第12章 忠诚的考验
§1
第12章 忠诚的考验
§2
Chap. 12 - A Test of Loyalty
§3
“你要以财物和一切初熟的土产尊荣耶和华；这样，你的仓房必充满有余，你的酒榨有新酒盈溢”（箴3:9,10）。{CS 65.1}[1]
§4
Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. {CS 65.1}[1]
§5
这节经文教导说，那位赐给我们一切福惠的上帝，对这些福惠是有要求的。我们首先要考虑祂的要求。尊重这要求的人能获得上帝的特别福气。{CS 65.2}[2]
§6
This scripture teaches that God, as the Giver of all our benefits, has a claim upon them all; that His claim should be our first consideration; and that a special blessing will attend all who honor this claim. {CS 65.2}[2]
§7
上帝对待人的原则由此可见。祂把我们的始祖安置在伊甸园中，让各样能增进他们幸福的事物围绕他们，嘱咐他们承认祂是万物的主宰。祂使园中的各样树木生长，或悦人眼目，或可食用。但祂却保留了一棵。除此之外，亚当和夏娃都可以随意吃。但上帝论到这一棵说：“你不可吃。”这是他们对上帝的感激和忠诚的考验。{CS 65.3}[3]
§8
Herein is set forth a principle that is seen in all Gods dealings with men. The Lord placed our first parents in the Garden of Eden. He surrounded them with everything that could minister to their happiness, and He bade them acknowledge Him as the possessor of all things. In the garden He caused to grow every tree that was pleasant to the eye or good for food; but among them He made one reserve. Of all else, Adam and Eve might freely eat; but of this one tree God said, Thou shalt not eat of it. Here was the test of their gratitude and loyalty to God. {CS 65.3}[3]
§9
上帝赐下耶稣，就是把天上最丰富的财宝赐给了我们。因着祂的恩赐，我们得以丰富地享受各样东西。地上的出产、丰收的庄稼、金银财宝都是祂的恩赐。祂把房屋、田地和衣食交在人手中，要求我们承认这一切是祂所赐。因此祂说，你的一切财产我要留下十分之一，归入我的库房。此外还要其他的乐意捐献。这是上帝所命定推进福音工作的方法。{CS 65.4}[4]
§10
So the Lord has imparted to us heavens richest treasure in giving us Jesus. With Him He has given us all things richly to enjoy. The productions of the earth, the bountiful harvests, the treasures of gold and silver, are His gifts. Houses and lands, food and clothing, He has placed in the possession of men. He asks us to acknowledge Him as the Giver of all things; and for this reason He says, Of all your possessions I reserve a tenth for Myself, besides gifts and offerings, which are to be brought into My storehouse. This is the provision God has made for carrying forward the work of the gospel. {CS 65.4}[4]
§11
这种定期捐款制度是主耶稣基督亲自设立的。祂曾为世人的生命而牺牲了自己的生命。祂为救拔堕落的人类，情愿舍弃王室和天军统帅的尊荣，以人性披覆祂的神性，为我们的缘故成了贫穷，使我们因祂的贫穷而成为富足。祂凭着自己的智慧告诉人祂维持向世界传扬祂信息之人的计划。（《评论与通讯》1902年2月4日）{CS 66.1}[5]
§12
It was by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who gave His life for the life of the world, that this plan for systematic giving was devised. He who left the royal courts, who laid aside His honor as Commander of the heavenly hosts, who clothed His divinity with humanity in order to uplift the fallen race; He who for our sake became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, has spoken to men, and in His wisdom has told them His own plan for sustaining those who bear His message to the world.--R. & H., Feb. 4, 1902. {CS 66.1}[5]
§13
【上帝保留时间和金钱】
§14
安息日使用了与十分之一的律法相同的语言：“第七日是向耶和华你上帝当守的安息日”（出20:10）。人无权用第一日代替第七日。他虽可伪称这么做，“然而上帝坚固的根基立住了”（提后2:19）。人的习惯和教训不能减低上帝律法的要求。上帝已将第七日分别为圣。祂亲自划出这段时间作为宗教礼拜之用，至今仍是神圣的日子，与创造主第一次将它分别为圣时一样。{CS 66.2}[6]
§15
【Gods Reserves of Time and Means】
§16
The very same language is used concerning the Sabbath as in the law of the tithe: The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. Man has no right nor power to substitute the first day for the seventh. He may pretend to do this; nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure. The customs and teachings of men will not lessen the claims of the divine law. God has sanctified the seventh day. That specified portion of time, set apart by God Himself for religious worship, continues as sacred today as when first hallowed by our Creator. {CS 66.2}[6]
§17
我们收入的十分之一同样是“归给耶和华为圣的”（利27:30）。《新约》没有再制定十分之一的律法，正如安息日一样，因为两者的效力都是无可置疑的；其深奥的属灵意义也已解释了。……我们作为上帝的子民，既然忠心地归还祂所保留的时间，难道就不应该把祂所要的那一部分财物归还给祂吗？（《评论与通讯》1882年5月16日）{CS 66.3}[7]
§18
In like manner a tithe of our income is holy unto the Lord. The New Testament does not reenact the law of the tithe, as it does not that of the Sabbath; for the validity of both is assumed, and their deep spiritual import explained. . . . While we as a people are seeking faithfully to give to God the time which He has reserved as His own, shall we not also render to Him that portion of our means which He claims?-- R. & H., May 16, 1882. {CS 66.3}[7]
§19
【财产和收入都要纳十分之一】
§20
他们象亚伯拉罕那样，要缴纳财产和收入的十分之一。忠心缴纳的十分之一是属于上帝。如果扣留就是抢夺祂的物。人人都当甘心情愿地把十分之一和捐款投入上帝的仓库中，因这样做是一种福气。扣留属于上帝的部分是危险的。（《文稿》1899年159号）{CS 66.4}[8]
§21
【Possessions as Well as Income to Be Tithed】
§22
As did Abraham, they are to pay tithe of all they possess and all they receive. A faithful tithe is the Lords portion. To withhold it is to rob God. Every man should freely and willingly and gladly bring tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord, because in so doing there is a blessing. There is no safety in withholding from God His own portion.-- MS 159, 1899. {CS 66.4}[8]
§23
【适用于各种分配形式】
§24
这（指亚伯拉罕和雅各纳十分之一的经验）是犹太人建国之前先祖与先知们的做法。但是当以色列人成为特选的民族时，上帝就在这方面给了他们明确的指示：“地上所有的，无论是地上的种子，是树上的果子，十分之一是耶和华的，是归给耶和华为圣的”（利27:30）。这个律法没有与预表基督的献祭仪文一同废去。只要地上有上帝的子民，祂对他们的要求是不变的。{CS 67.1}[9]
§25
【For Every Dispensation】
§26
Such [referring to the experience of Abraham and Jacob in paying tithe] was the practice of patriarchs and prophets before the establishment of the Jews as a nation. But when Israel became a distinct people, the Lord gave them definite instruction upon this point: All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lords: it is holy unto the Lord. This law was not to pass away with the ordinances and sacrificial offerings that typified Christ. As long as God has a people upon the earth, His claims upon them will be the same. {CS 67.1}[9]
§27
我们一切收入的十分之一是属于上帝的。祂已为自己保留作宗教的用途。这是神圣的。在任何分配形式下，少于这个数额祂都不会接纳。疏忽或拖延了这个责任会令祂不高兴。如果所有自命为基督徒的人都忠心地缴纳十分之一，祂的库房就会满溢。（《评论与通讯》1882年5月16日）{CS 67.2}[10]
§28
A tithe of all our increase is the Lords. He has reserved it to Himself, to be employed for religious purposes. It is holy. Nothing less than this has He accepted in any dispensation. A neglect or postponement of this duty, will provoke the divine displeasure. If all professed Christians would faithfully bring their tithes to God, His treasury would be full.--R. & H., May 16, 1882. {CS 67.2}[10]
§29
【赐厚福的计划】
§30
什一制所根据的原则，与上帝的律法一样，是不变的。什一制曾是犹太人的一个福气，否则上帝就不会赐给他们了。照样，凡实行什一制直到末时的人，什一制也是他们的一个福气。我们的天父设立定期捐款制度，不是为了给自己积累财富，而是要赐给人大福气。祂看出这种捐款制度正是人类所需要的。（《证言》卷三第404,405页）{CS 67.3}[11]
§31
【Designed as a Great Blessing】
§32
The special system of tithing was founded upon a principle which is as enduring as the law of God. This system of tithing was a blessing to the Jews, else God would not have given it them. So also will it be a blessing to those who carry it out to the end of time. Our heavenly Father did not originate the plan of systematic benevolence to enrich Himself, but to be a great blessing to man. He saw that this system of beneficence was just what man needed.--3T 404, 405. {CS 67.3}[11]
§33
【十分之九比十分之十更多】
§34
很多人怜惜上帝的以色列民的命运，因为他们必须定期捐献，此外每年还要慷慨奉献。然而全智的上帝最清楚何种捐献制度符合祂天意的安排，并就此给祂子民作了指示。事实总是证明，那十分之九对他们来说比十分之十更有价值。（《证言》卷三第546页）{CS 68.1}[12]
§35
【Nine Tenths Worth More Than the Ten】
§36
Many have pitied the lot of the Israel of God in being compelled to give systematically, besides making liberal offerings yearly. An all-wise God knew best what system of benevolence would be in accordance with His providence, and has given His people directions in regard to it. It has ever proved that nine tenths are worth more to them than ten tenths.-- 3T 546. {CS 68.1}[12]
§37
【与犹太人的时代迥然有别】
§38
在我们的一切收入中，应先将第一份归还上帝。在吩咐犹太人的慈善计划上，是要把上帝所赐的第一批收获，无论是牛群或羊群中的生产，还是在田间、果园和葡萄园中的果实，都归给上帝，不然的话，就要以同样的价值赎回。但在我们今日，事情的次序起了多大的改变啊！上帝的要求常被放在最末后，或甚至被忽略了，然而，我们现在工作的需要，却是十倍于从前犹太人所需要的呢！ {CS 68.2}[13]
§39
【A Marked Change From Jewish Days】
§40
Of all our income we should make the first appropriation to God. In the system of beneficence enjoined upon the Jews, they were required either to bring to the Lord the first fruits of all His gifts, whether in the increase of their flocks or herds, or in the produce of their fields, orchards, or vineyards, or they were to redeem it by substituting an equivalent. How changed the order of things in our day! The Lords requirements and claims, if they receive any attention, are left till the last. Yet our work needs tenfold more means now than was needed by the Jews. {CS 68.2}[13]
§41
给使徒们的伟大使命，就是要去到全世界传福音。这表明了工作范围的扩展，以及现今落在基督信徒身上的责任越来越多了。既然律法在数千年前要求十分之一和捐款，到现在就会变成更重要了！若在犹太人的经济制度中，无论贫富，都要按照各人财物的比例来奉献，到现在其重要性就加倍了。（《证言》卷四第474页）{CS 68.3}[14]
§42
The great commission given to the apostles was to go throughout the world and preach the gospel. This shows the extension of the work, and the increased responsibility resting upon the followers of Christ in our day. If the law required tithes and offerings thousands of years ago, how much more essential are they now! If the rich and poor were to give a sum proportionate to their property in the Jewish economy, it is doubly essential now.--4T 474. {CS 68.3}[14]