第73章 传道人与商业
§1
第73章 传道人与商业
§2
Chap. 73 Ministers and Commercial Business
§3
传道人不能一面负担繁重的私营工商事业,而同时还想作上帝所悦纳的工作。这样的分心足以模糊他们属灵的见识。他们的思想和兴致既充满了属世的事物,基督的圣工就要落到次要的地位。他们也要设法安排自己为上帝所作的工,来迁就环境,而不是改变环境去满足上帝的要求。{GW 339.1}[1]
§4
Ministers cannot do acceptable work for God, and at the same time carry the burden of large personal business enterprises. Such a division of interest dims their spiritual perception. The mind and heart are occupied with earthly things, and the service of Christ takes a second place. They seek to shape their work for God by their circumstances, instead of shaping circumstances to meet the demands of God. {GW 339.1}[1]
§5
传道人的精力应当全部用在圣工上。他最好的能力原来都属于上帝。他不可进行投机买卖,或任何足以使他偏离他重大任务的事业。保罗说:“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)。使徒就是这样强调一个传道人必须毫无保留地献身为主服务。{GW 339.2}[2]
§6
The energies of the minister are all needed for his high calling. His best powers belong to God. He should not engage in speculation, or in any other business that would turn him aside from his great work. No man that warreth, Paul declared, 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.] Thus the apostle emphasized the ministers need of unreserved consecration to the Masters service. {GW 339.2}[2]
§7
一个完全献身的传道人必不肯从事任何其他足以拦阻他,不容他全心全意献身圣工的事业。他不应追求属世的尊荣或财富。他的唯一宗旨乃是将救主的爱传给别人,说明救主如何牺牲自己,为要把永生的财富带给世人。这等传道人的最高愿望并不是在这个世界上积攒财富,而是使一般不关心不效忠上帝的人注意到永恒的现实。或许有人要请他从事一些足以致富的事业。但对于这一类的试探,他必要回答说:“人就是赚得全世界,赔上自己的生命,有什么益处呢”(可8:36)?{GW 339.3}[3]
§8
The minister who is wholly consecrated to God refuses to engage in business that would hinder him from giving himself fully to his sacred calling. He is not striving for earthly honor or riches; his one purpose is to tell others of the Saviour, who gave Himself to bring to human beings the riches of eternal life. His highest desire is not to lay up treasure in this world, but to bring to the attention of the indifferent and disloyal the realities of eternity. He may be asked to engage in enterprises which promise large worldly gain, but to such temptations he returns the answer, What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [Mark 8:36.] {GW 339.3}[3]
§9
从前撒但曾以这种引诱用在基督身上,因为他知道,如果基督接受这种建议,这世界就永远不得救赎了。今日他也用各种不同的方式拿这同一个试探去引诱上帝的仆人。他也知道,凡受他迷惑的人,必定会辜负他们所受的委托。{GW 340.1}[4]
§10
Satan presented this inducement to Christ, knowing that if He accepted it, the world would never be ransomed. And under different guises he presents the same temptation to Gods ministers today, knowing that those who are beguiled by it will be false to their trust. {GW 340.1}[4]
§11
传道人想要发财,决不是上帝的旨意。关于这一点,保罗曾写信给提摩太说:“贪财是万恶之根;有人贪恋钱财,就被引诱离了真道,用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。但你这属上帝的人,要逃避这些事,追求公义、敬虔、信心、爱心、忍耐、温柔。”基督的使者应该言传身教,“嘱咐那些今世富足的人,不要自高,不要倚靠无定的钱财,只要倚靠那厚赐百物给我们享受的上帝;又要嘱咐他们行善,在好事上富足,甘心施舍,乐意供给人,为自己积成美好的根基,预备将来,叫他们持定那真正的生命”(提前6:10,11,17-19)。——《使徒行述》第365-367页{GW 340.2}[5]
§12
It is not Gods will that His ministers should seek to be rich. Regarding this Paul wrote to Timothy: The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. [1 Timothy 6:10, 11.] By example as well as by precept, the ambassador for Christ is to charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. [1 Timothy 6:17-19.]--The Acts of the Apostles, pages 365-367. {GW 340.2}[5]
§13
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,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。{GW 340.3}[6]
§14
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 treasure. 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. 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. {GW 340.3}[6]
§15
【地产和矿产的投机】
§16
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)。{GW 341.1}[7]
§17
【Land and Mining Speculation】
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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.] {GW 341.1}[7]
§19
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。{GW 341.2}[8]
§20
Just before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Satan sought to seduce them, and lead them into 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 the real-estate craze, and have sold their interest in the truth for the prospect of worldly advantage. {GW 341.2}[8]
§21
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。{GW 341.3}[9]
§22
There are many who hold themselves away from the service of God, because they desire worldly gain; and Satan uses them to lead others astray. The tempter comes to men as he came to Jesus, presenting the glory of the world; and when a measure of success attends their ventures, they become greedy for more gain, lose their love for the truth, and their spirituality dies. The immortal inheritance, the love of Jesus, is eclipsed to their vision by the fleeting prospects of this world. {GW 341.3}[9]
§23
教会中百姓的灵性很少有比他们传道人更为兴旺的。一个传道人心中若有爱世界的精神,则他对于别人的影响是极其巨大的。百姓会将他的不足作为借口,觉得自己也可以去爱今生之事,可以去对属灵之事漠不关心,因为他们的传道人也是这样。他们欺骗自己的心灵,与世俗为友。使徒说,与世俗为友的,就是与上帝为敌(罗8:7)。传道人应当作他羊群的榜样。他们应当对生灵表现出不息不倦的爱,并完全献身于上帝的工作。他们希望在百姓中看到什么样火热的情形,自己首先应当做到。——《教会证言》卷二第645-646页{GW 342.1}[10]
§24
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 own world-loving spirit. They quiet their 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 against God. [Romans 8:7.] 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, Vol. II, pages 645, 646. {GW 342.1}[10]
§25
我们是近乎末期了。我们不但要在讲台上传扬真理,也当在台下实行真理。当仔细查验你得救之盼望的根基。当你站在真理宣扬者的地位,作锡安城楼上的守望者之时,你不能一面注意投机矿业及地产,而同时又能有效的进行那委托在你手中的神圣事工。在与人的性命存亡攸关之处,在涉及永恒事物之时,我们若分心了,就不得安全。——《教会证言》卷五第530页。{GW 342.2}[11]
§26
We are nearing the close of time. We want not only to teach present truth in the pulpit, but to live it out of the pulpit. Examine closely the foundation of your hope of salvation. While you stand in the position of a herald of truth, a watchman upon the walls of Zion, you cannot have your interest interwoven with mining or real-estate business, and at the same time do effectually the sacred work committed to your hands. Where the souls of men are at stake, where eternal things are involved, the interest cannot safely be divided.--Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, page 530. {GW 342.2}[11]