第60章 上帝的管家
§1
第60章 上帝的管家
§2
Chap. 60 - Stewards of God
§3
我们当承认上帝的主权——事业上安全与真成功的基础，端赖乎承认上帝的主权。那位万物的创造者，他是原始的业主。我们都是他的管家。我们一切所有的，都是他所托付我们，要我们按着他的指导而使用的。[1]
§4
We Are to Recognize Gods Ownership.--That which lies at the foundation of business integrity and of true success is the recognition of Gods ownership. The Creator of all things, He is the original proprietor. We are His stewards. All that we have is a trust from Him, to be used according to His direction. {AH 367.1}[1]
§5
这是各人所当负的职责；是有关人类一切活动范围的。无论我们承认与否，我们仍是作管家的，赋有上帝所赐予的才干与便利，而被安置在世上作他所派定的工作。[2]
§6
This is an obligation that rests upon every human being. It has to do with the whole sphere of human activity. Whether we recognize it or not, we are stewards, supplied from God with talents and facilities and placed in the world to do a work appointed by Him. {AH 367.2}[2]
§7
钱财原不是我们的；房屋与地产，图画与家具，衣服与奢侈品等，都不是属于我们的。我们都是客旅，是寄居的。那些维持生命和健康的必需之物，无非都是暂时容许我们使用的。我们在浮世所享受的福惠都是委托给我们的，旨在考验我们配不配承受永恒的财富。假若我们经得起上帝的考验，就必承受那将要属于我们的被赎回的产业——荣耀、尊贵和永生。[3]
§8
Money is not ours; houses and grounds, pictures and furniture, garments and luxuries, do not belong to us. We are pilgrims, we are strangers. We have only a grant of those things that are necessary for health and life. . . . Our temporal blessings are given us in trust, to prove whether we can be entrusted with eternal riches. If we endure the proving of God, then we shall receive that purchased possession which is to be our own--glory, honor, and immortality. {AH 367.3}[3]
§9
我们必须交帐——倘若我们的会友肯将钱财，就是委托给他们却被他们浪掷于满足自我和崇拜偶像的诸事上的部分钱财，投资于上帝的圣工，便可以积攒财宝在天上，并且成就上帝所要求他们从事的工作了。但他们却像比喻中那个财主一样，只顾度奢华宴乐的生活。上帝所委托与他们的钱财，原要用以荣耀他的圣名，他们却奢侈地浪费了。他们毫不顾及自己必须向上帝交帐。他们也不想想：在不久的将来必有结帐的一天，到那日，他们必要为自己作管家的职分交帐。[4]
§10
We Must Give an Account.--If our own people would only put into the cause of God the money that has been lent them in trust, that portion which they spend in selfish gratification, in idolatry, they would lay up treasure in heaven, and would be doing the very work God requires them to do. But like the rich man in the parable, they live sumptuously. The money God has lent them in trust, to be used to His names glory, they spend extravagantly. They do not stop to consider their accountability to God. They do not stop to consider that there is to be a reckoning day not far hence, when they must give an account of their stewardship. {AH 367.4}[4]
§11
我们应当常常记着：在审判的时候，我们必须为自己怎样使用上帝的钱财而交帐。为取悦自我，餍足私欲而浪费的钱财，并不能给我们带来任何实惠，却必然造成伤害。我们若确认上帝为一切美物之赏赐者，而且金钱也是属于他的，就必明智地照着他神圣的旨意而使用钱财了，这样，世界和属世的习尚与常例，就不再作为我们的标准。我们也不再希望仿效世界的作风；并且不再容忍自己的癖性来辖制我们了。[5]
§12
We should ever remember that in the judgment we must meet the record of the way we use Gods money. Much is spent in self-pleasing, self-gratification, that does us no real good, but positive injury. If we realize that God is the giver of all good things, that the money is His, then we shall exercise wisdom in its expenditure, conforming to His holy will. The world, its customs, its fashions, will not be our standard. We shall not have a desire to conform to its practices; we shall not permit our own inclinations to control us. {AH 368.1}[5]
§13
在运用钱财的事上，我们若视之为一项神圣的委托，不用以满足骄矜、虚荣、食欲，或情欲之念，便能使之成为增进灵性的媒介。[6]
§14
In our use of money we can make it an agent of spiritual improvement by regarding it as a sacred trust, not to be employed to administer to pride, vanity, appetite, or passion. {AH 368.2}[6]
§15
记录的天使忠实地记载了每一笔献与上帝而存入府库中的捐款，以及如此奉献的款项所有最后的结果。上帝的慧眼辨明每一个献与他圣工上的小钱，以及捐献者的乐愿或勉强的心意。甚至捐献的动机也记载下来了。[7]
§16
I was shown that the recording angel makes a faithful record of every offering dedicated to God and put into the treasury and also of the final result of the means thus bestowed. The eye of God takes cognizance of every farthing devoted to His cause and of the willingness or reluctance of the giver. The motive in giving is also chronicled. {AH 368.3}[7]
§17
全家有规律地奉献——“各人要照自己的进项抽出来留着。”家中的每一个人，自老及幼都可以参加这样的善工。这种有规律的慈善捐献计划必成为各个家庭的保障，以防止浪费金钱购买那些非必需品的试探，而且必特别成为富有之人的福惠，保守他们不致耽溺于奢华淫佚之中。[8]
§18
Systematic Giving for the Family.--Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. Every member of the family, from the oldest down to the youngest, may take part in this work of benevolence. . . . The plan of systematic benevolence [NOTE: REFERENCE IS HERE MADE TO PLANS FOLLOWED EARLY BY THE CHURCH IN LAYING ASIDE WEEKLY THE TITHES AND OFFERINGS.-- COMPILERS.] will prove a safeguard to every family against temptations to spend means for needless things, and especially will it prove a blessing to the rich by guarding them from indulging in extravagances. {AH 368.4}[8]
§19
上帝每周对于各个家庭所有的要求，借着家中每一分子彻底履行这种制度，便可重视于心意之中；而且他们放弃了某些不必需的物品，俾有钱财捐入府库之时，则为上帝的荣耀而克己牺牲之可贵的教训就必铭刻于心。每周一次，家中各人都要自动检讨过去一周中的行为——若实行节约便可能省下来的进项，以及由于挥霍而浪费的金钱。他的良心要像在上帝面前一样受检讨，而对他的行为或予嘉许，或加谴责。他必发现：若要享受平安，得蒙上帝的嘉纳，就必须在吃喝和衣着方面都荣耀他。[9]
§20
Every week the demands of God upon each family are brought to mind by each of its members fully carrying out the plan; and as they have denied themselves some superfluity in order to have means to put into the treasury, lessons of value in self-denial for the glory of God have been impressed upon the heart. Once a week each is brought face to face with the doings of the past week-- the income that he might have had if he had been economical, and the means that he does not have because of indulgence. His conscience is reined up, as it were, before God and either commends or accuses him. He learns that if he retains peace of mind and the favor of God, he must eat and drink and dress to His glory. {AH 369.1}[9]
§21
以上帝的要求为首要——上帝的要求是首要的。我们若只将餍足一切想象中的需求后所剩余的进项献给他，就不是遵行他的旨意了。在动用我们的进项之前，就当将他命定属于他的一部分抽出来，并且献给他。按照古代的制度，随时都有感恩的祭物在坛上焚烧，借以表明人类对于上帝的无时或已的义务。我们若在属世的事业上昌盛，那全是因为上帝赐福与我们。这进项中的一部分应献为济贫之需，而另一大部分则当献为推进上帝圣工之用。既将应归还上帝的部分都呈献给他了，则余剩的部分就必蒙赐福而圣化，归于己用。但人若扣留上帝所命定归与他的而夺取了他所当得的，他的咒诅就必落在全部进项之上。[10]
§22
Make Gods Requirements First.--Gods requirements come first. We are not doing His will if we consecrate to Him what is left of our income after all our imaginary wants have been supplied. Before any part of our earnings is consumed, we should take out and present to Him that portion which He claims. In the old dispensation an offering of gratitude was kept continually burning upon the altar, thus showing mans endless obligation to God. If we have prosperity in our secular business, it is because God blesses us. A part of this income is to be devoted to the poor, and a large portion to be applied to the cause of God. When that which God claims is rendered to Him, the remainder will be sanctified and blessed to our own use. But when a man robs God by withholding that which He requires, His curse rests upon the whole. {AH 369.2}[10]
§23
记念困苦穷乏之人——我们若要表彰基督的圣德，就必须从心灵中除尽一切私欲。为要推进他交托于我们手中的圣工，就必须将每一分可以节省的款项奉献出来。有时我们发现他人家境贫困，就当尽力解救这般受苦受难的人。我们对于生存在周围之人的痛苦所知甚微；但遇有机会，就当随时去帮助那些在重压之下的人们。[11]
§24
Remember the Needy Poor.--If we represent the character of Christ, every particle of selfishness must be expelled from the soul. In carrying forward the work He gave to our hands, it will be necessary for us to give every jot and tittle of our means that we can spare. Poverty and distress in families will come to our knowledge, and afflicted and suffering ones will have to be relieved. We know very little of the human suffering that exists everywhere about us; but as we have opportunity, we should be ready to render immediate assistance to those who are under a severe pressure. {AH 370.1}[11]
§25
凡耗费钱财于奢侈品上，便是夺取了穷人衣食所需之款。那用以满足衣着、房屋、家具，和装饰方面夸耀之念的钱财，原可用来解救许多受苦受难之家庭的困乏。上帝的管家当服侍贫寒的人。[12]
§26
The squandering of money in luxuries deprives the poor of the means necessary to supply them with food and clothing. That which is spent for the gratification of pride in dress, in buildings, in furniture, and in decorations would relieve the distress of many wretched, suffering families. Gods stewards are to minister to the needy. {AH 370.2}[12]
§27
上帝祛私除贪之良方——出于克己牺牲的施予，对于施予者而言，乃是一种不可思议的帮助。它使我们得到一种教育，使我们更充分地了解那位周流四方行善事，救济受苦之人，帮补缺乏之人的主的工作。[13]
§28
Gods Remedy for Selfishness and Covetousness.-- The giving that is the fruit of self-denial is a wonderful help to the giver. It imparts an education that enables us more fully to comprehend the work of Him who went about doing good, relieving the suffering, and supplying the needs of the destitute. {AH 370.3}[13]
§29
经常实践克己牺牲的善行。乃是上帝医治那如毒癌般的自私贪婪之罪的良方。上帝已安排借着有规律的捐献来维持他的圣工，并解救受苦受难之人的困乏。他已命定捐输的事应当成为一种习惯，以消除那阴险迷人的贪婪之罪。不住地施舍，必予贪心以致命的打击。有规律的奉献制度乃是上帝所命定的，借以使贪婪者随时舍离所获得的钱财，将之奉献归主，因为这一切原是属于他的。[14]
§30
Constant, self-denying benevolence is Gods remedy for the cankering sins of selfishness and covetousness. God has arranged systematic benevolence to sustain His cause and relieve the necessities of the suffering and needy. He has ordained that giving should become a habit, that it may counteract the dangerous and deceitful sin of covetousness. Continual giving starves covetousness to death. Systematic benevolence is designed in the order of God to tear away treasures from the covetous as fast as they are gained, and to consecrate them to the Lord, to whom they belong. . . . {AH 370.4}[14]
§31
常常履行有规律的奉献制度，就能削弱贪心，加强善行。当财宝增多之时，人们——甚至包括那些自命敬虔的人在内——就恋慕这些财宝；而他们所拥有的愈多，所献归主的府库中的便愈少。财富会这样使人自私，积攒钱财也会扩大贪心；而由于积极钻营，这些恶癖就日益根深蒂固了。上帝洞悉我们的危险，所以设法为我们圈上篱笆，免得我们败亡。他也要我们经常乐善好施，俾使行善的习惯所含的力量能粉碎那导往相反方向之习惯所有的权势。[15]
§32
The constant practice of Gods plan of systematic benevolence weakens covetousness and strengthens benevolence. If riches increase, men, even those professing godliness, set their hearts upon them; and the more they have, the less they give to the treasury of the Lord. Thus riches make men selfish, and hoarding feeds covetousness; and these evils strengthen by active exercise. God knows our danger and has hedged us about with means to prevent our own ruin. He requires the constant exercise of benevolence, that the force of habit in good works may break the force of habit in an opposite direction. {AH 371.1}[15]