第65章 未雨绸缪
§1
第65章 未雨绸缪
§2
Chap. 65 - Provision for the Future
§3
拥有房产与储蓄胜于挥霍无度——乙弟兄和他的太太都没有学习俭约的教训。不问进项的多寡，他们都愿随手用去。他们喜欢享受一时的快乐，而一旦忧患临头，他们却毫无准备。假使乙弟兄和他的太太能以俭朴持家，力行克己，那么他们早已有了自己的住宅，而且储有余款以应付艰难了。但他们不肯像别的人，就是他们有时必须仰赖的人那样崇尚节俭。倘若他们忽视而不肯学习这样的教训，当上帝的大日来临时，他们的品格必不能显得完全无疵。[1]
§4
Home Ownership and Savings Versus Spendthrift Habits.--Brother and Sister B have not learned the lesson of economy. . . . They would use all as they pass along, were it ever so much. They would enjoy as they go and then, when affliction draws upon them, would be wholly unprepared. . . . Had Brother and Sister B been economical managers, denying themselves, they could ere this have had a home of their own and besides this have had means to draw upon in case of adversity. But they will not economize as others have done, upon whom they have sometimes been dependent. If they neglect to learn these lessons, their characters will not be found perfect in the day of God. {AH 395.1}[1]
§5
此一劝告或亦有助于你——你所经营的商业，有时立刻可以赚得大利。你在赚得金钱之后并不考虑如何实行节俭，以应付不易赚钱的日子来到，却不惜耗费多金，以餍足想象中的需求。倘若你和你的妻子都明白：克制你们的嗜欲，遏制你们的奢望，为将来作准备，不单单为眼前而活，乃是上帝命定你们所当尽的义务，那么你们今日就必有相当的资产，而你们一家人也必能过安舒的生活了。有一项教训你们必须学习，就是如何使涓滴之数产生最广远的效果。[2]
§6
This Counsel May Help You.--You have been in a business which would at times yield you large profits at once. After you have earned means, you have not studied to economize in reference to a time when means could not be earned so easily, but have expended much for imaginary wants. Had you and your wife understood it to be a duty that God enjoined upon you to deny your taste and your desires and make provision for the future instead of living merely for the present, you could now have had a competency and your family have had the comforts of life. You have a lesson to learn. . . . It is to make a little go the longest way. {AH 395.2}[2]
§7
家中要有规律地储蓄——你若照着当尽的本分而实行节俭，则今日你非仅有雄厚的资金可以应付不测之需，而且也有力量协助上帝的圣工了。你在每周的薪金中应当留出一部分，除非确有急需，或向上帝奉献捐款以归还这位赐与者以外，决不动用分文。[3]
§8
To a Family That Should Save Systematically.-- You might today have had a capital of means to use in case of emergency and to aid the cause of God, if you had economized as you should. Every week a portion of your wages should be reserved and in no case touched unless suffering actual want, or to render back to the Giver in offerings to God. . . . {AH 395.3}[3]
§9
你所赚得的钱并未以明智而俭约的方式去支配，俾能保留些余款，以备自己有病时，你的家人不致被剥夺了赖以养生的款项。即使你陷入逆境，你的家庭也应该有所依仗才是。[4]
§10
The means you have earned has not been wisely and economically expended so as to leave a margin should you be sick and your family deprived of the means you bring to sustain them. Your family should have something to rely upon if you should be brought into straitened places. {AH 396.1}[4]
§11
给另一家人有关储蓄的劝告——你当每周在一个安全可靠的所在储蓄五块钱或十块钱，除非生病决不动支分文。你若厉行节俭，也许便能有些钱去生息。你若聪明地处理事务，就必在清偿了债务之后还可有些余款。[5]
§12
Another Family Advised Concerning a Savings Account.--Every week you should lay by in some secure place five or ten dollars not to be used up unless in case of sickness. With economy you may place something at interest. With wise management you can save something after paying your debts. {AH 396.2}[5]
§13
我认识一家人，每周有二十块钱的进项，全部用尽，而另一家人有同样多的食口，每周收入只十二块钱，但每周都能存下一两块钱，因为他们不去购买那些似乎是必需而实际上仍可省掉的东西。[6]
§14
I have known a family receiving twenty dollars a week to spend every penny of this amount, while another family of the same size, receiving but twelve dollars a week, laid aside one or two dollars a week, managing to do this by refraining from purchasing things which seemed to be necessary but which could be dispensed with. {AH 396.3}[6]
§15
用适当的遗嘱保全产业——凡作主的财物之忠心管家的人，必明了他们营业的实况，而且他们必像一个聪明人一样，具有应付一切意外的准备。假若他们的生命一旦突然结束，就不致使处理他们遗产的人感觉极大的困惑了。[7]
§16
Make Property Secure by Proper Will.--Those who are faithful stewards of the Lords means will know just how their business stands, and, like wise men, they will be prepared for any emergency. Should their probation close suddenly, they would not leave such great perplexity upon those who are called to settle their estate. {AH 396.4}[7]
§17
有许多人当他们表面上仍然相当健康时，却不注意书立遗嘱这件事。但我们的弟兄都应作这样的预防。他们当明白自己的经济状况，勿容他们的业务发生混乱的现象。他们应当妥善处理自己的产业，俾随时都可撒手而逝。[8]
§18
Many are not exercised upon the subject of making their wills while they are in apparent health. But this precaution should be taken by our brethren. They should know their financial standing and should not allow their business to become entangled. They should arrange their property in such a manner that they may leave it at any time. {AH 396.5}[8]
§19
书立遗嘱的方式最好能经得起法律的考验。立了遗嘱之后，如果按照圣工的需要继续奉献，那么可能经过多年也无妨害。弟兄们哪，你们应当明白：立了遗嘱之后并不会催促死亡提前临到。在书立遗嘱分配财产与家属时，你们切不可忘了上帝的圣工。你们都是他的代理人，经管着他的产业；而你们应当首先考虑到他的要求。当然，你们不可任凭妻儿贫乏无恃；他们如有需要，就当尽力为他们作准备。但你们不必随从常例，在遗嘱中写下了一大篇毋须济助的亲友名字。[9]
§20
Wills should be made in a manner to stand the test of law. After they are drawn, they may remain for years and do no harm, if donations continue to be made from time to time as the cause has need. Death will not come one day sooner, brethren, because you have made your will. In disposing of your property by will to your relatives, be sure that you do not forget Gods cause. You are His agents, holding His property; and His claims should have your first consideration. Your wife and children, of course, should not be left destitute; provision should be made for them if they are needy. But do not, simply because it is customary, bring into your will a long line of relatives who are not needy. {AH 397.1}[9]
§21
当在有生之日纪念上帝的圣工——不要有人以为毕生积攒的产业，只须于辞世之前在遗嘱中指定捐一部分给某某慈善事工，就能迎合基督的心意了。[10]
§22
Remember Gods Cause While Living.--Let no one think that he will meet the mind of Christ in hoarding up property through life and then at death making a bequest of a portion of it to some benevolent cause. {AH 397.2}[10]
§23
有些人一生自私地把持着他们的财产，企图在遗嘱中纪念圣工，以弥补其生前的疏忽。而如此在遗嘱中捐赠的这笔遗产，很难有半数加惠于所指定承受的对象。弟兄姊妹们哪，我奉劝大家都要投资于天国银行，不要将你们作管家的责任交托给别人。[11]
§24
Some selfishly retain their means during their lifetime, trusting to make up for their neglect by remembering the cause in their wills. But not half the means thus bestowed in legacies ever benefits the object specified. Brethren and sisters, invest in the bank of heaven yourselves, and do not leave your stewardship upon another. {AH 397.3}[11]
§25
将管家的责任交给儿女为不智之举——作父母的应当非常害怕将上帝所托付于他们手中的产业遗留给儿女去处理，除非他们有确实的凭证，知道他们的儿女会比他们更重视，更爱护，更忠心于上帝的圣工，并且知道这些儿女会比自己更殷勤，更热心地推进上帝的圣工，会比自己更慷慨地维持与此圣工有关而需要捐款的各项企业。但可惜许多人竟将自己的财产放在儿女手中，如此便将自己作管家的责任卸与他们的儿女，因为这都是撒但唆使他们去做的。这样做，就无异将财产置于仇敌的队伍之中了。撒但照着自己的心意安排这事，夺取了那兴旺上帝圣工所需的款项。[12]
§26
Stewardship Transferred to Children Is Often Unwise.--Parents should have great fear in entrusting children with the talents of means that God has placed in their hands, unless they have the surest evidence that their children have greater interest in, love for, and devotion to the cause of God than they themselves possess, and that these children will be more earnest and zealous in forwarding the work of God and more benevolent in carrying forward the various enterprises connected with in which call for means. But many place their means in the hands of their children, thus throwing upon them the responsibility of their own stewardship because Satan prompts them to do it. In so doing they effectually place that means in the enemys ranks. Satan works the matter to suit his own purpose and keeps from the cause of God the means which it needs, that it may be abundantly sustained. {AH 397.4}[12]
§27
积攒财物的咒诅——凡拥有财富而旨在积攒之人，就等于将财物的咒诅留与自己的儿女。父母如此作是有罪的，乃是一种可怕而危害心灵的罪，而且这罪将延及后代。子孙往往不能守成，而在愚昧的挥霍奢糜的生活中耗尽了那些钱财，结果沦为乞丐。他们始终没有察觉自己所耗尽的遗产的价值。假若他们的父母给他们树立正确的榜样，不积攒财产，却乐善好施，那么他们就必积财于天，不仅在今生收获平安与福乐，在来世更必享受永远的财宝了。[13]
§28
The Curse of Hoarded Wealth.--Those who acquire wealth for the purpose of hoarding it leave the curse of wealth to their children. It is a sin, an awful, soul-periling sin for fathers and mothers to do this, and this sin extends to their posterity. Often the children spend their means in foolish extravagance, in riotous living, so that they become beggars. They know not the value of the inheritance they have squandered. Had their fathers and mothers set them a proper example, not in hoarding but in imparting their wealth, they would have laid up for themselves treasure in heaven and received a return even in this world of peace and happiness and in the future life eternal riches. {AH 398.1}[13]