当事人提出你的意见。你认为什么事应更正，什么地方应理顺，可以呈交你的意见书；可是不要因别人做的不对就退出上帝的工作，显明自己不忠心。{GW 226.4}[9]
§23
【A Solemn Obligation】
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The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work. For a long time the Lord has been robbed because there are those who do not realize that the tithe is Gods reserved portion. Some have been dissatisfied, and have said, I will not longer pay my tithe; for I have no confidence in the way things are managed at the heart of the work. But will you rob God because you think the management of the work is not right? Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right. {GW 226.4}[9]
§25
请细读《玛拉基书》第三章，看看上帝对十分之一是怎样说的。如果我们各处的教会能以上帝的话为立足点，忠心地把十分之一送入祂的仓库，就可以鼓励更多人来担任传道的工作。若不是被告知圣库空虚，就会有更多的人来投身于传道工作。主的仓库应该有充足的供应。若不是那些自私之徒的心和手扣留了十分之一，或把它挪用去维持别的工作，主的仓库也必供应充足。{GW 227.1}[10]
§26
Read carefully the third chapter of Malachi, and see what God says about the tithe. If our churches will take their stand upon the Lords word, and be faithful in paying their tithe into His treasury, more laborers will be encouraged to take up ministerial work. More men would give themselves to the ministry were they not told of the depleted treasury. There should be an abundant supply in the Lords treasury, and there would be if selfish hearts and hands had not withheld the tithes, or made use of them to support other lines of work. {GW 227.1}[10]
§27
上帝所保留的款子，不可以胡乱地使用。十分之一是上帝的，凡干预上帝所指定用途的人，若不悔改就必丧失天上的财宝。我们不要再使圣工因十分之一转作别项用途，没有用在上帝所指定的工作上而使圣工受阻！当然，别项工作也要维持，也要占一笔费用，但不可从十分之一中抽取！上帝没有改变，十分之一仍须用以供养传道人！开辟新的地点，须有比现在更大的传道效率，所以库中必须有充分的经费。{GW 227.2}[11]
§28
Gods reserved resources are to be used in no such haphazard way. The tithe is the Lords, and those who meddle with it will be punished with the loss of their heavenly treasure, unless they repent. Let the work no longer be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted into various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go. Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be sustained, but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is still to be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the treasury. {GW 227.2}[11]
§29
凡出去担任传道工作的人，身上总有极重大的责任，而这个责任却被人奇怪地忽略了。有的人欢喜讲道，却不为教会做个人之工。现今的教会中，关于人对上帝应尽的义务和责任，尤其是关于忠心纳付十分之一的问题，大大地需要进行指导。我们的传道人如果不能按时得到薪水，就要烦闷忧虑。然而他们可曾想到，上帝的库里必须有粮，才可以供养作工的人么？若是他们不完全尽责地教育信徒，忠实地把上帝的财产归给上帝，库中就要缺少经费来进行主的工作了。{GW 228.1}[12]
§30
Those who go forth as ministers have a solemn responsibility devolving upon them, which is strangely neglected. Some enjoy preaching, but they do not give personal labor to the churches. There is great need of instruction concerning obligations and duties to God, especially in regard to paying an honest tithe. Our ministers would feel sadly aggrieved if they were not promptly paid for their labor; but will they consider that there must be meat in the treasure-house of God wherewith to sustain the laborers? If they fail to do their whole duty in educating the people to be faithful in paying to God His own, there will be a shortage of means in the treasury to carry forward the Lords work. {GW 228.1}[12]
§31
管理上帝羊群的人，必须忠心尽职。如果他不喜欢传这十分之一的道理，而让别人去传，他就不是一个忠心的工人。他应该细读玛拉基书中主责备祂的百姓在十分之一的事上夺取上帝财物的话。大能的上帝说：“咒诅就临到你们身上”(玛3:9)。传道教导人的人，要是眼见人们走着一条会使他们受咒诅的路，能疏忽责任不去教训他们；警告他们吗？每一位教友都应当受教，诚实忠心地付十分之一。——《教会证言》卷九第246-251页{GW 228.2}[13]
§32
The overseer of the flock of God should faithfully discharge his duty. If he takes the position that, because this is not pleasant to him, he will leave it for some one else to do, he is not a faithful worker. Let him read in Malachi the words of the Lord charging the people with robbery toward God in withholding the tithes. The mighty God declares, Ye are cursed with a curse. [Malachi 3:9] When the one who ministers in word and doctrine sees the people pursuing a course that will bring this curse upon them, how can he neglect his duty to give them instruction and warning? Every church-member should be taught to be faithful in paying an honest tithe.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. IX, pages 246-251. {GW 228.2}[13]