第12章 身在世界但不属于世界
§1
第12章 身在世界但不属于世界
§2
Chap. 12—In the World but Not of the World
§3
我蒙指示看到我们这班人有与世俗同化而不与基督的形像同化的危险。我们现今是在永恒世界的边缘，但众生之敌却蓄意要我们拖延结束的时辰。撒但千方百计攻击自称遵守诫命和等候救主以能力和大荣耀二次驾云降临的上帝子民。他要尽可能地引诱许多的人把那凶险的日子推得很远，效法世界的精神，模仿世界的习俗。我见到世界的精神控制着许多高调信奉真理之人的心思意念，便大为惊讶。他们怀存自私和放纵之念，却不培养真实的敬虔和纯正的忠贞。（4T 306）{CCh 83.1}[1]
§4
I was shown our danger, as a people, of becoming assimilated to the world rather than to the image of Christ. We are now upon the very borders of the eternal world, but it is the purpose of the adversary of souls to lead us to put far off the close of time. Satan will in every conceivable manner assail those who profess to be the commandment-keeping people of God and to be waiting for the second appearing of our Saviour in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. He will lead as many as possible to put off the evil day and become in spirit like the world, imitating its customs. I felt alarmed as I saw that the spirit of the world was controlling the hearts and minds of many who make a high profession of the truth. Selfishness and self-indulgence are cherished by them, but true godliness and sterling integrity are not cultivated.{CCh 83.1}[1]
§5
【基督徒的诚实】
§6
在每一项交易中都要严格地诚实。无论受到什么试探，都不要在最小的事上欺诈或搪塞。有时人天性的冲动会诱惑人偏离诚实的正路。然而我们丝毫不要动摇。你如果宣布了自己所要做的事情，即使后来发现是利人损己的，也丝毫不要偏离原则。要言出必行。（CG 154）?{CCh 83.2}[2]
§7
【Christian Integrity】
§8
In every business transaction be rigidly honest. However tempted, never deceive or prevaricate in the least matter. At times a natural impulse may bring temptation to diverge from the straightforward path of honesty, but do not vary one hairsbreadth. If in any matter you make a statement as to what you will do, and afterward find that you have favored others to your own loss, do not vary a hairsbreadth from principle. Carry out your agreement.{CCh 83.2}[2]
§9
圣经用最强烈的措辞斥责一切虚伪，欺诈和不诚实的行为。是非善恶已有明训。但我蒙指示却见到上帝的子民置身于仇敌的境地，屈服于他的试探，顺从他的奸计，以致他们的感觉变得非常迟钝了。在金钱得失的事上，人常以为稍微不诚实，或略为改变上帝的要求，总不致算为罪大恶极。然而罪就是罪，不论犯罪的人是百万富翁还是街头小乞。凡用虚伪方法取得财产的，正是判决自身的重罪。一切由诡诈欺骗而得的财利，只能是得利者的一个祸根。（4T 311）?{CCh 83.3}[3]
§10
The Bible condemns in the strongest terms all falsehood, false dealing, and dishonesty. Right and wrong are plainly stated. But I was shown that God’s people have placed themselves on the enemy’s ground; they have yielded to his temptations and followed his devices until their sensibilities have become fearfully blunted. A slight deviation from truth, a little variation from the requirements of God, is thought to be, after all, not so very sinful, when pecuniary gain or loss is involved. But sin is sin, whether committed by the possessor of millions or by the beggar in the streets. Those who secure property by false representations are bringing condemnation on their souls. All that is obtained by deceit and fraud will be only a curse to the receiver.{CCh 83.3}[3]
§11
说谎话或行骗的人必失去自尊心。他也许不觉得上帝在观察和洞悉他的一切业务活动，他也许不知道圣天使在衡量他的动机及细听他的言语，他也许没想到将来要照着自己的行为受报应；但即使他的不正当行为能瞒过人和上帝的鉴察而只有自己知道，这也足以降低他的心思及人格。一件行为虽不足以断定其品格，但已足以破坏品格的栅栏，以致下次试探来时就更容易受惑，终至于在业务上养成了欺诈不诚实的习惯，人也不能信任他了。（5T 396）?{CCh 83.4}[4]
§12
He [one who utters falsehood or practices deception] loses his own self-respect. He may not be conscious that God sees him and is acquainted with every business transaction, that holy angels are weighing his motives and listening to his words, and that his reward will be?according to his works; but if it were possible to conceal his wrongdoing from human and divine inspection, the fact that he himself knows it, is degrading to his mind and character. One act does not determine the character, but it breaks down the barrier, and the next temptation is more readily entertained, until finally a habit of prevarication and dishonesty in business is formed, and the man cannot be trusted.{CCh 83.4}[4]
§13
上帝要求凡在祂旗帜下为祂服务的人绝对诚实，品格无疵，不说谎话，出言真实，目不邪视，行为完全蒙上帝悦纳。我们生活在圣洁的上帝眼前。祂严肃地宣布：“我知道你的行为。”上帝注视我们。我们不公正的行为，无一能逃过上帝的慧眼。很少有人意识到上帝在鉴察我们的一举一动。（CG 152）?{CCh 84.1}[5]
§14
God wants men in His service, under His banner, to be strictly honest, unimpeachable in character, that their tongues shall not utter a semblance of untruth. The tongue must be true, the eyes must be true, the actions wholly and entirely such as God can commend. We are living in the sight of a holy God, who solemnly declares, “I know thy works.” The divine eye is ever upon us. We cannot cover one act of unjust deal from God. The witness of God to our every action is a truth which but few realize.{CCh 84.1}[5]
§15
【信徒是经商中更高尚的人】
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按照基督的尺度，一个诚实的人，是会表现出严格的正直。许多人用欺人的法码和虚伪的天平骗取今生的利益，在上帝的眼中是可憎的。可惜许多自称遵守上帝诫命的人也用虚伪的法码与天平。人若真与上帝联络，真是遵守主的律法，他的生活必要显出实情来；因为他的一切行动都必与基督的教训相合。他必不为得利出卖自己的荣誉。他的原则是建立于稳妥的根基之上，他在世俗事务上的行为，乃是他原则的反映。在世俗的渣滓垃圾之中，坚定的正直却要发光如金。{CCh 84.2}[6]
§17
【The Believer—A Better Man in Business】
§18
An honest man, according to Christ’s measurement, is one who will manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are abomination in the sight of God. Yet many who profess to keep the commandments of God are dealing with false weights and false balances. When a man is indeed connected with God, and is keeping His law in truth, his life will reveal the fact; for all his actions will be in harmony with the teachings of Christ. He will not sell his honor for gain. His principles are built upon the sure foundation, and his conduct in worldly matters is a transcript of his principles. Firm integrity shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world.?{CCh 84.2}[6]
§19
欺诈，虚伪和不信实的行为，虽可蒙蔽人的眼目，但却不能蒙蔽上帝的眼目。那观察人品格发展，及衡量人道德价值的天使，要把这些表现人品格的小作为登记在天上的簿册中。如果一个工人在其日常职业生活上不忠实，或怠慢其工作，世人若按他的办事标准来估量他的宗教标准，这种评估并非不正确。{CCh 84.3}[7]
§20
Deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and hidden from the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who watch the development of character and weigh moral worth, record in the books of heaven these minor transactions which reveal character. If a workman in the daily vocations of life is unfaithful and slights his work, the world will not judge incorrectly if they estimate his standard in religion according to his standard in business.?{CCh 84.3}[7]
§21
我们相信人子快要驾着天云降临，但这种信心并不会叫真实的基督徒轻忽不理今生日常的业务。凡等候仰望基督显现的人，必不懒惰，反要殷勤办事。他们必不粗率欺诈地作工，而是要忠实，敏捷，认真彻底。凡是自诩说“在今生的事上漠不关心乃是表明其重视灵性和与世界分离”的人，是受了大欺骗了。他们的诚实，忠直和坚贞，必在今生暂时的事物上受试验；因为他们若在最小的事上忠心，在大事上也必忠心。{CCh 84.4}[8]
§22
Belief in the near coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven will not cause the true Christian to become neglectful and careless of the ordinary business of life. The waiting ones who look for the soon appearing of Christ will not be idle, but diligent in business. Their work will not be done carelessly and dishonestly, but with fidelity, promptness, and thoroughness. Those who flatter themselves that careless inattention to the things of this life is an evidence of their spirituality and of their separation from the world are under a great deception. Their veracity, faithfulness, and integrity are tested and proved in temporal things. If they are faithful in that which is least they will be faithful in much.?{CCh 84.4}[8]
§23
我蒙指示见到，在这场试验上有许多人将要失败。他们在处理今生的事物上，显示其真品格。{CCh 84.5}[9]
§24
I have been shown that here is where many will fail to bear the test. They develop their true character in the management of temporal concerns.{CCh 84.5}[9]
§25
他们对待同胞不忠实，设阴谋，行诡诈。他们不思想自己将来不朽的生命取决于今生的操行如何，也不思想最严格的忠贞乃是形成正直品格所不可缺少的。在我们各阶层的人中，皆有诡诈不实的事，因此许多自称信仰真理的人，便变成不冷不热的了。他们没有与基督联络，他们在欺骗自己的心。甚至在遵守安息日的人之中，也令人担忧地缺乏诚实，执笔至此，不胜痛心之至！（4T 309-311）?{CCh 85.1}[10]
§26
They manifest unfaithfulness, scheming, dishonesty, in dealing with their fellow men. They do not consider that their hold upon the future, immortal life depends upon how they conduct themselves in the concerns of this life, and that the strictest integrity is indispensable to the formation of a righteous character. Dishonesty is ... the cause of lukewarmness on the part of many who profess to believe the truth. They are not connected with Christ and are deceiving their own souls. I am pained to make the statement that there is an alarming lack of honesty even among Sabbathkeepers.{CCh 85.1}[10]
§27
【与世界的业务联系】
§28
有些人在属世的事物上不会机警地作聪明的处理。他们缺少那必要的资格，撒但便占了他们的优势。人若有了这种情形，就不应该依旧不知自己的任务。在实行计划之先，他们应当谦卑地去向自己可信任其判断的弟兄们请教。我蒙指示想到这节圣经说：“你们各人的重担要互相担当”（加6:2）。有些人不够谦卑，不肯请那些会为他们算计的人指教，以至于凭着自己的计划行事，把自己陷于困难中。到此时他们才看出需要弟兄们的指教及判断；然而这时的担子比起当初的时候，已是不知加重多少了。弟兄们对于力可避免的事，就不应诉之法律，因为那样行，是会给仇敌占大优势，要缠累扰乱他们的。最好还是让步，作些牺牲，把事情解决了。?{CCh 85.2}[11]
§29
【Business Alliances With the World】
§30
Some have no tact at wise management of worldly matters. They lack the necessary qualifications, and Satan takes advantage of them. When this is the case, such should not remain in ignorance of their task. They should be humble enough to counsel with their brethren, in whose judgment they can have confidence, before they carry out plans. I was directed to this text: “Bear ye one another’s burdens.” Some are not humble enough to let those who have judgment calculate for them until they have followed their own plans, and have involved themselves in difficulties. Then they see the necessity of having the counsel and judgment of their brethren; but how much heavier the burden then than at first. Brethren should not go to law if it can be possibly avoided; for they thus give the enemy great advantage to entangle and perplex them. It would be better to make a settlement at some loss.?{CCh 85.2}[11]
§31
我见到上帝的子民为非信徒担保，是上帝所不悦的。我蒙指示想到这些圣经章节：“不要与人击掌，不要为欠债的作保”（箴22:26）。“为外人作保的，必受亏损；恨恶击掌的，却得安稳”（箴11:15）。不忠心的管家们哪！他们把那属于别人的，──属于他们天父的，──拿来许愿，同时撒但也是随时起来帮助他的子民从他们的手中抢去。守安息日的信徒不应当与非信徒合伙。上帝的子民过于信赖外人的话语，向他们请教领示，这原是不应当的。仇敌使他们作他的工具，利用他们去扰乱和劫取上帝的子民。（1T 200, 201）?{CCh 85.3}[12]
§32
I saw that God was displeased with His people for becoming surety for unbelievers. I was directed to these texts:?Proverbs 22:26: “Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.”?Proverbs 11:15: “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure.” Unfaithful stewards! They pledge that which belongs to another,—their heavenly Father,—and Satan stands ready to aid his children to wrench it out of their hands. Sabbathkeepers should not be in partnership with unbelievers. God’s people trust too much to the words of strangers, and ask their advice and counsel when they should not. The enemy makes them his agents, and works through them to perplex and take from God’s people.{CCh 85.3}[12]