第57章 勤劳和节俭
§1
第57章 勤劳和节俭
§2
Chap. 57 - Industry and Economy
§3
亲爱的R弟兄和姐妹：我一直在寻找机会写信给你们，因为这段时间患病，便无法写信给任何人了。但今天早上我要努力写上几行。【2T.431.2】[1]
§4
Dear Brother and Sister R: I have been seeking an opportunity to write to you, but have been sick, and unable to write to anyone. But I will try to write a few lines this morning. {2T 431.2}[1]
§5
当我得蒙指示，看到上帝的子民对于穷人，特别是孤儿和寡妇的责任时，我蒙指示看到我丈夫和我有危险担起上帝没有加给我们的担子，从而因增加的操心挂虑削弱我们的勇气和力量。我看到我丈夫在你的事上走得过远，超过了他的本分。他对你的关怀使他背负起他责任之外的重担，这对你并无益处，却使你容易养成倚靠弟兄们的心理。你指望着他们帮助你、加惠于你，而与此同时你却没有像他们那样艰苦劳动，也没有像他们那样感到有责任始终节俭。【2T.431.3】[2]
§6
As I was shown the duties resting upon Gods people in regard to the poor, especially the widows and orphans, I was shown that my husband and I were in danger of taking upon us burdens which God has not laid upon us, and thereby lessening our courage and strength by increasing our cares and anxiety. I saw that my husband went farther in your case than it was his duty to go. His interest in you led him to take a burden which carried him beyond his duty, and which has been no benefit to you, but has encouraged in you a disposition to depend upon your brethren. You look to them to help and favor you, while you do not labor as hard as they, nor economize at all times as they feel it their duty to do. {2T 431.3}[2]
§7
我亲爱的弟兄和姐妹，我蒙指示看到你们还有许多教训应当学习。你们没有量入为出，也没有学习节约之道。你们若得到较高的工资，也不知道怎样使用以求获得最佳的成效。你们考虑嗜好与食欲，而不考虑节俭。有的时候，你们花钱购买弟兄们的经济力量买不起的食物。金钱从你们的口袋中很轻易地流失了。【2T.431.4】[3]
§8
I was shown that you, my brother and sister, have much to learn. You have not lived within your means. You have not learned to economize. If you earn high wages, you do not know how to make it go as far as possible. You consult taste or appetite instead of prudence. At times you expend money for a quality of food in which your brethren cannot afford to indulge. Dollars slip from your pocket very easily. {2T 431.4}[3]
§9
R姐妹健康状况堪忧。她放纵食欲，给自己的胃口添加了过重的负担。她因饮食无度，也因塞进胃里不能使身体系统得到最佳营养的食物而使自己的胃负担很重。她吃进的饭量不合适，又很少运动；因而她的身体系统严重过劳了。根据主所赐给我的亮光，简单的食物最能保证使身体得到健康和力量。锻炼对她的健康来说是必不可少的。【2T.432.1】[4]
§10
Sister R is in poor health. She indulges her appetite and places too heavy a tax upon her stomach. She burdens it by overeating and by placing in it a quality of food not best calculated to nourish her system. Her food is taken in immoderate quantities, and she takes but little exercise; thus the system is severely taxed. According to the light which the Lord has given us, simple food is the best to ensure health and strength. Exercise is necessary to her health. {2T 432.1}[4]
§11
克己是你们二人都需要学习的一门功课。R弟兄，你要约束自己的食欲。上帝已赐给你体力的资本。这对于你来说比金钱更有价值，应该受到更高的重视。体力是无法用金银、房屋或地产买到的。它是你所拥有的极大财富。上帝要求你善用祂已赐给你的体力资本。你和那拥有金钱资本人的一样是上帝的管家。你若没能善加利用自己的体力以得最佳的利益，就象一个富人妄想随己意保留自己的财富一样是错误的。你没有作出应有的努力供养自己的家庭。如果工作是现成的，很方便，你就会去做，但你却没有尽力自己开始工作，感到有责任本着敬畏上帝的心用自己的光阴和体力获致最佳的利益。【2T.432.2】[5]
§12
Self-denial is a lesson which you both have yet to learn. Restrict your appetite, Brother R. God has given you a capital of strength. This is of more value to you than money and should be more highly prized. Strength cannot be purchased with gold or silver, houses or lands. It is a great possession that you have. God requires you to make a judicious use of the capital of strength with which He has blessed you. You are just as much His steward as is the man who has a capital of money. It is as wrong for you to fail to use your strength to the best advantage as it is for a rich man to covetously retain his riches because it is agreeable to do so. You do not make the exertion that you should to support your family. You can and do work if work is conveniently prepared to hand, but you do not exert yourself to set yourself to work feeling that it is a duty to use your time and strength to the very best advantage and in the fear of God. {2T 432.2}[5]
§13
你一直在做一种买卖，有时会立刻产生高额利润。你在赚得金钱之后没有考虑如何实行节俭，以应付不易赚钱的日子来到，却不惜耗费许多金钱，以满足想象中的需求。要是你和你的妻子都明白：克制你们的口味和欲望，为将来作准备，而不单单为眼前而活，乃是上帝命定你们所当尽的义务，那么你们今日就必有一种能力，而你们一家人也必能过安舒的生活了。有一项教训你们必须学习，不可退后不学，就是如何使涓滴之数产生最广远的效果。【2T.432.3】[6]
§14
You have been in a business which would at times yield you large profits at once. After you have earned means you have not studied to economize in reference to a time when means could not be earned so easily, but have expended much for imaginary wants. Had you and your wife understood it to be a duty that God enjoined upon you to deny your taste and your desires, and make provision for the future instead of living merely for the present, you could now have had a competency and your family have had the comforts of life. You have a lesson to learn which you should not be backward in learning. It is to make a little go the longest way. {2T 432.3}[6]
§15
R姐妹过于依赖她的丈夫。她一生都太过依赖别人，要人同情她，想着她，以她为中心。她一直过分受宠，没有学会自立更生。她原能在今生的事务和属灵的事上帮助她丈夫，却从未帮助过他。她必须学会忍受身体的疾病，不象现在那样总是想着那些病。她必须为自己打人生的仗；她身上负有个人的责任。【2T.433.1】[7]
§16
Sister R has leaned too heavily upon her husband. She has been all her life too dependent upon others for sympathy, thinking of herself, making herself a center. She has been petted too much, and has not learned to be self-reliant. She has not been the help to her husband that she might have been in temporal or spiritual things. She must learn to bear bodily infirmities and not dwell upon them as she does. She must fight the battles of life for herself; an individual responsibility rests upon her. {2T 433.1}[7]
§17
R姐妹，你的生活已成错误。你沉湎于阅读，什么都读。你的脑子从未因读这么多东西而受益。你的神经在饕餮阅读故事小说时一直处在兴奋状态。在这种状态下你的孩子若来打断你，你就会言语焦躁，不耐烦。你既没有自制，也就没能坚定稳固地控制住你的孩子。你凭冲动行事。你宠爱纵容他们，然后又烦恼地责骂他们，而且很严厉。这种易变的态度对他们非常有害。他们需要一双坚固、稳定的手管理他们；因为他们是任性的。他们需要有规律、明智的管教。【2T.433.2】[8]
§18
Sister R, your life has been a mistake. You have indulged in reading anything and everything. Your mind has not been benefited by so much reading. Your nerves have been excited while hurriedly chasing through the story. If your children interrupt you while thus employed, you speak fretfully, impatiently. You do not have self-control, and therefore fail to hold your children with a firm, steady hand. You move from impulse. You pet and indulge them, and then fret and scold, and are severe. This variable manner is very detrimental to them. They need a firm, steady hand; for they are wayward. They need regular, wise, judicious discipline. {2T 433.2}[8]
§19
如果你表现出女性应有的妇德，行动做事不是出于冲动，而是根据原则，你就能免去许多困惑烦恼。你幻想着你丈夫必须时刻和你在一起，想象自己不能独处。你应当看到，他的责任是工作养家。你应当鼓励自己克服自己的欲望和心愿，你不能让你丈夫觉得他必须老是迁就你。你也有分负起生活的责任。你必须披戴勇气和坚韧。作一个女人，而不是一个任性的孩子。你一直受宠惯，已经太久让别人替你背负生活的重担。现在你有责任为了你们家庭现在和将来的益处，力求克服自己的心愿和欲望，并且凭原则行事。你现在的状态不好；但如果你愿意培养一种知足长乐的思想，就会帮助你更好地把握今生以及来世。【2T.433.3】[9]
§20
You might save yourself much perplexity if you would put on the woman and move from principle, not from impulse. You have imagined that your husband must be with you, that you could not stay alone. You should see that his duty is to labor to sustain his family. You should bring yourself to deny your desires and wishes, and not lead him to feel that he must accommodate himself to you. You have a part to act in bearing the burdens of life. You must put on courage and fortitude. Be a woman, not a capricious child. You have been petted and have had your burdens borne for you too long. It is now your duty to seek to deny your wishes and desires, and act from principle, for the present and future good of your family. You are not well; but if you should cultivate a contented, cheerful mind, it would help you to a better hold on this life, and also on the life to come. {2T 433.3}[9]
§21
R弟兄，你有责任谨慎明智地使用上帝赐给你的体力资本。【2T.434.1】[10]
§22
Brother R, it is your duty to make a careful, judicious use of the capital of strength which God has given you. {2T 434.1}[10]
§23
R姐妹，你的大脑因为阅读而负担过重，疲惫不堪。你应克服把能看到的一切东西都塞进脑中这种习性。你没有以最佳的方式度过人生的光阴。你没有使自己受益，也没有使你周围的人受益。你依赖母亲到了于你无益的地步。你若更多倚靠自己的能力；你若多些自力更生，原会更加快乐幸福。现在，你应当尽力承担起自己的责任，并鼓励你丈夫在工作中负起他的责任。【2T.434.2】[11]
§24
Sister R, your brain is wearied and taxed by reading. You should deny your propensity for crowding your mind with everything it can devour. Your lifetime has not been spent in the best manner. You have not benefited yourself, nor those around you. You have leaned on your mother more than has been for your good. If you had depended more upon the powers within yourself, if you had been more self-reliant, you would have been happier. Now you should bear your own burdens as well as you can, and encourage your husband to bear his in doing his work. {2T 434.2}[11]
§25
如果你克制自己喜爱阅读的嗜好，不再寻求取阅自己，要是你花更多时间从事慎重的身体操练，谨慎食用适当的、健康的食物，你原会避免许多痛苦。这种痛苦有一部分一直是想象出来的。你若抖擞精神抵抗病态自怜的倾向，原不会有神经性痉挛。你的心思应当从自己身上挪开，转到家庭的责任上来，保持你家干净、整洁、有品味。过多的阅读，让自己因小事分心，已使你忽略你的儿女和家庭的责任。而这些才是上帝交托你去尽的本分。【2T.434.3】[12]
§26
If you had denied your taste for reading and seeking to please yourself, had devoted more time to prudent physical exercise, and had eaten carefully of proper, healthful food, you would have avoided much suffering. A part of this suffering has been imaginary. If you had braced your mind to resist the disposition to yield to infirmities, you would not have had nervous spasms. Your mind should be drawn away from yourself to household duties, keeping your house with order, neatness, and taste. Much reading, and permitting your mind to be diverted with small things, has led to a neglect of your children and your household duties. These are the very duties which God has given you to perform. {2T 434.3}[12]
§27
你过于自怜。你总是想着自己，仔细研究你那些可怜的感觉。我的姐妹，你少吃点吧。要从事体力劳动，将自己的心思投入到属灵的事上来。要保守自己的心不想着自己。要培养一种知足长乐的精神。你谈论太多无足轻重的事，由此得不到任何属灵的力量。你若将花在闲聊上的精力用到祷告上，就会获得属灵的力量，也会在你心中向上帝奏响美妙的乐章。【2T.434.4】[13]
§28
You have had much sympathy for yourself. You have called your mind to yourself and have dwelt upon your poor feelings. My sister, eat less. Engage in physical labor, and devote your mind to spiritual things. Keep your mind from dwelling upon yourself. Cultivate a contented, cheerful spirit. You talk too much upon unimportant things. You gain no spiritual strength from this. If the strength spent in talking were devoted to prayer, you would receive spiritual strength and would make melody in your heart to God. {2T 434.4}[13]
§29
你一直受情绪控制，而非受义务和原则支配。你沉湎于思乡的情绪，并因放纵焦躁不安的精神而损害了自己的健康。你的生活习惯是有损健康的，你需要改革。你们夫妻既不愿像别人一样工作，也不愿象弟兄们那样饮食。只要是你们能够买到的东西，你们就会买来。你们有责任实行节俭。【2T.435.1】[14]
§30
You have been controlled by feeling, not by duty and principle. You have given up to homesick feelings and injured your health by indulging a spirit of unrest. Your habits of life are not healthful. You need to reform. Neither of you is willing to work as others work, or to eat as your brethren eat. If it is in your power to get things, you have them. It is your duty to economize. {2T 435.1}[14]
§31
与你们的情况形成对照，主给我看到了S姐妹的情况。她身体瘦弱，有两个孩子需要养活，以收入微薄的针线活维持生计。多年以来，她极少接受别人的救济。她虽健康状况不佳，却背负了自己的重担。她才是真正需要救济的对象。再来看看你们的情况。一个大男人，家里人口不多，且有良好的体力资本，却经常陷于债务，不断依赖别人。这是完全错误的。你们有功课要学。就S姐妹来说，节约便是人生的战斗。你们家有一个男人的强壮精力，却不自立自养。你们要下一番工夫。你们要有一样的饮食。始终象弟兄们一样过简朴的生活。实行健康改良。【2T.435.2】[15]
§32
In contrast with your case was presented that of Sister S. She is in feeble health, and has two children to support with her needle at the very low prices which are paid for her work. For years she received scarcely a farthing of help. She suffered with ill health, yet she carried her own burdens. Here was an object of charity indeed. Now look at your case. A man with a small family and a good capital of strength, yet constantly involved in debt and leaning upon others. This is all wrong. You have lessons to learn. With Sister S, economy is the battle of life. Here you are with a mans strong energies, and yet are not self-sustaining. You have a work to do. You should have uniformity of diet. Live at all times as simply as your brethren live. Live out the health reform. {2T 435.2}[15]
§33
耶稣行了一个神迹，使五千人吃饱，之后祂教导了关于节俭的重要一课。“把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得有糟蹋的”（约6:12）。你们身上负有重要的责任。“凡事都不可亏欠人”（罗13:8）。要是你们身体衰弱，无法劳动，弟兄们就有责任帮助你们。其实你们在搬家时只需要弟兄们提供一个开始事业的机会。你们若感到应有的志向，你和你妻子若同意量入为出，你们就不会受困窘。你就会无论工资多少都去作工。你们若勤俭节约，你们的家境早就能好得多了。上帝希望你做忠心的管家，善加使用祂所赐你的体力。祂希望你能运用自己的体力，使你的家庭摆脱缺乏，自立起来。[16]
§34
Jesus wrought a miracle and fed five thousand, and then He taught an important lesson of economy: Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Duties, important duties, rest upon you. Owe no man anything. Were you infirm, were you unable to labor, then your brethren would be in duty bound to help you. As it is, all you needed from your brethren when you changed your location was a start. If you felt as ambitious as you should, and you and your wife would agree to live within your means, you could be free from embarrassment. You will have to labor for small wages as well as for large. Industry and economy would have placed your family, ere this, in a much more favorable condition. God wants you to be a faithful steward of your strength. He wants you to use it to place your family above want and dependence.[16]
§35
1869年3月22日写于密歇根州巴特尔克里克。【2T.435.3】[17]
§36
Battle Creek, Michigan, March 22, 1869. {2T 435.3}[17]