第43章 试图既侍奉上帝，又侍奉玛门
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第43章 试图既侍奉上帝，又侍奉玛门
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Chap. 43 - Trying to Serve God and Mammon
§3
追求属世的利益，有损失一切的危险；因为求财心切，就会忘记更高的利益。在地上积累财富，会产生忧虑与愁烦，没有时间或心思来权衡永久财富的价值。……“因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里”（太6:21）。你的思想、计划和动机会世俗化。你的心灵也会因贪婪和自私而受到玷污。“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 217.1}[1]
§4
There is danger of losing all in the pursuit of worldly gain; for in the feverish eagerness for earthly treasure, higher interests are forgotten. The care and perplexity that are involved in laying up treasures upon the earth, leave no time nor desire to estimate the value of eternal riches. . . . Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Your thoughts, your plans, your motives, will have an earthly mold, and your soul will be defiled with covetousness and selfishness. What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ... {CS 217.1}[1]
§5
人心可以是圣灵的居所。基督出人意外的平安，会常住在你的心中。祂恩典改变人心的能力，会在你的生命中运行，预备你进入荣耀的天庭。但是如果你的大脑，神经和肌肉全部用来为自己服务，上帝和天国就不是你人生中第一重要的事了。你既然把一切精力都投入世俗一边，就不能把基督的恩典交织在你的品格之中。你也许能成功地将财宝积聚在地上，并荣耀了自己，但是“你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。”永恒的事物会变得次要，你仍在外表上参与崇拜。可是这样的敬拜却是在天上的上帝所憎恶的。你不可能同时侍奉上帝和玛门。你如果不把心思和意志投放上帝一边，就是用你的精力来侍奉世界。上帝不接受三心两意的侍奉。（《评论与通讯》1910年9月1日）{CS 217.2}[2]
§6
The heart of man may be the abode of the Holy Spirit. The peace of Christ, which passeth understanding, may rest in your soul; and the transforming power of His grace may work in your life, and fit you for the courts of glory. But if brain and nerve and muscle are all employed in the service of self, you are not making God and heaven the first consideration of your life. It is impossible to be weaving the graces of Christ into your character while you are putting all your energies on the side of the world. You may be successful in heaping up treasure on the earth, for the glory of self; but where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Eternal considerations will be made of secondary importance. You may take part in the outward forms of worship; but your service will be an abomination to the God of heaven. You cannot serve God and mammon. You will either yield your heart and put your will on the side of God, or you will give your energies to the service of the world. God will accept no halfhearted service.--R. & H., Sept. 1, 1910. {CS 217.2}[2]
§7
【持久的财富或过眼云烟】
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基督呼吁祂教会的信徒珍惜福音真实的盼望。祂指着上天清楚地对他们保证说，持久的财宝是在上面，而不在下面。他们的希望是在天上，而不是在地上。祂说：“你们要先求祂的国和祂的义，这些东西”──与你们有益的一切重要东西──“都要加给你们了”（太6:33）。{CS 218.1}[3]
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【Enduring Substance or Passing Shadow】
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Christ calls upon the members of His church to cherish the true, genuine hope of the gospel. He points them upward, distinctly assuring them that the riches that endure are above, not below. Their hope is in heaven, not on the earth. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, He says; and all these things--all that is essential for your good-- shall be added unto you. {CS 218.1}[3]
§11
许多人被今生的事物所蒙蔽，看不见等待至高者圣徒极重无比永远的荣耀。他们无法区分真实持久的物质和虚假伪造的过眼云烟。基督恳劝他们将视线转离遮盖永恒现实的东西。祂坚持要除去使我们把幻影当成现实，把现实当成幻影的事物。上帝恳劝祂的子民奉献身、心、灵的力量从事祂所期望的服务，呼吁他们认识到今生的财富和利益无法与永恒的财富相比。这财富是为清醒殷勤追求永生的人保留的。（《评论与通讯》1904年6月23日）{CS 218.2}[4]
§12
With many, the things of this world obscure the glorious view of the eternal weight of glory that awaits the saints of the Most High. They cannot distinguish the true, the real, the enduring substance, from the false, the counterfeit, the passing shadow. Christ urges them to remove from before their eyes that which is obscuring their view of eternal realities. He insists upon the removal of that which is causing them to mistake phantoms for realities, and realities for phantoms. God entreats His people to give the strength of body, mind, and soul to the service that He expects them to perform. He calls upon them to be able to say for themselves that the gains and advantages of this life are not worthy to be compared with the riches that are reserved for the diligent, rational seeker for eternal life.--R. & H., June 23, 1904. {CS 218.2}[4]
§13
【专心追求财富】
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仇敌如今象在洪水以前那样孜孜不倦地工作。他利用各种业务和发明，积极致力于使人专注属世的事物，他运用一切才智使人作傻事，全神贯注于商业行为，从而危害自己永生的盼望。他设计了种种发明，陷害人的生命。在他的领导下，人实行他的设计，专心追求地上的财富和权势，不留意“耶和华如此说”。{CS 218.3}[5]
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【Engrossed in Pursuit of Wealth】
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The enemy is just as perseveringly at work now as he was before the flood. By the use of various enterprises and inventions, he is diligently working to keep the minds of men engrossed in the things of this world. He is employing all his ingenuity to lead men to act foolishly, to keep them absorbed in commercial enterprises, and thus to imperil their hope of eternal life. He devises the inventions that imperil human life. Under his leadership, men carry through that which he devises. They become so absorbed in the pursuit of wealth and worldly power that they give no heed to a Thus saith the Lord. {CS 218.3}[5]
§17
撒但看到自己能成功地使人心转离涉及永生严肃而重要的事物，就欣喜若狂。他设法把上帝从人的思想中挤出来，用世俗和商业精神取而代之。他希望世界常处在黑暗之中，就处心积虑地使人忘记上帝和天国，竭尽全力使一切生灵受他的管辖。为此他引进各样的业务和发明，来占据人的注意力，使人没有时间思考天上的事。{CS 219.1}[6]
§18
Satan exults as he sees that he is successful in keeping minds from a consideration of the solemn, important matters that have to do with eternal life. He seeks to crowd the thought of God out of the mind, and to put worldliness and commercialism in its place. He desires to keep the world in darkness. It is his studied purpose to lead men to forget God and heaven, to bring all the souls that he can under his own jurisdiction. And to this end he brings forward enterprises and inventions that will so occupy mens attention that they will have no time to think of heavenly things. {CS 219.1}[6]
§19
上帝的子民现在要醒来从事他们所忽略的工作。我们必须用尽一切心思把这项工作列入我们的计划，不遗余力地宣扬在耶稣里的真理，简明而又有力地使人心大受感动。我们计划的工作要尽量节省开支，因为这项工作要扩展到远方。（《评论与通讯》1910年12月15日）{CS 219.2}[7]
§20
The people of God must now awake and do their neglected work. Into our planning for this work, we must put all the powers of the mind. We should spare no effort to present the truth as it is in Jesus, so simply and yet so forcibly that minds will be strongly impressed. We must plan to work in a way that will consume as little means as possible; for the work must extend into the regions beyond.--R. & H., Dec. 15, 1910. {CS 219.2}[7]
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【犹大的教训】
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犹大本来具有宝贵的品质。可是他在得救之前，必须除去品格中的一些特性。他需要重生，不是出于能坏的种子，而是出于不能坏的种子。贪婪是他先天与后天的犯罪倾向。由于习以为常，贪婪就带进了他所经手的一切交易之中。他节俭的习惯发展为吝啬的精神，成了致命的网罗。他用财利来衡量正确的宗教经验，一切真实公义的事均摆在其下。在他的生活方式中，没有为基督化正直和公义原则留下余地。……{CS 219.3}[8]
§23
【A Lesson From Judas】
§24
Judas had valuable qualities, but there were some traits in his character that would have to be cut away before he could be saved. He must be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible. His great hereditary and cultivated tendency to evil was covetousness. And by practice this became a habit which he carried into all his trading. His economical habits developed a parsimonious spirit, and became a fatal snare. Gain was his measurement of a correct religious experience, and all true righteousness became subordinate to this. Christlike principles of uprightness and justice had no room in his life practices.... {CS 219.3}[8]
§25
基督知道他已经被贪婪所败坏，就赐给他听聆许多宝贵教训的特权。他听见基督制定了凡想进入祂国度的人所必须坚持的原则。他有充分的机会接受基督为他个人的救主，可是他拒绝了这个礼物，不愿将生活方式和意志顺服基督。他没有改变自己的行为，所以没有纠正贪婪的精神。他表面上继续作门徒，同时却在耶稣面前把属于祂府库的金钱据为己有。……{CS 220.1}[9]
§26
Knowing that he was being corrupted by covetousness, Christ gave him the privilege of hearing many precious lessons. He heard Christ laying down the principles which all must possess who would enter His kingdom. He was given every opportunity to receive Christ as his personal Saviour, but he refused this gift. He would not yield his way and will to Christ. He did not practice that which was contrary to his own inclinations; therefore his strong avaricious spirit was not corrected. While he continued a disciple in outward form, and while in the very presence of Christ, he appropriated to himself means that belonged to the Lords treasury.... {CS 220.1}[9]
§27
犹大心中如果有为义的愿望，本来是可以受益于这些教训的。可是他被贪婪所胜，受制于贪财之心。他因放纵而让这种品格的特性发育，以致根深蒂固，将他心中所栽种的真理好种排挤出来。（《评论与通讯》1897年10月5日）{CS 220.2}[10]
§28
Judas might have been benefited by these lessons, had he possessed a desire to be right at heart; but his acquisitiveness overcame him, and the love of money became a ruling power. Through indulgence, he permitted this trait in his character to grow and take so deep a root that it crowded out the good seed of truth sown in his heart.--R. & H., Oct. 5, 1897. {CS 220.2}[10]
§29
【因贪爱世界而盲目】
§30
上帝的圣工应当在我们的计划和情感中占首位。圣工需要资金，所以要坦率地传扬针对自我放纵的信息。一些人冷淡退步，意识不到自己正在把感情投放在不久就会永远消失的属世财宝上。对世界的贪爱，就象一件厚布衫把他们束缚起来。他们如果不改变自己的做法，就不知道为基督实行克己是多么重要。我必须从心中驱逐一切的偶像和贪爱世界之念。{CS 220.3}[11]
§31
【Blinded by Love of the World】
§32
The cause of God is to hold the first place in our plans and affections. There is need of bearing a straight message concerning the indulgence of self while the cause of God is in need of means. Some are so cold and backslidden that they do not realize that they are setting their affections on earthly treasure, which is soon to be swept away forever. The love of the world is binding them about, like a thick garment; and unless they change their course, they will not know how precious it is to practice self-denial for Christs sake. All our idols, our love of the world, must be expelled from the heart. {CS 220.3}[11]
§33
有些传道人和忠实的朋友，看见自私自利的人周围的危险，就如实地指出他们的错误做法。可是他们非但没有诚心接受这些劝戒，从中获益，反而起来与忠实对待他们的人为敌。{CS 221.1}[12]
§34
There are ministers and faithful friends who see the danger that surrounds these self-bound souls, and who faithfully present to them the error of their course, but instead of taking admonitions in the spirit in which they are given, and profiting thereby, those reproved rise up against the ones who deal with them faithfully. {CS 221.1}[12]
§35
但愿他们能从属灵的昏睡中醒来，现在就认识上帝！世界正在弄瞎他们的眼睛，使他们看不见那不可见的上帝。他们不能辨识与永恒相关的最宝贵的事物，只能从暗淡的光中观看上帝的真理，因而觉得无足轻重。他们把涉及暂时利益的小事看作大事，却不加考虑涉及永恒的事物。（《评论与通讯》1893年10月31日）{CS 221.2}[13]
§36
O, that they might arouse from their spiritual lethargy, and now acquaint themselves with God! The world is blinding their eyes from seeing Him who is invisible. They are unable to discern the most precious things that are of eternal interest, but view the truth of God in so dim a light that it seems of little value to them. The merest atom concerning their temporal interests assumes magnified proportions, while the things concerning eternity are dropped out of their reckoning.--R. & H., Oct. 31, 1893. {CS 221.2}[13]
§37
【真正的慷慨遭摧毁】
§38
至于那些比较穷苦的人，倒往往是最尽力支持上帝圣工的。他们的物质虽少，但却大方慷慨。他们不断地慷慨施舍，加强了他们的慷慨热情。当他们的收支相抵之时，就没有余地或机会增强贪图地上财富的欲念了。{CS 221.3}[14]
§39
【True Generosity Destroyed】
§40
Men who are in comparative poverty are usually the ones who do the most to sustain the cause of God. They are generous with their little. They have strengthened their generous impulses by continual liberalities. When their expenditures pressed close upon the income, their passion for earthly riches had no room or chance to strengthen. {CS 221.3}[14]
§41
然而许多人一开始积聚地上财富之时，就盘算自己能在多久之后得到某笔数目。在他们焦心苦思，为己积富之时，就不能在上帝面前富足了。他们的善行赶不上他们的聚敛。他们的爱好财富之欲既加强，他们的感情意念便都绑在财宝上了。财富愈增，就使欲望愈强，直到有些人竟以奉献主的十分之一为一种苛捐苦税了。圣经上说：“若财宝加增，不要放在心上”（诗62:10）。许多人说：“我若象某某人那么富，我就要加倍我的捐献，送进上帝的库中。我的钱财决不作为别用，只是专为推进上帝的圣工。”上帝已试验一些这样的人，赐给他们财富；然而与财富俱来的，却是更强烈的试探，而他们的善行，反比他们穷苦时日的善行，大为减少。贪得更多财富的欲念，吸住他们的心思，他们就犯了拜偶像之罪了。（《证言》卷三第403页）{CS 221.4}[15]
§42
But many, when they begin to gather earthly riches, commence to calculate how long it will be before they can be in possession of a certain sum. In their anxiety to amass wealth for themselves, they fail to become rich toward God. Their benevolence does not keep pace with their accumulation. As their passion for riches increases, their affections are bound up with their treasure. The increase of their property strengthens the eager desire for more, until some consider that their giving to the Lord a tenth is a severe and unjust tax. Inspiration has said, If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. Many have said, If I were as rich as such a one, I would multiply my gifts to the treasury of God. I would do nothing else with my wealth but use it for the advancement of the cause of God. God has tested some of these by giving them riches; but with the riches came the fiercer temptation, and their benevolence was far less than in the days of their poverty. A grasping desire for greater riches absorbed their minds and hearts, and they committed idolatry.--3T 403. {CS 221.4}[15]
§43
有些人在贫穷之时，钱虽不多，但却慷慨；及至得到财利，反而变成吝啬的人。他们信心太小的原因，是他们在发达时没有继续前进，也没有本着牺牲捐献给上帝的圣工。（《证言》卷四第77页）{CS 222.1}[16]
§44
Some, when in poverty, are generous with their little; but as they acquire property, they become penurious. The reason they have so little faith, is because they do not keep moving forward as they prosper, and give to the cause of God even at a sacrifice.--4T 77. {CS 222.1}[16]