第62章 为死亡作准备
§1
第62章 为死亡作准备
§2
Chap. 62 - Preparation for Death
§3
在我们之中，有些老年人恩典的时期即将结束，但因为没有儆醒的人去为上帝的圣工征集他们的产业，以致这些产业流入了事奉撒但之人的手中。这些钱原是上帝借给他们而应归还给祂的；然而十之有九，这些弟兄在退出人生舞台时，却用不能荣耀上帝的方式分配上帝的资财，没有分文流入主的库中。有时这些显然是善良的弟兄却被未献身的顾问所误。他们的意见是根据自己的立场，而非照上帝的心意。{CS 323.1}[1]
§4
There are aged ones among us who are nearing the close of their probation; but for the want of wide-awake men to secure to the cause of God the means in their possession, it passes into the hands of those who are serving Satan. This means was only lent them of God to be returned to Him; but in nine cases out of ten, these brethren, when passing from the stage of action, appropriate Gods property in a way that cannot glorify Him, for not one dollar of it will ever flow into the Lords treasury. In some cases these apparently good brethren have had unconsecrated advisers, who counseled from their own standpoint, and not according to the mind of God. {CS 323.1}[1]
§5
往往人把财产遗留给子孙，只是留下祸害。他们不爱上帝，不爱真理，因此这一切属主的钱财便流入撒但的队伍中，由他去支配了。撒但比我们为圣工收集主自己钱财的弟兄们更机警，更有眼光和手段，去为自己千方百计捞钱。{CS 323.2}[2]
§6
Property is often bequeathed to children and grandchildren only to their injury. They have no love for God or for the truth, and therefore this means, all of which is the Lords, passes into Satans ranks, to be controlled by him. Satan is much more vigilant, keen-sighted, and skillful in devising ways to secure means to himself than our brethren are to secure the Lords own to His cause. {CS 323.2}[2]
§7
有些遗嘱写得过于笼统，在法律上无效，以致圣工失去上万元。我们的弟兄们应觉得自己有责任在上帝的圣工中作忠心的仆人，在这等事上运用智慧去为主收回其财产。{CS 323.3}[3]
§8
Some wills are made in so loose a manner that they will not stand the test of the law, and thus thousands of dollars have been lost to the cause. Our brethren should feel that a responsibility rests upon them, as faithful servants in the cause of God, to exercise their intellect in regard to this matter, and secure to the Lord His own. {CS 323.3}[3]
§9
许多人在这一点上显出不必要的顾忌。他们觉得自己去向老年或病弱的人谈这个问题，了解对方对自己财产的安排，似乎是踏入禁地。然而这种本分却是神圣的，正如传道救灵的本分一样。这个人的手中握有上帝的金钱或产业，现在快要放下管家的责任了，难道他要把上帝借给他，要他用于圣工上的钱财，转入犯罪作恶之人的手中，只因为他们是亲戚的缘故吗？基督徒们岂不应该觉得关心着急，为这个人未来的好处和上帝圣工的利益，让他合理合法地处置上帝所借的钱财而善予运用吗？他的弟兄们岂可袖手旁观，坐视他失去今生的产业，同时也夺取了上帝的财物呢？这件事对于他个人和对圣工，都是一种可怕的损失；因为他若把自己的钱财转入那些不关心上帝真理之人的手中，实际上就是把钱财包好埋藏在地下了。{CS 323.4}[4]
§10
Many manifest a needless delicacy on this point. They feel that they are stepping upon forbidden ground when they introduce the subject of property to the aged or to invalids in order to learn what disposition they design to make of it. But this duty is just as sacred as the duty to preach the word to save souls. Here is a man with Gods money or property in his hands. He is about to change his stewardship. Will he place the means which God has lent him to be used in His cause, in the hands of wicked men, just because they are his relatives? Should not Christian men feel interested and anxious for that mans future good as well as for the interest of Gods cause, that he shall make a right disposition of his Lords money, the talents lent him for wise improvement? Will his brethren stand by, and see him losing his hold on this life, and at the same time robbing the treasury of God? This would be a fearful loss to himself and to the cause; for, by placing his talent of means in the hands of those who have no regard for the truth of God, he would, to all intents and purposes, be wrapping it in a napkin and hiding it in the earth. {CS 323.4}[4]
§11
【更好的方法】
§12
上帝希望凡跟从祂的人，在他们自己能行之时，处理好自己的钱财。有些人也许会问：“难道我们要把一切所谓我们自己的东西都卖光吗？”我们现今也许还不必作到这种地步，但我们必须乐于为基督的缘故这么做。我们必须藉着只要促进圣工需要钱财，就慷慨地使用我们的财产，来承认自己的一切财产是完全属于主的。教会需要经济，差遣布道士到国外去传扬福音，和印刷真理书刊，散遍大地象秋天的落叶一样，有些人对于此类的呼声却掩耳不闻。{CS 324.1}[5]
§13
【A Better Way】
§14
The Lord would have His followers dispense their means while they can do it themselves. Some may inquire, Must we actually dispossess ourselves of everything which we call our own? We may not be required to do this now; but we must be willing to do so for Christs sake. We must acknowledge that our possessions are absolutely His, by using of them freely whenever means is needed to advance His cause. Some close their ears to the calls made for money to be used in sending missionaries to foreign countries, and in publishing the truth and scattering it like autumn leaves all over the world. {CS 324.1}[5]
§15
这等人会为自己的贪心对你辩护说，他们已安排在去世之时要慈悲为怀，并且把上帝的圣工列在他们的遗嘱之中了。因此，他们在世过着贪婪的生活，夺取上帝的十分之一及各项捐献，而在遗嘱上，只将上帝所借给他们的物资，奉还一小部分给上帝，一大部分的款项，却留传给不关心真理的亲属。这是最恶劣的抢劫。他们不但在生前，也在死后夺取了应归给上帝之物。{CS 324.2}[6]
§16
Such excuse their covetousness by informing you that they have made arrangements to be charitable at death. They have considered the cause of God in their wills. Therefore they live a life of avarice, robbing God in tithes and in offerings, and in their wills return to God but a small portion of that which He has lent them, while a very large proportion is appropriated to relatives who have no interest in the truth. This is the worst kind of robbery. They rob God of His just dues, not only all through life, but also at death. {CS 324.2}[6]
§17
【一项可怕的冒险】
§18
有些人对于来生迟迟不作准备，直到此生临终之时。这样做实在愚不可及。对于上帝圣工需款的要求，你若是迟迟不响应，直到你要把管家的责任交卸给别人之时，这也是一个大错。你所托管钱财的人，也许不会办得象你自己那么好。财主们怎敢冒这样大的危险！人若等到临死之前，才分配自己的财产，乃是奉献给死亡，而不是奉献给上帝。许多人这样行，直接抵触上帝在圣经上所明示的计划。他们若要办得好，就应当抓住当前的黄金机会，用尽力量作工，好像害怕自己会失去良机一样。{CS 325.1}[7]
§19
【A Fearful Risk】
§20
It is utter folly to defer to make a preparation for the future life until nearly the last hour of the present life. It is also a great mistake to defer to answer the claims of God for liberality to His cause until the time comes when you are to shift your stewardship upon others. Those to whom you entrust your talents of means may not do as well with them as you have done. How dare rich men run so great risks? Those who wait till death before they make a disposition of their property, surrender it to death rather than to God. In so doing, many are acting directly contrary to the plan of God plainly stated in His word. If they would do good, they must seize the present golden moments, and labor with all their might, as if fearful that they may lose the favorable opportunity. {CS 325.1}[7]
§21
人若忽略明知的本分，在今生不答应上帝的要求，自己安慰良心说，在死时可将遗产献给主，这等人将来必不会得到主的嘉许，也不会得到赏赐。他们生前毫未实行克己，反而自私地尽力扣留钱财，直到死日，方才撒手。{CS 325.2}[8]
§22
Those who neglect known duty by not answering to Gods claims upon them in this life, and who soothe their consciences by calculating on making their bequests at death, will receive no words of commendation from the Master, nor will they receive a reward. They practiced no self-denial, but selfishly retained their means as long as they could, yielding it up only when death claimed them. {CS 325.2}[8]
§23
许多人计划延搁到将死之日的事，他们如果真是基督徒，就当趁他们在世强健之时实行。他们会把自己及财产都奉献给上帝，趁着自己还作祂管家的时候，就满意地执行自己的本分。他们藉着作自己财产的执行人，就可以自己应付上帝的要求，而不是把责任委卸给旁人。{CS 325.3}[9]
§24
That which many propose to defer until they are about to die, if they were Christians indeed they would do while they have a strong hold on life. They would devote themselves and their property to God, and, while acting as His stewards, they would have the satisfaction of doing their duty. By becoming their own executors, they could meet the claims of God themselves, instead of shifting the responsibility upon others. {CS 325.3}[9]
§25
我们应当看自己是主财产的管家，上帝是财物至高的主人。在祂需要自己的财物之时，我们就应当交还给祂。在祂回来收取本利之日，贪心的人就要看出授托给他们的银子没有加倍，自招主对那无用仆人所宣布的厄运。{CS 326.1}[10]
§26
We should regard ourselves as stewards of the Lords property, and God as the supreme proprietor, to whom we are to render His own when He shall require it. When He shall come to receive His own with usury, the covetous will see that instead of multiplying the talents entrusted to them, they have brought upon themselves the doom pronounced upon the unprofitable servant. {CS 326.1}[10]
§27
【生前的慈善或临死的遗产】
§28
上帝要我们看祂仆人的死亡是一场损失，因为他们所能发挥为善的影响和许多充实上帝府库的乐意捐献都失去了。用临死的遗产来代替生前的慈善捐献，是不幸的。上帝的仆人应当天天用行善事和慷慨捐献给上帝来立遗嘱。他们不应该让那献给上帝的数量比起留为己用的数量，相形见绌。他们每天立遗嘱，就必记得那些在自己感情上占最大成分的对象和朋友。{CS 326.2}[11]
§29
【Living Benevolence or Dying Legacies】
§30
The Lord designs that the death of His servants shall be regarded as a loss, because of the influence for good which they exerted and the many willing offerings which they bestowed to replenish the treasury of God. Dying legacies are a miserable substitute for living benevolence. The servants of God should be making their wills every day, in good works and liberal offerings to God. They should not allow the amount given to God to be disproportionately small when compared with that appropriated to their own use. In making their wills daily, they will remember those objects and friends that hold the largest place in their affections. {CS 326.2}[11]
§31
他们最好的朋友就是耶稣。祂并没有留下自己的生命不给他们，而是为他们成了贫穷，叫他们因祂的贫穷可以成为富足。祂配得他们全部的心，全部的产业，与他们一切所有和所是。然而许多自称为基督徒的人，在生前把耶稣的要求置诸脑后，直到临死时才献上区区之数来羞辱主。{CS 326.3}[12]
§32
Their best friend is Jesus. He did not withhold His own life from them, but for their sakes became poor, that through His poverty they might be made rich. He deserves the whole heart, the property, all that they have and are. But many professed Christians put off the claims of Jesus in life, and insult Him by giving Him a mere pittance at death. {CS 326.3}[12]
§33
但愿这等人要记住，这种夺取上帝财物之举，不是出于一时的冲动，而是出于详细考虑的计划，并且美其名曰，“谨守的心”（提后1:7）。他们不但在生前欺诈上帝的教会，还在死后让欺诈的行为继续下去。他们是故意这么做的。许多人满足于这一类遗嘱，把它当作临终枕头。他们的遗嘱乃是为自己身后预备的一部分，他们想把财产这样安排之后，在弥留之际，就可免掉烦恼。这等人能否高兴地想到上帝将要求他们交出管家的账呢？ {CS 327.1}[13]
§34
Let all of this class remember that this robbery of God is not an impulsive action, but a well-considered plan which they preface by saying, Being in sound mind. After having defrauded the cause of God through life, they perpetuate the fraud after death. And this is with the full consent of all the powers of the mind. Such a will many are content to cherish for a dying pillow. Their will is a part of their preparation for death, and is prepared so that their possessions shall not disturb their dying hours. Can these dwell with pleasure upon the requirement that will be made of them to give an account of their stewardship? {CS 327.1}[13]
§35
我们若想得来生不朽的生命，就必须在今生的善事上富足。当审判开始，案卷展开之时，各人都要照自己的行为受报应。许多名列在教会簿册中的人，在天庭总账簿下却记有与他们不利的抢劫罪名。这些人若不肯悔改，以致无私地捐款为主作工，就一定会遭受那不义管家的厄运。{CS 327.2}[14]
§36
We must all be rich in good works in this life, if we would secure the future, immortal life. When the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, every man will be rewarded according to his works. Many names are enrolled on the church book that have robbery recorded against them in the ledger of heaven. And unless these repent, and work for the Master with disinterested benevolence, they will certainly share in the doom of the unfaithful steward. {CS 327.2}[14]
§37
【没有立遗嘱而招致损失】
§38
我们往往见到：一个活跃的商人突然逝世，生前毫无顷刻预警，事后查视他的事业，却看出陷于最混乱的情形中。为要清理他的遗产，律师费纵不使其倾家荡产，也必占去相当可观的部分，以致他的孤儿寡妇及基督的圣工，也都被抢夺了。凡是主钱财的忠心管家，必熟悉自己业务的情形，如同聪明人为任何意外紧急之事早作准备。要是他们的宽容时期突然结束，也不会叫那些处理其后事的人不知所措。{CS 327.3}[15]
§39
【Losses Due to Lack of Will】
§40
It often happens that an active businessman is cut down without a moments warning, and on examination his business is found to be in a most perplexing condition. In the effort to settle his estate, the lawyers fees eat up a large share, if not all, of the property, while his wife and children and the cause of Christ are robbed. 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. {CS 327.3}[15]
§41
许多人在自己似乎康健之时，不注意立遗嘱的事。但我们的弟兄对于此事应当早作预防。他们应当熟悉自己的经济现况，不让自己的业务成为混乱。他们对于财产应当善为处理，以致在无论何时都可撒手尘寰。{CS 328.1}[16]
§42
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. {CS 328.1}[16]
§43
立遗嘱的手续，应当经得起法律的考验。只要仍然时时按圣工的需要继续捐献，遗嘱立了之后，即或保留多时也无妨害。弟兄们哪，死亡并不会因为你们立下了遗嘱，就提前一天临到你们。在你立下遗嘱分配财产给亲戚之时，切不可忘记了上帝的圣工。你是祂的代理人，代管祂的产业；应该首先考虑祂的要求。当然啦，你的妻子儿女，也不可任其穷寒清苦，应当按他们的需要，妥予安排。但你不可一味地随从习俗，把一切无需济助的亲戚朋友，都列在遗嘱之中。{CS 328.2}[17]
§44
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. {CS 328.2}[17]
§45
【呼吁改革】
§46
我们应当时常记着：现今人处理财产的自私制度，并非上帝的计划，而是人的筹谋。基督徒应当作改革家，打破现行的制度，对于立遗嘱存全新的看法。应当时刻记清，你所处理的乃是主的财产。上帝在此事上的旨意就是律法。{CS 328.3}[18]
§47
【A Call for Reform】
§48
Let it ever be kept in mind that the present selfish system of disposing of property is not Gods plan, but mans device. Christians should be reformers, and break up this present system, giving an entirely new aspect to the formation of wills. Let the idea be ever present that it is the Lords property which you are handling. The will of God in this matter is law. {CS 328.3}[18]
§49
如果你受人的委托，执行他的遗产，你岂不是要缜密研究那留遗嘱之人的意愿，而使其财产不至于有丝毫的误用吗？你天庭的“朋友”既将其财产委托给你，并将祂的旨意交与你，说明应如何动用，你若是用无私的心研究这旨意，属于上帝的财物就不至于被误用了。上帝已将足用的钱财交给人，只要人有感恩顺从的心，便够应付圣工一切的危急，然而人们却把圣工可耻地遗忘了。{CS 328.4}[19]
§50
If man had made you the executor of his property, would you not closely study the will of the testator, that the smallest amount might not be misapplied? Your heavenly Friend has entrusted you with property, and given you His will as to how it should be used. If this will is studied with an unselfish heart, that which belongs to God will not be misapplied. The Lords cause has been shamefully neglected, when He has provided men with sufficient means to meet every emergency, if they only had grateful, obedient hearts. {CS 328.4}[19]
§51
凡立下遗嘱的人，不可以为这事既已办妥，自己就再没有责任了；而是应当继续作工，运用上帝所托的银子，增进主的圣工。上帝已定下计划，使人人都可聪明地分配其钱财。祂并不用神迹来维持圣工。祂有少数忠心的管家正在有效地利用他们的金钱来促进圣工。舍己和善行，不但不是例外，反而应当成为惯例。上帝圣工的需要日增，需要钱款。从国内及国外不断传来呼求，要我们派使者传真理和亮光给他们。这就需要我们多派工人和多献钱款去支持他们。（《证言》卷四第478-483页）{CS 329.1}[20]
§52
Those who make their wills should not feel that when this is done they have no further duty, but they should be constantly at work using the talents entrusted to them, for the upbuilding of the Lords cause. God has devised plans that all may work intelligently in the distribution of their means. He does not propose to sustain His work by miracles. He has a few faithful stewards, who are economizing and using their means to advance His cause. Instead of self-denial and benevolence being an exception, they should be the rule. The growing necessities of the cause of God require means. Calls are constantly coming in from men in our own and foreign countries for messengers to come to them with light and truth. This will necessitate more laborers and more means to support them.--4T 478-483. {CS 329.1}[20]
§53
【如何保住你的财产】
§54
你要保住你的财产吗？把它放在那有十字架钉痕的手中吧。你若自己保存，终必永远损失。你的财产一经交给上帝，就有祂的印记，永不会再有变动。你若要享受你的财产，就该用它去为受苦者造福。（《证言》卷九第51页）{CS 329.2}[21]
§55
【How to Make Your Property Secure】
§56
Would you make your property secure? Place it in the hand that bears the nailprint of the crucifixion. Retain it in your possession, and it will be to your eternal loss. Give it to God, and from that moment it bears His inscription. It is sealed with His immutability. Would you enjoy your substance? Then use it for the blessing of the suffering.--9T 51. {CS 329.2}[21]