第26章 贪得无厌
§1
第26章 贪得无厌
§2
Chap. 26 - Inordinate Love of Gain
§3
S弟兄，1871年12月10日，我蒙指示看到你品格中有严重缺陷，你若不认识到并克服这些缺陷，就必灭亡；你不仅仅会被称在圣所的天平里，显出你的亏欠，你的影响还会决定他人的命运。你要么是同基督收聚的，要么就是分散的。{3T 243.2}[1]
§4
Brother S, I was shown, December 10, 1871, that there are serious defects in your character, which, unless seen and overcome, will prove your ruin; and you will not only be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting yourself, but your influence will determine the destiny of others. You are either gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. {3T 243.2}[1]
§5
我蒙指示看到你深爱着这个世界。贪财是万恶之根。你自以为近乎正确，事实却并非如此。上帝看人不象人看人。祂是看内心。祂的道路非同我们的道路，祂的意念非同我们的意念。你大大操劳焦虑是为了获取金钱。这种吸引人的情欲越来越强，直到压倒了你爱真理的心。你的心因贪爱钱财而败坏了。你喜爱真理和推进真理的心非常软弱。你地上的财宝要求并控制着你的感情。{3T 243.3}[2]
§6
I was shown that you have a deeply rooted love for the world. The love of money is the root of all evil. You flatter yourself that you are about right, when you are not. God seeth not as man seeth. He looks at the heart. His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. Your great care and anxiety is to acquire means. This absorbing passion has been increasing upon you until it is overbalancing your love of the truth. Your soul is being corrupted through the love of money. Your love for the truth and for its advancement is very weak. Your earthly treasures claim and hold your affections. {3T 243.3}[2]
§7
你拥有真理的知识，对于圣经的要求并非无知，你晓得主的旨意，因为祂已清楚地启示了祂的旨意。但你的内心却不想顺服这照耀在你道路上的光。你很是自大自负。你爱自己超过了对现代真理事业的爱。你的自信与自负必定会使你灭亡，除非你看出自己的弱点和错误并且改革。你有武断的精神。你常常坚持自己固执的意志，尽管别人的观点可能是正确的，你的判断是错误的，你也不会屈服。你顽固地持着自认为高明的观点，不考虑他人的判断。我希望你能看出继续如此行的危险。倘若你的眼睛能被上帝的灵所开启，你就会清晰地看到这些缺陷。{3T 244.1}[3]
§8
You have a knowledge of the truth; you are not ignorant of the claims of Scripture; you know your Masters will, for He has plainly revealed it. But your heart is not inclined to follow the light which shines upon your pathway. You have a large measure of self-conceit. Your love for self is greater than your love for the cause of present truth. Your self-confidence and your self-sufficiency will certainly prove your ruin unless you can see your weakness and errors, and reform. You are arbitrary. You have a set will of your own to maintain, and although the opinions of others may be correct, and your judgment wrong, yet you are not the man to yield. You hold firmly to your advanced opinion, irrespective of the judgment of others. I wish you could see the danger of continuing the course you have been pursuing. If your eyes could be enlightened by the Spirit of God, you would see these things clearly. {3T 244.1}[3]
§9
你的妻子热爱真理，她是一个实践真理且有原则的人。你却不欣赏她的价值。她为家庭的共同利益努力做工，你却没有信任她。你不认为与她商量是你的本分。你自己的事情大多自己管。你不喜欢向妻子敞开心门，让她知道你心里想什么，你真实的信仰和感受。你总是隐藏的。你的妻子没有在家中占据她应该也能够充任的尊荣位置。{3T 244.2}[4]
§10
Your wife loves the truth, and she is a practical woman, a woman of principle. But you do not appreciate her value. She has worked hard for the common good of the family, but you have not given her your confidence. You have not counseled with her as was your duty. You keep your matters very much to yourself; you do not love to open your heart to your wife and let her know your exercises of mind and your real faith and feelings. You are secretive. Your wife does not hold the honored place in your family that she deserves and that she is capable of filling. {3T 244.2}[4]
§11
你觉得你妻子不应当干涉你的计划与安排，而且你过于频繁的定意实施与她的观点相反的计划。你的行动仿佛在表明她的个性应当淹没在你的个性之中。你不满意她行事仿佛有她自己的个性。上帝要她为自己的个性负责。你不能拯救她，她也不能拯救你。她有自己的良心，她必须受自己良心的指导。你太乐意作她的良心了，有时也乐于作你儿女的良心。上帝对你妻子的要求比你能要求的更高。她必须为自己建造品格，她要为自己所培养的品格向上帝交账。{3T 244.3}[5]
§12
You feel that your wife should not interfere with your plans and arrangements, and you too frequently set your will and plans of operation in opposition to hers. You act as though her identity should be merged in yours. You are not satisfied to have her act as though she had an individuality, an identify of her own. God holds her accountable for her individuality. You cannot save her, and she cannot save you. She has a conscience of her own by which she must be guided. You are too willing to be conscience for her, and sometimes for your children. God has higher claims upon your wife than you can have. She must form a character for herself, and she is accountable to God for the character she develops. {3T 244.3}[5]
§13
你也要培养品格，你要为所培养的品格向上帝交账。你有一种控制性影响，具有独裁的精神，这与上帝的旨意相悖。你必须止息这种苛求的精神。你以自己杰出的品位和组织能力而自豪。你有美好的理念，却没有将这种准确而美好的感悟融入自己的品格和行为之中。你没能培养一种匀称的品格。你对于秩序和安排有卓越的理念，但所有这些美好的思想品质都由于滥用而变得迟钝了。你没有遵守上帝话语中对于成为上帝之子所定下的条件。上帝的应许都是有条件的。“你们务要从他们中间出来，与他们分别，不要沾不洁净的物，我就收纳你们。我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。这是全能的主说的。亲爱的弟兄啊，我们既有这等应许，就当洁净自己，除去身体、灵魂一切的污秽，敬畏上帝，得以成圣”（林后6:17，18；7:1）。这是你需要获得的经验。你喜欢与非信徒为伴，听他们谈论，也谈论你自己。你的言谈不能使耶稣得荣耀，你若有耶稣的精神，就不会与那些不爱上帝真理的人交往那么多了。{3T 245.1}[6]
§14
You have a character to form, and you are accountable to God for the character that you develop. You have a controlling influence and possess a dictatorial spirit, which is not in accordance with the will of God. You must cease to be so exacting. You have prided yourself upon your fine taste and organization. You have nice ideas, but you have not carried this exact and fine perception into your character and into your deportment. You have failed to perfect a symmetrical character. You have good ideas of order and arrangement, but all these nice qualities of the mind have become blunted by being perverted. You have not complied with the conditions laid down in the word of God for becoming a son of God. All the promises of God are upon conditions. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This experience you have yet to obtain. You love to get into the company of unbelievers and hear them talk, and talk yourself. Jesus cannot be glorified with your conversation, and if you had had the spirit of Jesus you could not have been so much in the society of those who had no love for the truth of God. {3T 245.1}[6]
§15
你感到自己的子女在成为基督徒的事上有很多拦阻，而且觉得他人应受责备。然而，在这件事上你不要自欺。你身为父亲，即使没有任何拦阻你子女的事情，单单你的影响力也足以挡住他们的道路。你的子女看到你的榜样和言谈便不相信你的行为与你所宣称的真理是一致的。你与非信徒的谈话是那样低俗、轻浮、充满了戏笑，以致你对子女的影响决不能提拔他们。你在对待他人的事上也没有总是严格诚实。你没有尽心、尽力、尽性、尽意爱上帝，也没有爱邻舍如同自己。你若有能力，就会损人利己。你这样赚得的每一块钱都会带着咒诅，是你迟早会感觉得到的。上帝记录着每一个不公正的行为，不论此种行为是行在信徒还是非信徒身上，祂都不会放过。你贪得的性情对你来说是一个陷阱。你对待同胞的行为不能经受审判的考验。{3T 246.1}[7]
§16
You have felt that there were hindrances to your childrens becoming Christians, and have felt that others were to blame. But do not deceive yourself in regard to this matter. Your influence as a father has been sufficient, if there were nothing else to hinder, to stand in their way. Your example and your conversation have been of such a character that your children could not believe that your course was consistent with your profession. Your conversation with unbelievers has been of such a low order, and so light, so filled with jesting and joking, that your influence could never elevate them. Your deal with others has not always been strictly honest. You have not loved God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. If in your power, you would advantage yourself at your neighbors disadvantage. Every dollar which comes to you in this manner will carry with it a curse which you will feel sooner or later. God marks every act of injustice, be it done to believer or unbeliever, and He will not pass it over. Your acquisitive disposition is a snare to you. Your deal with your fellow men cannot endure the test of the judgment. {3T 246.1}[7]
§17
你的基督徒品格被贪婪玷污了。这些污点必须除掉，否则你将丧失永生。我们每个人都有为主要做之工；我们都有需要善用的才干。耶稣最卑微最贫穷的门徒也能造福他人。他们或许没有意识到自己在做什么特别的善事，然而，藉着他们自己并未察觉的影响，他们却能启动会加深加广的福惠浪潮。他们的言语和始终如一的行为所带来的快乐成果他们可能从未知晓，直到最后分配奖赏的时候。他们没有感到也不知道自己在做什么伟大的事。他们不必因渴望成功而使自己疲惫不堪。他们只是往前走，没有许多言语、炫耀和吹嘘，却是安静忠心地作上帝的天意指定给他们的工作，他们不会失去自己的奖赏。你的情况也会这样。你生活的记录都要写在记录册上；你若最终得胜，就会有人因你的努力、你的克己、你的善行和始终如一的基督徒生活得救。当最终照各人所行的分配奖赏之时，得赎的人就要称你为有福，主也会说: 好，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）。{3T 246.2}[8]
§18
Your Christian character is spotted with avarice. These spots will have to be removed, or you will lose eternal life. We each have a work to do for the Master; we each have talents to improve. The humblest and poorest of the disciples of Jesus can be a blessing to others. They may not realize that they are doing any special good, but, by their unconscious influence, they may start waves of blessing which will widen and deepen, and the happy result of their words and consistent deportment they may never know until the final distribution of rewards. They do not feel or know that they are doing anything great. They are not required to weary themselves with anxieties about success. They have only to go forward, not with many words and vainglorying and boasting, but quietly, faithfully doing the work which Gods providence has assigned them, and they will not lose their reward. Thus will it be in your case. The memorial of your life will be written in the book of records; and, if you are finally an overcomer, there will be souls saved through your efforts, by your self-denial, your good words and consistent Christian life. And when the rewards are finally distributed to all as their works have been, redeemed souls will call you blessed, and the Master will say: Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. {3T 246.2}[8]
§19
世界的确充满了忙乱、骄傲、自私、贪婪和暴力；在我们看来不论得时或不得时，在各种场合随时准备讲说温柔、纯洁、高尚、高雅、圣洁的话，面对混乱、喧闹和纷争，似乎是浪费光阴和气力。可是从成圣之人心里口里发出的恰当言语，再加上敬虔的、始终如一的基督徒行为，就好比是金苹果在银网子里。你是一个喜欢谈论虚荣的人，你的言行表明你是属世界的。你有时丝毫不注意自己的言语，也不考虑你言谈的后果，你已经将自己基督徒的标准降低到世俗的标准了。你有时也讲述真理，但你的话语并不带有那种会感动人心的严肃焦急的关心，却一直伴有轻浮琐屑的评论，会使你谈话的对象断定你的信仰不是真实的，而且认为你不相信你所宣扬的真理。赞同真理的言辞倘若以正确的目的，本着沉着冷静的态度，从一颗纯洁的内心发出，就会有效地消除反对，赢得生灵。但是严厉、自私、指责的精神只能使人远离真理并激起人反对的精神。{3T 247.1}[9]
§20
The world is indeed full of hurry, and of pride, selfishness, avarice, and violence; and it may seem to us that it is a waste of time and breath to be ever in season and out of season, and on all occasions to hold ourselves in readiness to speak words that are gentle, pure, elevating, chaste, and holy, in the face of the whirlwind of confusion, bustle, and strife. And yet words fitly spoken, coming from sanctified hearts and lips, and sustained by a godly, consistent Christian deportment, will be as apples of gold in pictures of silver. You have been as one of the vain talkers and have appeared as one of the world. You have sometimes been careless in your words and reckless in your conversation and have lowered yourself as a Christian in the opinion of unbelievers. You have sometimes spoken of the truth; but your words have not borne that serious, anxious interest that would affect the heart. They have been accompanied with light, trivial remarks that would lead those with whom you converse to decide that your faith is not genuine and that you do not believe the truths you profess. Words in favor of the truth, spoken in the calm self-possession of a right purpose and from a pure heart, will do much to disarm opposition and win souls. But a harsh, selfish, denunciatory spirit will only drive further from the truth and awaken a spirit of opposition. {3T 247.1}[9]
§21
你在为上帝热心工作之前，不要等待绝好的机会，或期待超卓的能力。你不必思考世人会怎么看你。如果你与他们的交往和你敬虔的言谈对他们是一个活的见证，证明你信仰的纯正和真诚，使他们确信你渴望使他们受益，那么，你的话便不会全然落空，反而会产生美好的果效。{3T 247.2}[10]
§22
You are not to wait for great occasions, or to expect extraordinary abilities, before you work in earnest for God. You need not have a thought of what the world will think of you. If your intercourse with them and your godly conversation are a living testimony to them of the purity and sincerity of your faith, and they are convinced that you desire to benefit them, your words will not be wholly lost upon them, but will be productive of good. {3T 247.2}[10]
§23
基督的仆人，不论是在教会的哪一个部分服务，都要藉着言传身教对他人产生拯救的影响。撒下的好种可能会落在一颗冷淡，世俗，自私的心里，毫无发芽的迹象；但是上帝的灵常常运行在那颗心上，并用天露浇灌它，于是那长久隐藏的种子就发芽生长，最终结出果子荣耀上帝了。在我们一生的工作中，我们不知道哪样会发旺，这样还是那样。这些并不是我们可怜必死之人要解决的问题。我们乃要作我们的工作，把结果留给上帝。你若处在黑暗与无知之中，你就不会那么有罪了。但你已经拥有大光，你已经听到很多真理，却没有行道。{3T 248.1}[11]
§24
A servant of Christ, in any department of the Christian service, will by precept and by example have a saving influence upon others. The good seed sown may lie some time in a cold, worldly, selfish heart without evidencing that it has taken root; but frequently the Spirit of God operates upon that heart and waters it with the dew of heaven, and the long-hidden seed springs up and finally bears fruit to the glory of God. We know not in our lifework which shall prosper, this or that. These are not questions for us poor mortals to settle. We are to do our work, leaving the result with God. If you were in darkness and ignorance, you would not be as guilty. But you have had great light, you have heard much truth; but you are not a doer of the word. {3T 248.1}[11]
§25
基督的生活是我们每一个人的榜样。祂那舍己牺牲和无私仁爱的榜样是要我们去效学的。祂的一生不断证明祂拯救罪人的大爱和屈尊。基督说：你们要彼此相爱，象我爱你们一样（约15:12）。我们生活中的舍己、牺牲和善行与基督的生活会形成怎样的对照呢？基督对祂的门徒说：你们是世上的光。 你们是世上的盐。倘若这是我们的特权和责任，而我们却是黑暗不信的团体，我们所承担的就是多么可怕的责任啊！我们要么是光明的通道要么是黑暗的通道。我们若忽视善用上帝赐予我们的亮光，在得到亮光的指引之时却没能在知识和真实的圣洁上进步，就有罪了，且要按照我们所没有善用的亮光和真理处在相应的黑暗中。在这个充满罪孽和危险的世代，大部分自称为基督徒之人的品格与行为无法通过如今他们所领受之亮光的检验。基督与彼列不能相和；光明与黑暗不能相交。那么，基督的圣灵与这世界的灵怎能和谐呢？主我们的上帝是一位忌邪的上帝。祂要求那些自称爱祂的人有诚挚的情感和毫无保留的信心。诗人说: 我若心里注重罪孽，主必不听（诗66:18）。{3T 248.2}[12]
§26
Christs life is the pattern for us all. His example of self-denial, self-sacrifice, and disinterested benevolence is for us to follow. His entire life is an infinite demonstration of His great love and condescension to save sinful man. Love one another, as I have loved you, says Christ. How will our life of self-denial, sacrifice, and benevolence bear comparison with the life of Christ? Ye are, says Christ, addressing His disciples, the light of the world. Ye are the salt of the earth. If this is our privilege and also our duty, and we are bodies of darkness and of unbelief, what a fearful responsibility we assume! We may be channels of light or of darkness. If we have neglected to improve the light that God had given us, and have failed to advance in knowledge and true holiness as the light has directed the way, we are guilty and in darkness according to the light and truth we have neglected to improve. In these days of iniquity and peril the characters and works of professed Christians will not generally bear the test nor endure the exposure when examined by the light that now shines upon them. There is no concord between Christ and Belial; there is no communion between light and darkness. How, then, can the spirit of Christ and the spirit of the world be in harmony? The Lord our God is a jealous God. He requires the sincere affection and unreserved confidence of those who profess to love Him. Says the psalmist: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. {3T 248.2}[12]
§27
你直接挡在了儿女得救的道路上。你把他们对宗教事务漠不关心解释成其它原因而不是真正的原因。你所树立的榜样是他们的绊脚石。他们藉着你的果子，你的言行看出你并不相信基督的快来。他们中间有些人毫不犹豫地嘲笑基督快要降临和时日短暂的想法。当你精明地讲价时，他们便获得了极大的满足。他们认为父亲热衷于买卖，而且在这方面父亲是最优秀的，他们也在追随你的脚踪。没有行为的信心是死的。钱财带给你力量，你藉这样的能力利用他人的需要。你的投机买卖是不诚实的，你没有公平的对待同胞。你用这样的交易牺牲了作为基督徒以及诚实之人的名誉。如果公平地做生意，你便不会足够快的赚得钱财以满足你赚钱的渴望，你常常藉着利用穷苦人的需要而增加自己的财富，藉此使穷人的担子更加沉重了。S弟兄啊，你要当心。你正在为地上的财富做出可怕的牺牲。在这试探的时刻，你正在失去做人的正直和属天的美德。这是得还是失呢？这一切的增加使你更加富足了，还是更加贫穷了？对于你来讲，这是一种可怕的损失，因为它大大剥夺了你原可一直积攒在天上的财宝。 {3T 249.1}[13]
§28
You have stood directly in the way of the salvation of your children. You lay their indifference to religious things to other causes than the true. Your example is a stumbling block to them. They know by your fruits, by your words and works, that you do not believe in the near coming of Christ. Some of them do not hesitate to make sport of the idea of the near coming of Christ and of the shortness of time. They take great satisfaction when you drive a sharp bargain. They think that father is keen in a trade and that nobody can get the better of him, and they are following in your footsteps. Faith without works is dead, being alone. Money has given you power, and you have used that power to take advantage of the necessities of others. Your speculations in business life have not been honest, you have not been just with your fellow men. By your trades you have sacrificed your reputation as a Christian and as an honest man. By fair trading, means did not come into your possession fast enough to satisfy your thirst for gain, and you have frequently made the poor mans burdens heavier by taking advantage of his necessity to increase your property. Look carefully, Brother S. You are making fearful losses for earthly gain. You are losing manly integrity and heavenly virtue, in the hour of temptation. Is this gain or loss? Are you richer or poorer for all such increase? To you it is a fearful loss, for it takes just so much from the treasure you might have been accumulating in heaven. {3T 249.1}[13]
§29
每一次帮助急难中的弟兄，或协助上帝圣工散布真理的机会，便是一颗你能预先送入天国银行保存的珍珠。上帝正在考验你。祂一直在用慷慨的手赐给你福惠，现在祂要看你如何使用这些福惠，要看你是否去帮助那些需要帮助的人，是否能感受到生灵的价值并尽己所能地合理使用上帝托付于你的钱财。你每一次善用这样的机会便是将财宝积攒在了天上的府库。然而自爱导致你更喜爱地上的财宝，即使牺牲天上的财宝也在所不惜。你选择了有虫子咬且能锈坏的财宝，而不是那能存到永生的财宝。施行怜悯和造福他人是你的特权，但你的眼睛被这世界的神弄瞎了，以致你无法分辨这种宝石——藉着行善事、在好事上富足、时刻准备奉献、乐意交流所领受的福惠，为自己积成美好的根基，预备将来，好使你持定永生。你正在危害自己的心灵，因为你忽视利用宝贵的机会获取属天的财宝。你的吝啬以及你严格的管理真的使你更加富足了吗？上帝正在检验你，你要自行决定要生产出黄金还是毫无价值的渣滓。倘若你的恩典时期今晚结束，你一生的记录如何能站立得住呢？你所赚得的每一分钱都不能带走。你一切不公平行为的咒诅都要随着你。当你在上帝的镜子前查看之时，你在交易时所表现的刻薄都会摆在你面前，这些行为不会使你沾沾自喜的。贪婪是与拜偶像同罪。{3T 249.2}[14]
§30
Every opportunity to help a brother in need, or to aid the cause of God in the spread of the truth, is a pearl that you can send beforehand and deposit in the bank of heaven for safekeeping. God is testing and proving you. He has been giving His blessings to you with a lavish hand and is now watching to see what use you are making of them, to see if you will help those who need help and if you will feel the worth of souls and do what you can with the means that He has entrusted to you. Every such opportunity improved adds to your heavenly treasure. But love of self has led you to prefer earthly possessions even at the sacrifice of the heavenly. You choose the treasures that moth and rust corrupt rather than those which are as enduring as eternity. It is your privilege to exercise tender compassion and to bless others; but your eyes are so blinded by the god of this world that you cannot discern this precious gem--the blessing to be received by doing good, by being rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up for yourself a good foundation against the time to come, that you may lay hold on eternal life. You are imperiling your soul by neglecting to avail yourself of precious opportunities to secure the heavenly treasure. Are you really richer for your penuriousness, for your close managing? God is proving you, and it is for you to determine whether you will come out gold or valueless dross. Should your probation close tonight, how would your life record stand? Not a dollar of what you have gained could you take with you. The curse of every unjust act would attend you. Your sharpness in trade, when viewed in the mirror that God will present before you, will not lead to self-congratulation. Covetousness is idolatry. {3T 249.2}[14]
§31
你唯一的希望乃是在上帝面前谦卑己心。“人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？人还能拿什么换生命呢”（太16:26）？我恳劝你：不要闭眼不看自己的危险。不要对心灵的更高利益、更好来生的有福且荣耀的前景视而不见。焦急地寻找世上财富的人是瞎眼而愚蠢的。他们从那不朽不灭的财宝转向了这个世界。今世的光鲜绚丽俘虏了他们的感官，他们不再重看永恒的事物。当耶稣提供给他们顺从人生所具备的平安、希望和无限福惠时，他们却为那不能使人满足的事劳苦，把钱花在不足为食物的事上。地上一切的财富都不足以买到这些宝贵的恩赐。然而还有很多人极其愚蠢，转离属天的吸引。凡不以任何牺牲为昂贵，而在信心及爱心的坛上奉献与基督的人，他们的名字都会被基督保存起来。祂为堕落的人类牺牲了一切。那些顺从、舍己和信实之人的名字，会铭刻在祂的掌上；他们不会从祂口中被吐出去，却为祂所记念，并且在天父面前，特别为他们代求。当自私和骄傲的人被遗忘之时，他们却要被记念，他们的名字要永垂不朽。为了要使自己快乐，我们必须使别人快乐。我们把财物、才干和爱情奉献给基督，以示感谢，这是我们所当作的，这样，我们就能在此世得着快乐，并可在来世得着不朽的荣耀。{3T 250.1}[15]
§32
Your only hope is to humble your heart before God. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? I entreat of you: Do not close your eyes to your danger. Do not be blind to the higher interests of the soul, to the blessed and glorious prospects for the better life. The anxious, burdened seekers for worldly gain are blind and insane. They turn from the immortal, imperishable treasure, to this world. The glitter and tinsel of this world captivate their senses, and eternal things are not valued. They labor for that which satisfieth not and spend their money for that which is not bread, when Jesus offers them peace and hope and infinite blessings, for a life of obedience. All the treasures of the earth would not be rich enough to buy these precious gifts. Yet many are insane and turn from the heavenly inducement. Christ will keep the names of all who count no sacrifice too costly to be offered to Him upon the altar of faith and love. He sacrificed all for fallen humanity. The names of the obedient, self-sacrificing, and faithful will be engraved upon the palms of His hands; they will not be spewed from His mouth, but be taken in His lips, and He will specially plead in their behalf before the Father. When the selfish and proud are forgotten, they will be remembered; their names will be immortalized. In order to be happy ourselves, we must live to make others happy. It is well for us to yield our possessions, our talents, and our affections in grateful devotion to Christ, and in that way find happiness here and immortal glory hereafter. {3T 250.1}[15]
§33
漫漫长夜的警醒，辛劳和艰难即将过去了。基督很快就要来临。应当预备妥当。上帝的天使正在试图吸引你转离自己和世界上的事。不要让他们徒然劳苦。信心，活泼的信心才是你所需要的；就是生发仁爱并且洁净心灵的信心。要牢记髑髅地和那为人类所献上的可畏的无限的牺牲。此时此刻耶稣邀请你照着自己目前的状况来就近祂，使祂成为你的力量和永远的朋友。{3T 251.1}[16]
§34
The long night of watching, of toil and hardship, is nearly past. Christ is soon to come. Get ready. The angels of God are seeking to attract you from yourself and from earthly things. Let them not labor in vain. Faith, living faith, is what you need; faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Remember Calvary and the awful, the infinite sacrifice there made for man. Jesus now invites you to come to Him just as you are and make Him your strength and everlasting Friend. {3T 251.1}[16]