第33章 委员会会议
§1
第33章 委员会会议Committee Meetings
§2
凡参加委员会会议的人应当记住他们是和那位将工作交托他们的上帝一同开会。他们应当怀着敬畏和献身的心聚在一起。他们相聚是要考虑有关圣工的重要事情。他们各方面的举动都应表明他们在制订计划推进上帝圣工的事上是愿意明白上帝的旨意。他们不可把片刻的时间浪费在不重要的谈话中，因为主的事情应当以完善正规的方法来办理。如果委员会的某位成员有漫不经心，不恭不敬的举止，就当提醒他，有一位“见证人”在场，衡量人的一举一动。{3TT 196.1}[1]
§3
Let those who attend committee meetings remember that they are meeting with God, who has given them their work. Let them come together with reverence and consecration of heart. They meet to consider important matters connected with the Lord’s cause. In every particular their actions are to show that they are desirous of understanding His will in regard to the plans to be laid for the advancement of His work. Let them not waste a moment in unimportant conversation; for the Lord’s business should be conducted in a businesslike, perfect way. If some member of a committee is careless and irreverent, let him be reminded that he is in the presence of a Witness by whom all actions are weighed.?{3TT 196.1}[1]
§4
我蒙指示，得知委员会会议并不总蒙上帝悦纳。有些人是带着冷酷，刚愎，无情和批评的精神来参加会议的。这样的人会造成很大的损害。因为那恶者与他们一起，使他们站在错误的立场上。他们对正在考虑的措施所抱冷若冰霜的态度，往往制造困难，拖延了应该作出的决定。上帝的仆人原需要睡眠和脑力的休息，却为这些事务疲惫不堪，负担过重。为了作出决定，他们把会议开到深夜。可是生命十分宝贵，不应受到这样的危害。让主来负这个担子，等候祂来调处这些困难。让疲倦的脑子休息一下，时间用得不合理会损害人的体力，智力，和道德力量。如果大脑得到一段时间适宜的休息，思想就必清晰敏锐，事情就会迅速处理了。{3TT 196.2}[2]
§5
I have been instructed that committee meetings are not always pleasing to God. Some have come to these meetings with a cold, hard, critical, loveless spirit. Such may do great harm; for with them is the presence of the evil one, that keeps them on the wrong side. Not infrequently their unfeeling attitude toward measures under consideration brings in perplexity, delaying decisions that should be made. God’s servants, in need of rest of mind, and sleep, have been greatly distressed and burdened over these matters. In the hope of reaching a decision, they continue their meetings far into the night. But life is too precious to be imperiled in this way. Let the Lord carry the burden. Wait for Him to adjust the difficulties. Give the weary brain a rest. Unseasonable hours are destructive to the physical, the mental, and the moral powers. If the brain were given proper periods of rest, the thoughts would be clear and sharp, and business would be expedited.?{3TT 196.2}[2]
§6
【饮食与董事会议的关系】
§7
我们的弟兄在出席议事会或董事会之前，各人应亲自到上帝面前省察已心，严格检查自己的动机，求主亲自向你显现，使你不会提出不智的批评，或非难他人的提议。{3TT 197.1}[3]
§8
【The Relation of Diet to Board Meetings】
§9
Before our brethren assemble in council or board meetings, each one should present himself before God, carefully searching the heart and critically examining the motives. Pray that the Lord may reveal self to you so that you may not unwisely criticize or condemn propositions.?{3TT 197.1}[3]
§10
在佳肴纷陈的席面上，人们每易饮食过度，远超乎其所易于消化的分量。须知胃容纳过多，则消化不良，消化不良则令人头脑生出不爽快的迟钝感觉，思想也因之不能敏捷地发生作用。食物配合的不宜，每易造成身心的不安；起了发酵作用；血液也受了感染，头脑亦随之混乱。{3TT 197.2}[4]
§11
At bountiful tables men often eat much more than can be easily digested. The overburdened stomach cannot do its work properly. The result is a disagreeable feeling of dullness in the brain, and the mind does not act quickly. Disturbance is created by improper combinations of food; fermentation sets in; the blood is contaminated and the brain confused.?{3TT 197.2}[4]
§12
饮食过量或一餐所用食物的品类过多，这种习惯往往造成消化不良的毛病。这对于精微的消化器官，实在是一种严重的伤害。胃部向头脑提出抗议，请求头脑对这事的因果加以研究，但结果终归徒然。食物过量或配合不当，实在是有害的。先是由不爽快的预感予人警告，警告无效，则痛苦随之而来。于是疾病就乘势取代了健康。{3TT 197.3}[5]
§13
The habit of overeating, or of eating too many kinds of food at one meal, frequently causes dyspepsia. Serious injury is thus done to the delicate digestive organs. In vain the stomach protests and appeals to the brain to reason from cause to effect. The excessive amount of food eaten, or the improper combination, does its injurious work. In vain do disagreeable premonitions give warning. Suffering is the consequence. Disease takes the place of health.?{3TT 197.3}[5]
§14
或者有人要问道：这与董事会有什么关系？关系很大！饮食的不合宜，便影响了议事会和董事会议。因为人的头脑能受胃部情形的影响；胃部的纷扰能造成心思的烦乱不安。出了毛病的胃不但能使头脑产生病态，更往往使人固执谬见，顽梗不化。这种人的所谓智慧，在上帝看来，乃是愚拙。{3TT 197.4}[6]
§15
Some may ask, What has this to do with board meetings? Very much. The effects of wrong eating are brought into council and board meetings. The brain is affected by the condition of the stomach. A disordered stomach is productive of a disordered, uncertain state of mind. A diseased stomach produces a diseased condition of the brain and often makes one obstinate in maintaining erroneous opinions. The supposed wisdom of such a one is foolishness with God.?{3TT 197.4}[6]
§16
我之所以提到这事，乃因许多议事会和董事会议的不良情形，大都由此造成。那本来需要详加研讨的问题，只予以少许的考虑，不少极关重要的决定，却仓促草率地通过了事。往往有许多意见，原应大家一致赞同的，但因为有人坚决反对，以致整个会场的空气竟为之完全改观。这一类的结果已一再地显现在我面前了。{3TT 197.5}[7]
§17
I present this as the cause of the situation in many council and board meetings, where questions demanding careful study have been given but little consideration, and decisions of the greatest importance have been hurriedly made. Often when there should have been unanimity of sentiment in the?affirmative, decided negatives have entirely changed the atmosphere pervading a meeting. These results have been presented to me again and again.{3TT 197.5}[7]
§18
我现在提到这些事，乃因我已蒙受指示，要转告担任传道工作的弟兄们：由于饮食的不节制，你们就不能清楚地看出圣火与凡火的分别来。同时，由于这种无节制的饮食，也表现了你们不顾主所给的警告。因为衪有话向你们说：“你们中间谁是敬畏耶和华、听从衪仆人之话的，这人行在暗中，没有亮光，当倚靠耶和华的名，仗赖自己的上帝。凡你们点火，用火把围绕自己的，可以行在你们的火焰里，并你们所点的火把中。这是我手所定的，你们必躺在悲惨之中”（赛50:10,11）。{3TT 198.1}[8]
§19
I present these matters now because I am instructed to say to my brethren in the ministry: By intemperance in eating you disqualify yourselves for seeing clearly the difference between sacred and common fire. And by this intemperance you also reveal your disregard for the warnings that the Lord has given you. His word to you is: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”?Isaiah 50:10, 11.?{3TT 198.1}[8]
§20
难道我们还不亲近主，使衪可以救拔我们摆脱在饮食上放纵无度的恶习，又使我们脱离那一切不圣洁的情欲和各种的罪恶吗？难道我们竟不肯在上帝面前自己谦卑，放弃各样败坏心灵和肉体的事，藉着敬畏衪，使我们得以完成圣洁的品格吗？{3TT 198.2}[9]
§21
Shall we not draw near to the Lord, that He may save us from all intemperance in eating and drinking, from all unholy, lustful passion, all wickedness? Shall we not humble ourselves before God, putting away everything that corrupts the flesh and the spirit, that in His fear we may perfect holiness of character??{3TT 198.2}[9]
§22
【慎重虔诚地考虑】
§23
但愿每位出席议事会与委员会议的人，在他心中铭刻这样的话：“我是为了今生和永生而工作，我要为那促成我行为的动机向上帝负责。”但愿他将这话作为格言。但愿诗人的祷告也成为他的祈祷：“耶和华啊，求祢禁止我的口，把守我的嘴。求祢不叫我的心偏向邪恶”（诗141:3,4）。{3TT 198.3}[10]
§24
【Careful and Prayerful Consideration】
§25
Let everyone who sits in council and committee meetings write in his heart the words: I am working for time and for eternity; and I am accountable to God for the motives that prompt me to action. Let this be his motto. Let the prayer of the psalmist be his prayer: “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing.”?Psalm 141:3, 4.?{3TT 198.3}[10]
§26
在商讨推进圣工之时，不可让任何人取得控制权，也不容只有一人代表全体发言。一切提供的方法和计划，都应予以慎重的考虑，以便凡出席的弟兄都有机会权衡这些方法与计划的得失，然后决定取舍。在研讨那些我们似乎有责任要前往工作的地区时，最好也要考虑到在那些地区所将遭遇的种种困难。?{3TT 198.4}[11]
§27
In counseling for the advancement of the work, no one man is to be a controlling power, a voice for the whole. Proposed methods and plans are to be carefully considered so that all the brethren may weigh their relative merits and?decide which should be followed. In studying the fields to which duty seems to call us it is well to take into account the difficulties that will be encountered in these fields.?{3TT 198.4}[11]
§28
委员会要尽可能地使大众明了他们的计划，俾能博得会众公意支持他们的努力。教友中许多人有深谋远虑，并具有其它高超智力的；当鼓励他们注意工作的进展。许多人可能受到引导，对于上帝圣工具有深邃的见解，并且愿意寻求上面来的智慧，藉着为生命之道拯救那将亡的人，来扩展基督的国。具有高尚思想的男女，将来必加入一班有话论及他们的团体之中：“不是你们拣选了我，是我拣选了你们，并且分派你们去结果子”（约15:16）。（7T256-259.1902年）{3TT 199.1}[12]
§29
So far as possible, committees should let the people understand their plans in order that the judgment of the church may sustain their efforts. Many of the church members are prudent and have other excellent qualities of mind. Their interest should be aroused in the progress of the cause. Many may be led to have a deeper insight into the work of God and to seek for wisdom from above to extend Christ’s kingdom by saving souls perishing for the word of life. Men and women of noble minds will yet be added to the number of those of whom it is said: “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, ... that ye should go and bring forth fruit.”?John 15:16.?{3TT 199.1}[12]
§30
你们应当邀请主参加你们所举行的每一次会议。如果你们认识到衪也出席聚会，则对于每一事件的处理，都必加以谨慎虔诚的考虑了。各种无原则的动机必被压制下来；事无巨细，也都必表现公正的特性了。总当首先与上帝商榷，因为这是你们彼此合理商榷的先决条件。{3TT 199.2}[13]
§31
You should take the Lord with you into every one of your councils. If you realize His presence in your assemblies, every transaction will be conscientiously and prayerfully considered. Every unprincipled motive will be repressed, and uprightness will characterize all your transactions, in small as well as in great matters. Seek counsel of God first, for this is necessary in order that you may counsel together properly.?{3TT 199.2}[13]
§32
你要谨慎，免得因日常繁忙的活动，拦阻你在你最需要从祈祷得力之时反而忽略了祈祷。因为过分专注事务，则敬虔大有从人心中被排挤出去的危险。你若不取用那等候你去请求的力量与属天的智慧，便是一桩自欺的大恶。你需要那惟有上帝才能赐予的启迪。任何人若缺少了这种智慧，便不配办理事务。（5T560.1889年）{3TT 199.3}[14]
§33
You need to watch, lest the busy activities of life lead you to neglect prayer when you most need the strength prayer would give. Godliness is in danger of being crowded out of the soul through overdevotion to business. It is a great evil to defraud the soul of the strength and heavenly wisdom which are waiting your demand. You need that illumination which God alone can give. No one is fitted to transact his business unless he has this wisdom.—1889,?Testimonies for the Church 5:560.?{3TT 199.3}[14]