第39章 立志的真诚
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第39章 立志的真诚
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Chapter 39—Earnestness of Purpose
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当四个希伯来青年为巴比伦宫廷而接受教育时，他们并没有感到上帝的福惠可以代替他们所应作出的努力。他们勤奋学习，因为他们认识到，藉着上帝的恩典，他们的命运决定于他们的意志和行动。他们要把一切能力都带到工作中去，并藉着他们殷勤而认真的努力，充分利用学习和工作的机会。{MYP 147.1}[1]
§4
When the four Hebrew youth were receiving an education for the king’s court in Babylon, they did not feel that the blessing of the Lord was a substitute for the taxing effort required of them. They were diligent in study; for they discerned that through the grace of God their destiny depended upon their own will and action. They were to bring all their ability to the work; and by close, severe taxation of their powers they were to make the most of their opportunities for study and labor.?{MYP 147.1}[1]
§5
【与上帝合作】
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这些青年在作成自己得救的工夫，同时上帝在他们心中运行，使他们立志行事为要成就祂的美意。这就是成功的条件。为了获得上帝的恩典，我们必须履行自己的本分。上帝并不想代替我们立志行事。祂赐下恩典在我们心中运行，帮助我们立志行事，但祂从来不取代我们的努力。我们的心灵应当唤醒与祂合作。圣灵在我们里面运行，使我们能作成自己得救的工夫。这就是圣灵设法启发我们的实际教训。“你们立志行事都是上帝在你们心里运行，为要成就祂的美意”（腓2：13）。{MYP 147.2}[2]
§7
【Cooperation with God】
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While these youth were working out their own salvation, God was working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure. Here are revealed the conditions of success. To make God’s grace our own, we must act our part. The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works in us, that we may work out our own salvation. This is the practical lesson the Holy Spirit is striving to teach us. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”?{MYP 147.2}[2]
§9
上帝必与一切认真努力、忠心为祂服务的人合作，正如祂与但以理及其三个朋友合作一样。出色的智力和高尚的品格不是偶然产生的。上帝赐下机会，而成功则有赖乎善用这些机会。要善于发现并积极利用上帝所提供的机遇。有许多人若能象但以理那样，愿意依赖上帝赐恩典战胜困难，祈求作工的力量和效能，他们本来是可以成为伟人的。{MYP 147.3}[3]
§10
The Lord will cooperate with all who earnestly strive to be faithful in His service, as He cooperated with Daniel and his three companions. Fine mental qualities and a high tone of moral character?are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. The openings of Providence must be quickly discerned and eagerly entered. There are many who might become mighty men, if, like Daniel, they would depend upon God for grace to be overcomers, and for strength and efficiency to do their work.?{MYP 147.3}[3]
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【全心全意的服务】
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青年们哪，我劝你们要忠心。要用心工作。不要学那些懒惰而不专心服务的人。行为若经常重复就养成习惯，习惯则构成人的品格。要耐心履行人生的小小义务。如果你低估在小事上忠心的重要性，你品格的建造就不完美。在全能的上帝看来，每一分责任都是重要的。主曾说过：“人在最小的事上忠心，在大事上也忠心”（路16：11）。在一个真基督徒的生活中，没有什么事是不重要的。{MYP 148.1}[4]
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【Whole-hearted Service】
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I address you, young men: Be faithful. Put heart into your work. Imitate none who are slothful, and who give divided service. Actions, often repeated, form habits, habits form character. Patiently perform the little duties of life. So long as you undervalue the importance of faithfulness in the little duties, your character-building will be unsatisfactory. In the sight of Omnipotence, every duty is important. The Lord has said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” In the life of a true Christian there are no nonessentials.?{MYP 148.1}[4]
§15
许多自称为基督徒的人，行事与上帝的旨意背道而驰。他们在等待着有一番大工交托他们，却每日错过了效忠上帝的机会。他们没有天天全心全意地履行人生的小小本分。这些本分在他们看来是无关紧要的。正当他们等候着大工来施展自己想象中的卓越才干，实现自己的雄心壮志时，他们的一生就过去了。{MYP 148.2}[5]
§16
Many who claim to be Christians are working at cross-purposes with God. Many are waiting for some great work to be brought to them. Daily they lose opportunities for showing their faithfulness to God; daily they fail of discharging with whole-heartedness the little duties of life, which seem to them uninteresting. While waiting for some great work in which they may exercise their supposedly great talents, and thus satisfy their ambitious longings, their life passes away.?{MYP 148.2}[5]
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我亲爱的青年朋友们啊，你们应当去作身边的工作，关注你力所能及的小事，并全心全意地去完成它。要考虑如何聪明地作你们在家里能作的事情。这样，你们就预备好使自己胜任更大的工作。要记住圣经有关希西家王的记载：“凡他所行的，……都是尽心去行，无不亨通”（代下31：21）。{MYP 148.3}[6]
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My dear young friends, do the work that lies nearest at hand. Turn your attention to some?humble line of effort within your reach. Put mind and heart into the doing of this work. Force your thoughts to act intelligently on the things that you can do at home. Thus you will be fitting yourself for greater usefulness. Remember that of King Hezekiah it is written: “In every work that he began, ... he did it with all his heart, and prospered.”?{MYP 148.3}[6]
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【尽心的价值】
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能把思想集中在手头的工作上，这乃是莫大的福分。敬畏上帝的青年，应该努力履行自己的本分，使自己的思想保持在正确的轨道上，并尽到自己最大的力量。他们应该认清当前的本分，履行职责时不三心二意。这种心理的操炼会使他们受益终生。凡学会用心去作所从事的一切工作，不论这工作在表面看来是多么微小的人，必在世上成为有用的人。{MYP 149.1}[7]
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【The Value of Concentration】
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The ability to fix the thoughts on the work in hand is a great blessing. God-fearing youth should strive to discharge their duties with thoughtful consideration, keeping the thoughts in the right channel, and doing their best. They should recognize their present duties, and fulfill them without allowing the mind to wander. This kind of mental discipline will be helpful and beneficial throughout life. Those who learn to put thought into everything they undertake, however small the work may appear, will be of use in the world.?{MYP 149.1}[7]
§23
亲爱的青年啊，务要诚恳而坚持不懈。“要约束你们的心”（彼前1：13），要象忠心的希伯来人但以理那样，立志忠于上帝。不要让你们的父母和朋友们失望。还有一位救主是你们所不可忘记的。不要使那位爱你，甚至为你舍命，使你能成为上帝同工的主失望。{MYP 149.2}[8]
§24
Dear youth, be earnest, be persevering. “Gird up the loins of your mind.” Stand like Daniel, the faithful Hebrew, who purposed in his heart to be true to God. Do not disappoint your parents and friends. And there is Another to be remembered. Do not disappoint Him who so loved you that He gave His life to make it possible for you to be co-laborers with God.?{MYP 149.2}[8]
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【最高尚的动机】
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尊荣上帝的愿望，应成为我们一切动机中最有力的动机。这个动机应当激励我们尽力利用主赐给我们的特权和机会，使我们明白如何聪明地运用上帝的恩赐，引导我们将自己的思想，骨骼，肌肉和神经保持在最健康的状况之中，靠着强壮的体力和清晰的头脑而成为忠心的管家。如果我们给自私的动机留有活动的余地，就会思想萎缩，心地刚硬。如果让它来控制你，它就会摧毁道德力，使你陷入绝望之中。……{MYP 149.3}[9]
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【The Highest Motive】
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The desire to honor God should be to us the most powerful of all motives. It should lead us to make every exertion to improve the privileges and?opportunities provided for us, that we may understand how to use wisely the Lord’s goods. It should lead us to keep brain, bone, muscle, and nerve in the most healthful condition, that our physical strength and mental clearness may make us faithful stewards. Selfish interest, if given room to act, dwarfs the mind and hardens the heart; if allowed to control, it destroys moral power. Then disappointment comes....?{MYP 149.3}[9]
§29
真正的成功是那位使但以理成功的上帝所赐的。监察但以理内心的主，高兴地看到祂仆人纯正的动机和尊荣祂的决心。那些在自己生活中实行上帝旨意的人，必须不辞辛劳，勤勤恳恳地完成祂所交托的任何工作。——《青年导报》1903年8月20日{MYP 150.1}[10]
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True success is given to men and women by the God who gave success to Daniel. He who read the heart of Daniel looked with pleasure upon His servant’s purity of motive, his determination to honor the Lord. Those who in their life fulfill God’s purpose must put forth painstaking effort, applying themselves closely and earnestly to the accomplishment of whatever He gives them to do.—The Youth’s Instructor, August 20, 1903.?{MYP 150.1}[10]
§31
【恒久的喜乐】
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在这条通往永生的险峻道路上，到处都有喜乐的泉源，使疲乏之人得到振奋。凡行走智慧道途的人，即使在患难中也是极其快乐的，因为他们心中所敬爱的主，虽然眼不能见，却在他们的身旁一同行走。他们每向上迈进一步，就更加清楚地感觉到祂圣手的牵引；每行走一步，从眼不能见之主那里就有更明亮的荣光照耀在他们的道路上，他们赞美的歌声也就越来越嘹亮，上升到天上与宝座前天使的歌唱混合在一起。——《山边宝训》202页{MYP 150.2}[11]
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【Abiding Joy】
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And all the way up the steep road leading to eternal life are well-springs of joy to refresh the weary. Those who walk in wisdom’s ways are, even in tribulation, exceeding joyful; for He whom their soul loveth walks, invisible, beside them. At each upward step they discern more distinctly the touch of His hand; at every step brighter gleamings of glory from the Unseen fall upon their path; and their songs of praise, reaching ever a higher note, ascend to join the songs of angels before the throne.—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 140.?{MYP 150.2}[11]