第79章 转移属世的财产
§1
第79章 转移属世的财产
§2
Chap. 79 - Transferring Earthly Treasure
§3
亲爱的N弟兄：自从我们在蒂普顿帐篷大会上见了你之后，我一直对你的情况感到心情很沉重。我在向众人演讲时几乎忍不住要对你本人说基督的话：“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；只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里”（太6:19-21）。【2T.678.1】[1]
§4
Dear Brother N: I have felt very much burdened over your case since we met you at the Tipton camp meeting. I could scarcely refrain from addressing you personally while speaking to the people upon the words of Christ: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. {2T 678.1}[1]
§5
我回忆起你的面容，是我不久前在异象中蒙指示所见到的。你当时在想自己有责任向别人传道；但是你的榜样与你现在一样会阻碍更多的人接受真理，过于你的讲道所能使人悔改相信的。你自称相信最严肃、最试验人的真理；但是你的信心并没有行为支持。你有真理的理论，却没有因真理而改变。真理没有完全持住你的心，也没有实践在你的日常生活中。【2T.678.2】[2]
§6
I recollected your countenance as one that had been shown me in vision some time ago. You were thinking you had a duty to preach the word to others; but your example, as you now are, would hinder more from embracing the truth than your preaching would convert to its belief. You profess to believe a most solemn, testing message; yet your faith has not been sustained by works. You have the truth in theory, but you have not been converted by it. The truth has not fully taken hold of your heart and been carried out in your daily life. {2T 678.2}[2]
§7
你需要改变，因心意更新而变化。何时真理持住了你的心，它就会在生活中造成一番改革。不信的世人就会确信，真理里有一种能力，竟在你这样一个爱世界的人身上造成了这么大的改变。你爱这个世界。你的财宝在这里，你的心在你的财宝上。若不是真理的能力使你和你的神，就是这个世界，断绝情意，你必与你的财宝一同灭亡。【2T.678.3】[3]
§8
You need to be converted, transformed by the renewing of your mind. When the truth takes hold of your heart, it will work a reformation in the life. The unbelieving world will then be convinced that there is a power in the truth which has wrought so great a change in such a world-loving man as you have been. You love this world. Your treasures are here, and your heart is upon your treasures. And unless the power of the truth shall separate your affections from your god, which is this world, you will perish with your treasures. {2T 678.3}[3]
§9
你对末期之工的崇高性质认识很少。你没有为真理作出牺牲。你有一种小气吝啬的精神，闭眼不看困苦贫乏人的需要。你没有发出恻隐之心去救济受压迫之人的需要，也无心用自己的钱财帮助上帝的圣工或向受苦的人分发必需品。你的心是在你属世的财宝上。你若不克服爱这世上之事的心，就不会在天国有你的位置。【2T.678.4】[4]
§10
You have but little sense of the exalted character of the work for these last days. You have not made sacrifices for the truth. You have a close, penurious spirit, and have closed your eyes to the wants of the distressed and needy. Your compassion has not been stirred to relieve the wants of the oppressed, neither have you had a heart to aid the cause of God with your means or to distribute to the necessities of the suffering. Your heart is on your earthly treasures. Unless you overcome your love of the things of the world you will have no place in the kingdom of heaven. {2T 678.4}[4]
§11
那个律法师问耶稣，他当做什么才可承受永生。耶稣向他指出了祂父的诫命，告诉他若想得救，就必须顺从这些诫命。基督告诉他，他既知道诫命，若是遵行，就会得到永生。请注意他的回答：“夫子，这一切我从小都遵守了”（可10:20），耶稣满怀怜悯和慈爱地看着这个受骗的青年。祂即将向他启示：他还没有从心里遵守他信誓旦旦地宣称自己已经遵守了的诫命。耶稣对他说：“你还缺少一件，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”（可10:21）。【2T.679.1】[5]
§12
The lawyer asked Jesus what he should do that he might inherit eternal life. Jesus referred him to the commandments of His Father, telling him that obedience to them was necessary for his salvation. Christ told him that he knew the commandments, and that if he obeyed them, he should have life. Mark his answer: Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Jesus looks upon this deceived young man with pity and love. He is about to reveal to him that there is a failure upon his part to keep, from the heart, the commandments that he confidently asserted he was obeying. Jesus says unto him: One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. {2T 679.1}[5]
§13
耶稣叫这青年直接注意他品格上的缺陷。祂引证自己舍己背十字架的人生。祂为拯救人类撇下了一切，祂劝这个青年来效法祂的榜样，并且向他保证他就必有财宝在天上。那青年的心因这个必有财宝在天上的保证而欢喜跳跃了吗？没有！他地上的财宝是他的偶像；它们使永恒产业的价值在他眼中黯淡无光。他转身离开了十字架，离开了救主自我牺牲的生活，转向了这个世界。他对天上的产业有留恋，但他不情愿地离开了对它的憧憬。他要选择哪个是费了一番挣扎的，但他最终决定继续爱他地上的财宝。【2T.679.2】[6]
§14
Jesus calls the attention of this young man directly to the defect in his character. He cites His own self-denying, cross-bearing life. He had left everything for the salvation of man, and He entreated the young man to come and imitate His example, and assured him that he should have treasure in heaven. Did the heart of the young man leap with joy at this assurance that he should indeed have treasure in heaven? Oh, no! His earthly treasures were his idol; they eclipsed the value of the eternal inheritance. He turns from the cross, turns from the self-sacrificing life of the Redeemer, to this world. He has a lingering desire for the heavenly inheritance, yet he reluctantly turns from the prospect. It cost a struggle to decide which he should choose, but he finally decided to continue his love for his earthly treasures. {2T 679.2}[6]
§15
这个青年的产业很多。他的心全扑在上面。他无法答应将他的财宝转移到天上，转移的方法是收回他对这些财宝的情意，且用它们去行善——造福孤儿寡妇，从而在好事上富足。这个青年对属世财宝的爱，超过了他对他同胞和不朽产业的爱。他作出了选择，拒绝了基督所提出的必有财宝在天上的鼓励，因为他不能答应履行积财在天的条件。他爱恋地上财富的力量得了胜，而天国及其一切动人的荣耀就被牺牲给世上的财宝了。这个青年很忧愁，因为他两个世界都想要；但他为属地的牺牲了属天的。【2T.680.1】[7]
§16
This young man had great possessions, and his heart was set upon them. He could not consent to transfer his treasures to heaven by withdrawing his affections from them and doing good with them--blessing the widow and fatherless, and thus being rich in good works. The love of this young man for his earthly treasures was stronger than his love for his fellow men and the immortal inheritance. His choice was made. The inducement presented by Christ, of securing a treasure in heaven, was rejected, for he could not consent to comply with the conditions. The strength of his affection for his earthly riches triumphed, and heaven, with all its attractive glory, was sacrificed for the treasures of the world. The young man was very sorrowful, for he wanted both worlds; but he sacrificed the heavenly for the earthly. {2T 680.1}[7]
§17
但是在受试验之前，很少有人认识到自己爱财之心的实力。许多自称跟从基督的人在受试验时就显明自己没有为天国作好准备。他们的行为证实他们爱财富过于爱他们的邻舍和上帝。他们象那个富有的青年一样询问生命之路；但这路被指了出来，代价也估定了，他们确信自己必须牺牲地上的财富且要变得在好事上富足的时候，他们就断定天国的代价太大了。地上的财宝积攒地越多，积攒的人就越难认识到这些财宝不是自己的，而是借给他要用来荣耀上帝的。【2T.680.2】[8]
§18
But few realize the strength of their love for riches until the test is brought to bear upon them. Many who profess to be Christs followers then show that they are unprepared for heaven. Their works testify that they love riches more than their neighbor or their God. Like the rich young man, they inquire the way to life; but when the way is pointed out, and the cost is estimated, and they are convinced that they must sacrifice their earthly riches and become rich in good works, they decide that heaven costs too much. The greater the treasures laid up upon the earth, the more difficult it is for the possessor to realize that they are not his own, but lent him to use to Gods glory. {2T 680.2}[8]
§19
耶稣在这里利用机会给了祂门徒一个深刻的教训：“耶稣对门徒说：“我实在告诉你们：财主进天国是难的”（太19:23）。“骆驼穿过针的眼，比财主进上帝的国还容易呢”（太19:24）！【2T.680.3】[9]
§20
Jesus here improves the opportunity to give His disciples an impressive lesson: Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. {2T 680.3}[9]
§21
这里显明了财富的力量。贪爱钱财几乎有令人心瘫痪的力量。财富冲昏了许多人的头脑，使他们行事好像失去理智的人。他们对这世界拥有的越多，渴望的也越多。他们害怕遭遇缺乏的心与他们的财富一同增长。他们喜爱为将来积攒钱财。他们吝啬而且自私，唯恐上帝不会供应他们将来的需要。这种人在上帝面前确实是贫穷 的。他们既积攒了钱财，便倚靠自己的钱财，一点儿不相信上帝或祂的应许。【2T.680.4】[10]
§22
Here the strength of riches is seen. The power of the love of riches over the human mind is almost paralyzing. Riches infatuate many, and make them act as though they were bereft of reason. The more they have of this world, the more they desire. Their fears of coming to want, increase with their riches. They have a disposition to hoard up means for the future. They are close and selfish, fearing that God will not provide for their future needs. Such persons are indeed poor toward God. As their riches have accumulated, they have put their trust in them and have not had faith in God or His promises. {2T 680.4}[10]
§23
对上帝有信心而且信赖上帝的穷人，倚靠上帝的爱与关怀，且在好事上富足，明智地使用他所拥有的那点东西，用自己的钱财造福他人，他在上帝面前是富足的。他感到邻舍对自己有要求，他若予以漠视，就无法顺从上帝的诫命：“要爱邻舍如同自己”（路10:27）。那在上帝面前富足的穷人，认为他同胞的得救，比这世界上一切的金银更有价值。【2T.681.1】[11]
§24
The poor man who has faith and confidence in God, who trusts in His love and care, and who abounds in good works, judiciously using the little he has in blessing others with his means, is rich toward God. He feels that his neighbor has claims upon him that he cannot disregard and yet obey the commandment of God: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The poor who are rich toward God consider the salvation of their fellow men of greater importance than all the gold and silver that the world contains. {2T 681.1}[11]
§25
基督指出了那些拥有属世钱财、但在上帝面前却不富足的人可以获得真实财富的道路。祂说：要变卖你一切所有的，分给穷人，积攒财宝在天上。祂为富人开出的药方是：将他们对属世财富的热爱转移到永恒的产业上去。藉着将他们的钱财投入上帝的圣工以帮助救灵，藉着用他们的钱财造福贫穷的人，他们就变得在好事上富足，而且“为自己积成美好的根基，预备将来，叫他们持定那真正的生命”（提前6:19）。这是一项安全的投资。但许多人以自己的行动表明，他们不敢信赖天国的银行。他们宁愿信赖地上的钱财，也不愿将它们在他们以前送到天上去，好使他们的心也可以放在属天的财宝上。【2T.681.2】[12]
§26
Christ points out the way in which those who have worldly riches and yet are not rich toward God may secure the true riches. He says: Sell that ye have, and give alms, and lay up treasure in heaven. The remedy He proposes for the wealthy is a transfer of their affections from earthly riches to the eternal inheritance. By investing their means in the cause of God to aid in the salvation of souls, and by blessing the needy with their means, they become rich in good works and are laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. This will prove a safe investment. But many show by their works that they dare not trust in the bank of heaven. They choose to trust their means in the earth rather than send it before them to heaven, that their hearts may be upon their heavenly treasure. {2T 681.2}[12]
§27
我的弟兄，你面前有一番工作要完成，你要努力胜过贪心和喜爱属世财富的心，特别是信赖自己的心，因为你在获取今生的事上显然是成功的。可怜的富人们，自称侍奉上帝，却是怜悯的对象。他们虽自称认识上帝，却在行为上否认祂。这种人的黑暗何其大啊！他们自称相信真理，他们的行为却与他们的表白不符。爱财的心使人自私，苛求，傲慢。财富就是力量；爱财的心常常败坏和麻痹人里面一切高尚和象上帝的成分。【2T.681.3】[13]
§28
My brother, you have a work before you, to strive to overcome covetousness and love of worldly riches, and especially self-confidence because you have had apparent success in securing the things of this world. Poor rich men, professing to serve God, are objects of pity. While they profess to know God, in works they deny Him. How great is the darkness of such! They profess faith in the truth, but their works do not correspond with their profession. The love of riches makes men selfish, exacting, and overbearing. Wealth is power; and frequently the love of it depraves and paralyzes all that is noble and godlike in man. {2T 681.3}[13]
§29
财富带来极大的责任。通过不公平的交易、巧取豪夺、欺压孤儿和寡妇、或聚敛钱财而不顾穷人的需要而获得财富，最终会带来灵感使徒所描述的应得的报应：“嗐！你们这些富足人哪，应当哭泣、号咷，因为将有苦难临到你们身上。你们的财物坏了，衣服也被虫子咬了。你们的金银都长了锈，那锈要证明你们的不是，又要吃你们的肉，如同火烧。你们在这末世只知积攒钱财。工人给你们收割庄稼，你们亏欠他们的工钱，这工钱有声音呼叫；并且那收割之人的冤声已经入了万军之主的耳了”（雅5:1-5）。【2T.682.1】[14]
§30
Riches bring with them great responsibilities. To obtain wealth by unjust dealing, by overreaching in trade, by oppressing the widow and the fatherless, or by hoarding up riches and neglecting the wants of the needy, will eventually bring the just retribution described by the inspired apostle: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. {2T 682.1}[14]
§31
基督最谦卑、最贫穷的在好事上富足的真门徒，比那些自夸家资巨富之人更蒙祝福、在上帝眼中更为宝贵。他们比那些极其尊贵但在上帝面前却不富足的君王贵族更受天庭尊重。【2T.682.2】[15]
§32
The humblest and poorest of the true disciples of Christ, who are rich in good works, are more blessed and more precious in the sight of God than the men who boast of their great riches. They are more honorable in the courts of heaven than the most exalted kings and nobles who are not rich toward God. {2T 682.2}[15]
§33
使徒保罗劝告提摩太要嘱咐富人：“你要嘱咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠无定的钱财；只要倚靠那厚赐百物给我们享受的上帝。又要嘱咐他们行善，在好事上富足，甘心施舍，乐意供给人，为自己积成美好的根基，预备将来，叫他们持定那真正的生命”（提前6:17-19）。N弟兄，这个警告适用于你，也适用于很多自称相信末世真理的人。【2T.682.3】[16]
§34
The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to charge the rich: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. This admonition is applicable to you, Brother N, and to very many who profess to believe the truth for these last days. {2T 682.3}[16]
§35
那些聚敛钱财或大量投资于地产，同时使自己的家庭丧失生活的舒适的人，行事象疯人一样。他们不让家人享受上帝已厚赐给他们的东西。尽管他们拥有大量财产，他们的家人却常常被迫过劳好节省更多的钱积攒起来。为了积攒钱财，他们的头脑和骨肉都劳累到了极致，宗教和基督徒的义务也被忽视了。工作，工作，工作，就是他们从早到晚的抱负。【2T.683.1】[17]
§36
Those who hoard up means or invest largely in lands, while they deprive their families of the comforts of life, act like insane men. They do not allow their families to enjoy the things which God has richly given them. Notwithstanding they have large possessions, their families are frequently compelled to labor far beyond their strength to save still more means to hoard up. Brain, bone, and muscle are taxed to the utmost to accumulate, and religion and Christian duties are neglected. Work, work, work, is the ambition from morning until night. {2T 683.1}[17]
§37
许多人并没有表现出切愿学习上帝的旨意，明白祂对他们的要求。有些试图教导别人真理的人，自己都没有遵守上帝的话。这种教师越多，上帝的圣工就越不兴旺。【2T.683.2】[18]
§38
Many do not manifest an earnest desire to learn the will of God and to understand His claims upon them. Some who attempt to teach the truth to others do not themselves obey the word of God. The more such teachers the cause of God has, the less prosperous will it be. {2T 683.2}[18]
§39
许多已蒙上帝托付钱财的人并不认为自私地保留自己的钱财乃是在危害他们永恒的利益。使徒向他们说明，藉着变得在好事上富足，他们就是在为自己作工，就是在为自己积财，预备一份永久的财宝在天上，好使他们持定永生。他们若分散自己的财物满足圣工的需要，并且帮助贫穷的人，就是在忠心地做上帝指派他们的工作；他们舍己和慷慨仁爱的行为会被记载在天上的册子里作为纪念。每一个公义的行为都会永垂不朽，尽管行义的人可能并不觉得自己做了什么值得注意的事。那些自称相信真理的人，其每日行事为人若是基督生活的活榜样，就会有光从他们照出来，引领别人归向救赎主。惟有在天国才能充分估计一种表里如一、和谐敬虔人生在使别人得救上的有福果效。【2T.683.3】[19]
§40
Many to whom God has entrusted riches do not consider that they are working against their own eternal interest by selfishly retaining their riches. The apostle shows them that by becoming rich in good works they are working for themselves. They are laying up in store for themselves, providing in heaven an enduring treasure, that they may lay hold on eternal life. In distributing to the necessities of the cause, and helping the needy, they are faithfully doing the work that God has assigned them; and the memorial of their self-denial and generous, loving acts will be written in the book of heaven. Every deed of righteousness will be immortalized, although the doer may not feel that he has done anything worthy of notice. If the daily walk of those who profess the truth were a living example of the life of Christ, a light would shine forth from them which would lead others to the Redeemer. In heaven alone will be fully estimated the blessed results, in the salvation of others, of a consistent, harmonious, godly life. {2T 683.3}[19]
§41
我的弟兄，你在自己的家中还有许多工作要做，要向自己的家人表明，真理在你里面动了善工，它对你的生活和品格有一种软化、精炼、提拔的影响。你自称相信我们生活在末世，也相信我们正将警告人，试验人的信息传给世人；你有没有用自己的行为表明这一切呢？上帝正在试验你，祂必显明你内心的真情。【2T.684.1】[20]
§42
My brother, you have much to do in your family to show them that the truth has wrought a good work for you and that it has had a softening, refining, elevating influence upon your life and character. You profess to believe that we are living in the last days and that we are giving the warning, testing message to the world; do you show this by your works? God is testing you, and He will reveal the true feelings of your heart. {2T 684.1}[20]
§43
主已将钱财托付给你，要用来推进祂的圣工，造福贫穷的人，救济缺乏的人。你可以用自己的钱财做很大的善工，远过于你能用讲道而保留自己的钱财所做的。你有没有将钱财放给兑换银钱的人，当主人回来时，祂要对你说：“把你所经管的交代明白”（路16:2），而你可以毫无羞愧地连本带利地向祂呈上双倍的银子，因为你没有积攒它们，没有自私地把它们埋在地里，而是把它们付诸使用了呢？检查一下你以往生活的历史吧。你用自己的钱财祝福了多少人呢？多少人因你的慷慨而心存感激呢？请阅读《以赛亚书》第58章。你有没有松开凶恶的绳？你有没有设法解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭呢？你有没有把你的饼分给饥饿的人，将飘流的穷人接到你家中呢？你有没有见赤身的人给他衣服遮体呢？【2T.684.2】[21]
§44
The Lord has entrusted you with talents of means to use to advance His cause, to bless the needy, and to relieve the destitute. You can do a far greater amount of good with your means than you can do by preaching while you retain your means. Have you put your talents of means to the exchangers, that when the Master comes, and shall say, Give an account of thy stewardship, you can, without confusion, present to Him the talents doubled, both principal and interest, because you have not hoarded them, have not buried them selfishly in the earth, but have put them to use? Look over the history of your past life. How many have you blessed with your means? How many hearts have you made grateful by your liberalities? Please read the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. Have you loosed the bands of wickedness? Have you sought to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Have you dealt your bread to the hungry, and brought the poor that were cast out to your house? Have you covered the naked? {2T 684.2}[21]
§45
如果你在这些好事上富足，你就可以要求这一章所列的诸般应许：“这样，你的光就必发现如早晨的光，你所得的医治要速速发明。你的公义必在你前面行；耶和华的荣光必作你的后盾。那时你求告，耶和华必应允；你呼求，祂必说：我在这里”（赛58:8-9）。“你心若向饥饿的人发怜悯，使困苦的人得满足，你的光就必在黑暗中发现，你的幽暗必变如正午。耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地，使你心满意足，骨头强壮。你必像浇灌的园子，又像水流不绝的泉源”（赛58:10-11）。但你现在还没有资格享受这些应许的福气。你还没有从事这项工作。要回顾你以往的生活，想想你多么缺少良善、高尚、慷慨的行为。你谈论真理，却没有实行真理。你的生活没有得到提升和圣化，反而一直以自私自利和小气吝啬为特征。你忠心地侍奉了自我。现在是你早该改弦更张并且殷勤作工以获得天上财宝的时候了。【2T.684.3】[22]
§46
If you have been rich in these good works, you may claim the promises given in this chapter: Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. But you are not now entitled to these promised blessings. You have not been engaged in this work. Look back over your past life and consider how destitute it is of good, noble, generous actions. You have talked the truth, but you have not lived it. Your life has not been elevated and sanctified, but it has been characterized by selfishness and stinginess. You have served self faithfully. It is now high time that you were changing your course and working diligently to secure the heavenly treasure. {2T 684.3}[22]
§47
你已丧失了许多你决不能重新得到的东西。你并没有抓住机会去行善，并且你的不忠已经记载在天上的册子里。基督的生平是以克己、牺牲和无私的仁爱为特征的。你对为上帝的国作必要的预备没有采取正确的看法。你的想法总的来说太贫乏了。谈论是便宜的材料；它是不值钱的。行为，果子，才会决定树的性质。你结出了什么果子呢？使徒雅各劝诫他的弟兄们说：“我的弟兄们，若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？若是弟兄或是姐妹赤身露体，又缺了日用的饮食，你们中间有人对他们说，‘平平安安地去吧！愿你们穿得暖吃得饱’，却不给他们身体所需用的，这有什么益处呢”（雅2:14-16）？我的弟兄啊，你良好的愿望不会供应人的需要。必须有行为证实你的同情和关爱的真诚。你有多少次将以上的描述付诸实践了呢？【2T.685.1】[23]
§48
You have lost much that you can never regain. You have not improved your opportunities for doing good, and your unfaithfulness has been entered upon the books of heaven. The life of Christ was characterized by self-denial, self-sacrifice, and disinterested benevolence. You do not take a right view of the preparation necessary for the kingdom of God. Your ideas are altogether too meager. Talk is cheap stuff; it does not cost much. Works, fruits, will determine the character of the tree. What fruits have you borne? The apostle James exhorts his brethren: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; What doth it profit? Your good wishes, my brother, will not supply the need. Works must testify to the sincerity of your sympathy and love. How many times have you carried the above representation out to the letter? {2T 685.1}[23]
§49
你自视很好，但你有一番工夫要下，是别人无法为你做的。你的本性必须改变，你整个的人都必须有一番改变。你对真理的爱在口头上，却不在行为上。你爱主一点点，爱钱财却很多。主人若看到你现在的样子，祂会对你说：“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）吗？这里所指的快乐是什么呢？“祂因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在上帝宝座的右边”（来12:2）。那摆在耶稣面前的喜乐，就是看到许多生灵因祂牺牲了自己的荣耀、尊贵、丰富和生命而得到救赎。人类的得救就是祂的喜乐。当所有得赎之民都被收聚在上帝的国中时，祂就会看到祂劳苦的果效，并感到心满意足。【2T.686.1】[24]
§50
You have a very good estimate of yourself, but you have a work to do that no other man can do for you. Your nature must be changed, and there must be a transformation of the entire being. You love the truth in word, but not in deed. You love the Lord a little, but your riches more. Would the Master say to you, if He should find you as you are at the present time: Well done, good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord? What joy is here referred to? Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy that was set before Jesus was that of seeing souls redeemed by the sacrifice of His glory, His honor, His riches, and His own life. The salvation of man was His joy. When all the redeemed shall be gathered into the kingdom of God, He will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. {2T 686.1}[24]
§51
那些与基督同工、具有祂那种克己和牺牲精神的人，可以成为器具，使人归于基督，可以看到他们得救了，永远得救了，好赞美上帝和救赎了他们的羔羊。 --- 1870年10月15日写于堪萨斯州普莱斯顿市【2T.686.2】[25]
§52
Those who are co-workers with Christ, partakers with Him of His self-denial and His sacrifice, may be instrumental in bringing souls to Christ, and may see them saved, eternally saved, to praise God, and the Lamb who hath redeemed them.[25]