第42章 贪心的危险
§1
第42章 贪心的危险
§2
Chap. 42 - The Peril of Covetousness
§3
许多上帝的子民被世俗的精神所迷惑，正用他们的行为来否定自己的信仰。他们培养了对于金钱、房屋和田地的爱好，直到身心的能力都被吸引了，连爱创造主和基督替死之生灵的心也消失了。这世界的神弄瞎了他们的眼睛。永恒的利益被放到次要的地位。他们竭尽心力积累属世的财富。这一切忧虑和重担的积累，直接违犯了基督的命令。祂说：“不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷”（太6:19）。{CS 209.1}[1]
§4
Many of the people of God are stupefied by the spirit of the world, and are denying their faith by their works. They cultivate a love for money, for houses and lands, until it absorbs the powers of mind and being, and shuts out love for the Creator and for souls for whom Christ died. The god of this world has blinded their eyes; their eternal interests are made secondary; and brain, bone, and muscle are taxed to the utmost to increase their worldly possessions. And all this accumulation of cares and burdens is borne in direct violation of the injunction of Christ, who said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. {CS 209.1}[1]
§5
他们忘记了祂还说过：“只要积攒财宝在天上。”这样做是为了他们自己的益处。存放于天上的财宝是安全的，那里没有贼能接近，也没有虫咬坏。但是他们如果将财宝存放在地上，他们的情感也就在财宝上。{CS 209.2}[2]
§6
They forget that He said also, Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; that in so doing they are working for their own interest. The treasure laid up in heaven is safe; no thief can approach nor moth corrupt it. But their treasure is upon the earth, and their affections are upon their treasure. {CS 209.2}[2]
§7
【基督的胜利】
§8
基督曾在旷野遭遇袭击人类的最大试探。祂与狡诈的仇敌孤军奋战，取得了胜利。第一个大试探是关于食欲的。第二个涉及擅作擅为。第三个涉及贪爱世界。摆在基督面前的，是世界的宝座和国度，及其荣华富贵。撒但带着属世的尊荣、财富和人生的享乐，以极其诱人的方式，进行迷惑和欺骗。他对基督说：“祢若俯伏拜我，我就把这一切都赐给祢”（太4:9）。基督却拒绝了狡诈的仇敌，获得了胜利。{CS 209.3}[3]
§9
【Christs Victory】
§10
In the wilderness, Christ met the great leading temptations that would assail man. There, singlehanded, He encountered the wily, subtle foe, and overcame him. The first great temptation was upon appetite; the second, presumption; the third, love of the world. The thrones and kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, were offered to Christ. Satan came with worldly honor, wealth, and the pleasures of life, and presented them in the most attractive light to allure and deceive. All these things, said he to Christ, will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. Yet Christ repelled the wily foe, and came off victor. {CS 209.3}[3]
§11
人绝不会遭遇比基督所受更强烈的试探。可是撒但在接近人时却取得了较大的成功。“所有这些金钱、利益、田地、权力、荣誉和财富我都要送给你”──以什么为条件呢？条件对基督已说得一清二楚，──“你若俯伏拜我。”他只要人放弃正直、良心麻木，就满足了。人如果专注于属世的利益，撒但就获得了他所要的尊崇。开放门户任由他进来，就会带来暴躁、自恋、骄傲、贪婪和欺诈等一连串恶果。人类受到迷惑，被阴险地引向灭亡。{CS 210.1}[4]
§12
Man will never be tried by temptations as powerful as those which assailed Christ; yet Satan has better success in approaching him. All this money, this gain, this land, this power, these honors and riches, will I give thee--for what? The condition is seldom as plainly stated as it was to Christ,--If Thou wilt fall down and worship me. He is content to require that integrity shall be yielded, conscience blunted. Through devotion to worldly interests he receives all the homage he asks. The door is left open for him to enter as he pleases, with his evil train of impatience, love of self, pride, avarice, and dishonesty. Man is charmed, and treacherously allured on to ruin. {CS 210.1}[4]
§13
基督的榜样摆在我们面前，祂战胜了撒但，告诉我们如何也能获得胜利。基督用圣经来抵制撒但。祂本来可以运用自己的神能，借助于祂自己的话语。可是祂说：“经上记着说：‘人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠上帝口里所出的一切话’”（太4:4）。基督徒如果研究和顺从圣经，就会得到加强，抵御那狡诈的仇敌。可是他若忽略了上帝的道，灾祸与失败就会接踵而至。{CS 210.2}[5]
§14
The example of Christ is before us. He overcame Satan, showing us how we also may overcome. Christ resisted Satan with Scripture. He might have had recourse to His own divine power, and used His own words; but He said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. If the Sacred Scriptures were studied and followed, the Christian would be fortified to meet the wily foe; but the word of God is neglected, and disaster and defeat follow. {CS 210.2}[5]
§15
【年轻富有的官长】
§16
一个青年人来到耶稣面前说：“良善的夫子，我该作什么善事，才能得永生？”耶稣吩咐他遵守诫命，他回答道：“这一切我都遵守了，还缺少什么呢？”耶稣看着他，就爱他。于是直接指出了他在遵守上帝律法方面的缺欠。他没有爱邻舍如同自己，他的缺点是自私地贪爱钱财，若不纠正就不能进入天国。“你若愿意作完全人，可去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。”（太19:16、20-21）{CS 210.3}[6]
§17
【The Rich Young Ruler】
§18
A young man came to Christ, and said, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Jesus bade him keep the commandments. He replied, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus looked with love upon the young man, and faithfully pointed out to him his deficiency in keeping the divine law. He did not love his neighbor as himself. His selfish love of riches was a defect, which, if not remedied, would debar him from heaven. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. {CS 210.3}[6]
§19
基督希望这个青年人明白，祂只要求他效法祂这位天上的主宰所树立的榜样。祂曾舍弃了财富和尊荣，变为贫穷，使人可以因祂的贫穷而成为富足。为了这些财富，祂要求人放弃地上的财产、尊荣和享乐。祂知道人的感情如果投放在世界，就会与上帝分离。于是祂对那个青年人说：“去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。”他听了基督的话有什么反应？有没有因他能获得天上的财宝而高兴呢？没有。他“听见这话，就忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多。”对他而言，财富就是荣誉和权力。他的财产很多，似乎无法处置。{CS 211.1}[7]
§20
Christ would have the young man understand that He required nothing of him more than to follow the example that He Himself, the Lord of heaven, had set. He left His riches and glory, and became poor, that man, through His poverty, might be made rich; and for the sake of these riches, He requires man to yield earthly wealth, honor, and pleasure. He knows that while the affections are upon the world, they will be withdrawn from God; therefore He said to the young man, Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. How did he receive the words of Christ? Was he rejoiced that he could secure the heavenly treasure? Oh, no! He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. To him riches were honor and power; and the great amount of his treasure made such a disposal of it seem almost an impossibility. {CS 211.1}[7]
§21
这个爱世界的人期望得到天国，同时又想保住自己的财富，结果为了金钱和权力而抛弃了永生。这是多么不幸的交易！然而有许多自称遵守全部诫命的人也这样作。{CS 211.2}[8]
§22
This world-loving man desired heaven; but he wanted to retain his wealth, and he renounced immortal life for the love of money and power. Oh, what a miserable exchange! Yet many who profess to be keeping all the commandments of God are doing the same thing. {CS 211.2}[8]
§23
这就是财富对贪财之人的危险。他赚得越多，就越难以慷慨待人。要减少他的财富，就象是要了他的命。他为了保住和增加地上的财富，而转离永恒赏赐的吸引。他如果遵守诫命，地上的财产就不会那么多了。他既然千方百计为自己谋财，又怎么能尽心、尽意、尽力地爱上帝，并爱人如己呢？他如果把穷人所需要的东西分给他们，就会更加快乐，并储存更多的财宝在天上，而较少存在地上以吸引他的心思。……{CS 211.3}[9]
§24
Here is the danger of riches to the avaricious man; the more he gains the harder it is for him to be generous. To diminish his wealth is like parting with his life; and he turns from the attractions of the immortal reward, in order to retain and increase his earthly possessions. Had he kept the commandments, his worldly possessions would not have been so great. How could he, while plotting and striving for self, love God with all his heart, and with all his mind, and with all his strength, and his neighbor as himself? Had he distributed to the necessities of the poor as their wants demanded, he would have been far happier, and would have had greater heavenly treasure, and less of earth upon which to place his affections. . . . {CS 211.3}[9]
§25
【对上帝负责】
§26
保罗说：“无论是希腊人、化外人、聪明人、愚拙人，我都欠他们的债”（罗1:14）。上帝已将祂的真理启示保罗，这样做，就使他欠了那些处在黑暗中需要光照之人的债。但是许多人并没有认识到自己对于上帝的责任。他们在运用上帝所赐的才干，又拥有思维的能力，如果用正确的方面，这些才能会使他们成为基督和祂天使的同工。很多生灵会藉着他们的努力而得救，象星辰那样闪烁在他们喜乐的冠冕上。可是他们对这一切漠不关心。撒但设法利用世间的吸引力束缚了他们，麻痹他们的道德力。他取得了很大的成功。{CS 212.1}[10]
§27
【Accountable to God】
§28
Said Paul, I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. God had revealed His truth to Paul, and in so doing had made him a debtor to those who were in darkness to enlighten them. But many do not realize their accountability to God. They are handling their Lords talents; they have powers of mind, that, if employed in the right direction, would make them coworkers with Christ and His angels. Many souls might be saved through their efforts, to shine as stars in the crown of their rejoicing. But they are indifferent to all this. Satan has sought, through the attractions of this world, to enchain them and paralyze their moral powers, and he has succeeded only too well. {CS 212.1}[10]
§29
【将来的命运处在危急关头】
§30
房屋和田地怎么能与基督所替死的宝贵生灵比价值呢？亲爱的弟兄姊妹，藉着你的作用，这些生灵可能会在荣耀的国度里与你一同得救，而你却不能把一丁点地上的财物带到那里。你可以尽量获取，竭力要保住你的财产。可是上帝将发出命令。在几个小时之内，那无人能扑灭的火，会将你一生的积蓄烧尽，只剩下冒烟的灰烬。尽管你利用一切才能和力量来积攒财宝在地上，然而在生命结束或耶稣显现之时，这些东西对你有什么益处呢？你在今生怎样被世俗的尊荣与和财富所抬举，以致忽略了属灵的生命，照样，在那位大审判者的台前，你的道德价值也会被贬低到相对的程度。“人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢”（可8:36）？{CS 212.2}[11]
§31
【The Future Destiny at Stake】
§32
How can houses and lands compare in value with precious souls for whom Christ died? Through your instrumentality, dear brethren and sisters, these souls may be saved with you in the kingdom of glory; but you cannot take with you there the smallest portion of your earthly treasure. Acquire what you may, preserve it with all the jealous care you are capable of exercising, and yet the mandate may go forth from the Lord, and in a few hours a fire which no skill can quench, may destroy the accumulations of your entire life, and lay them a mass of smoldering ruins. You may devote all your talent and energy to laying up treasures on earth; but what will they advantage you when your life closes or Jesus makes His appearance? Just as much as you have been exalted here by worldly honors and riches to the neglect of spiritual life, just so much lower will you sink in moral worth before the tribunal of the great Judge. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? {CS 212.2}[11]
§33
上帝的忿怒会落在那些侍奉玛门而不侍奉创造主的人身上。可是那些为上帝和天国而活，并向别人指出生命之道的人，将会发现义人的路好像黎明的光，越照越明，直到日午。他们不久就会听见欢迎的话说：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，可以进来享受你主人的快乐”（太25:21）。基督的喜乐就是看见人得救进入祂荣耀的国度。祂为了这个喜乐“就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难”（来12:2）。但是很快“祂必看见自己劳苦的功效，便心满意足”（赛53:11）。那些分担祂工作的人竟获准分享祂的快乐，这是多么幸福啊！（《评论与通讯》1885年6月23日）{CS 213.1}[12]
§34
The wrath of God will fall upon those who have served mammon instead of their Creator. But those who live for God and heaven, pointing out the way of life to others, will find that the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. And they will hear by and by the welcome invitation, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. The joy of Christ was that of seeing souls saved in His glorious kingdom; and for this joy He endured the cross, despising the shame. But soon He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied. How happy will those be, who, having shared in His work, are permitted to share in His joy!--R. & H., June 23, 1885. {CS 213.1}[12]
§35
【撒但的迷惑力】
§36
撒但的目的就是让世界显得很有吸引力。他运用迷惑力引诱自命为基督徒者的情感。许多自称为基督徒的人不惜任何牺牲来追求财富。他们实现这个理想越是成功，热爱宝贵真理的心就越少，对圣工的推进也就越不关心。他们失去了爱上帝之心，行动如同疯子。他们的物质财富越多，投入上帝的圣工就越少。{CS 213.2}[13]
§37
【The Bewitching Power of Satan】
§38
It is the purpose of Satan to make the world very attractive. He has a bewitching power which he exercises to allure the affections of even the professed followers of Christ. There are many professedly Christian men who will make any sacrifice in order to gain riches, and the more successful they are in obtaining the object of their desires, the less they care for the precious truth and its advancement in the world. They lose their love for God, and act like men who are insane. The more they are prospered in material wealth, the less they invest in the cause of God. {CS 213.2}[13]
§39
这些利令智昏之徒的所作所为，证明人不可能侍奉两个主——上帝和玛门。他们向世人表明，他们的神就是金钱。他们崇拜金钱的魔力，尽心尽意侍奉世界。贪爱钱财之欲控制了他们的心，使他们干犯上帝的律法。他们可能自称是信奉基督教的，却不喜欢基督教的原则，不听从基督教的教训。他们用最好的精力来侍奉世界，跪拜玛门。{CS 214.1}[14]
§40
The works of those who have an insane love for riches, make it evident that it is impossible to serve two masters, God and mammon. They show to the world that money is their god. They yield their homage to its power, and to all intents and purposes they serve the world. The love of money becomes a ruling power, and for its sake they violate the law of God. They may profess the religion of Christ, but they do not love its principles, or heed its admonitions. They give their best strength to serve the world, and they bow to mammon. {CS 214.1}[14]
§41
可怕的是有这么多人受撒但的迷惑，对世俗财利的前景想入非非。他们如痴如醉，以为摆在面前的就是真正的幸福。他们甘愿受引诱，希望获得尊荣、财富和地位。撒但对他们说：“这一切我都愿意给你；这一切权力和财富你都可以用来造福你的同胞。”然而他们所寻求的目的一旦达到了，就会发现自己与舍己为人的救赎主脱离了关系。他们与上帝的性情无分。他们依恋地上的财富，轻视克己牺牲、为真理而谦卑的要求。他们不想放弃所倾心的地上财宝。他们更换了主人，用玛门来代替基督。这些受骗上当的人因迷恋世上的财富而崇拜撒但。{CS 214.2}[15]
§42
It is alarming that so many are deluded by Satan. He excites the imagination with brilliant prospects of worldly gain, and men become infatuated, and think that before them is a prospect of perfect happiness. They are lured on by the hope of obtaining honor and riches and position. Satan says to the soul, All this will I give thee, all this power and wealth with which you may do good to your fellow men; but when the object for which they seek is gained, they find themselves with no connection with the self-denying Redeemer; they are not partakers of the divine nature. They hold to earthly treasures, and despise the requirements of self-denial, self-sacrifice, and humiliation for the truths sake. They have no desire to part with the dear earthly treasure upon which their heart is set. They have exchanged masters, and accepted the service of mammon instead of the service of Christ. Satan has secured to himself the worship of these deceived souls through the love of worldly treasure. {CS 214.2}[15]
§43
因着那恶者狡猾的奉承，这种从虔诚到世俗的转变往往很难察觉。受骗的人意识不到自己已经离开了基督，徒具祂仆人的虚名。（《评论与通讯》1890年9月23日）{CS 214.3}[16]
§44
It is often found that the change from godliness to worldliness has been made so imperceptibly by the wily insinuations of the evil one, that the deceived soul is not aware that he has parted company with Christ, and is His servant only in name.--R. & H., Sept. 23, 1890. {CS 214.3}[16]
§45
【转离先驱的克己精神】
§46
有一段时期，只有少数人听从和接受真理。他们世上的财产不多。一些人不得不变卖他们的房屋和田地，降低生活成本，同时却慷慨地捐献给主出版真理的书刊，或用其他方式帮助推进上帝的圣工。这些克己牺牲的人忍受了穷困。他们如果能忍耐到底，所得的赏赐会很大的。{CS 215.1}[17]
§47
Departure From the Self-Sacrifice of the Pioneers There was a time when there were but few who listened to and embraced the truth, and they had not much of this worlds goods. Then it was necessary for some to sell their houses and lands, and obtain cheaper, while their means were freely lent to the Lord to publish the truth, and otherwise aid in advancing the cause of God. These self-sacrificing ones endured privations; but if they endure unto the end, great will be their reward. {CS 215.1}[17]
§48
上帝一直在感动许多人的心。一些人为之作出重大牺牲的真理已经取得了胜利。千万人拥护它。在上帝的引导下，有钱人接受了真理，以致在圣工发展的时候，其各种需求能够得到满足。现在上帝没有要求祂的子民奉献所居住的房屋。但是富裕的人如果不听祂的声音，摆脱世俗，为上帝而牺牲，祂就会越过他们，呼召那些愿意为耶稣做任何事情、甚至变卖自己的房屋来供给圣工需要的人。上帝会获得乐意的奉献。捐献者必会感到这是他们的特权。（《评论与通讯》1884年9月16日）{CS 215.2}[18]
§49
God has been moving upon many hearts. The truth for which a few sacrificed so much has triumphed, and multitudes have laid hold of it. In the providence of God, those who have means have been brought into the truth, that, as the work increases, the wants of His cause may be met. God does not now call for the houses His people need to live in; but if those who have an abundance do not hear His voice, cut loose from the world, and sacrifice for God, He will pass them by, and will call for those who are willing to do anything for Jesus, even to sell their homes to meet the wants of the cause. God will have freewill offerings. Those who give must esteem it a privilege to do so.--R. & H., Sept. 16, 1884. {CS 215.2}[18]
§50
上帝的百姓正在天上宇宙之前受考验，但他们吝啬的礼物和供物，以及在事奉上帝方面所作的微弱努力，使他们显为不忠心的。倘若目前的些微成就乃是他们尽最大努力做的，他们就不会处在定罪之下；反而会用他们的资源，有更大的作为。他们知道，而世人也知道，他们已大大失去了克己牺牲和背负十架的精神。（《证言》卷六第445，446页）{CS 215.3}[19]
§51
Gods people are on trial before the heavenly universe; but the scantiness of their gifts and offerings, and the feebleness of their efforts in Gods service, mark them as unfaithful. If the little that is now accomplished were the best they could do, they would not be under condemnation; but with their resources they could do much more. They know, and the world knows, that they have to a large degree lost the spirit of self-denial and cross bearing.--6T 445, 446. {CS 215.3}[19]
§52
【人人都接受考验】
§53
马太是个财主，安得烈和彼得都是穷人，然而他们各人所受的考验是一样的，所表现献身的诚意也没有分别。正在他们成功的时候，正在网中满了鱼，旧生活的吸引力最强的时候，耶稣却叫那两个海边的门徒撇下一切来为福音的工作效劳。照样，每一个人也必须经过考验，看他心中对于属世利益的欲望和跟从基督的心愿究竟何者为强。{CS 216.1}[20]
§54
【Everyone Tested】
§55
To Matthew in his wealth, and to Andrew and Peter in their poverty, the same test was brought; the same consecration was made by each. At the moment of success, when the nets were filled with fish, and the impulses of the old life were strongest, Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave all for the work of the gospel. So every soul is tested as to whether the desire for temporal good or for fellowship with Christ is strongest. {CS 216.1}[20]
§56
公义的原则总是严正不偏的。上帝的工作，人若不全心全意地去作，就不能成功。他必须以认识主耶稣基督为至宝，而将万事看作粪土。人若不肯毫无保留的把自己完全献上，就不能作基督的门徒，更谈不到与祂同工了。人若能领略救恩的伟大，则在基督生活上所表现自我牺牲的精神，就必在他们的生活上表现出来。基督无论领他们到哪里，他们都欣然跟从。（《历代愿望》273页）{CS 216.2}[21]
§57
Principle is always exacting. No man can succeed in the service of God unless his whole heart is in the work, and he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. No man who makes any reserve can be the disciple of Christ, much less can be His colaborer. When men appreciate the great salvation, the self-sacrifice seen in Christs life will be seen in theirs. Wherever He leads the way, they will rejoice to follow.--DA 273. {CS 216.2}[21]