第34章 定期捐款
§1
第34章 定期捐款
§2
Chap. 34 - Systematic Benevolence
§3
如果所有蒙上帝惠赐丰富世上财物的人，都能忠心实行祂的计划，在他们一切进项上交纳十分之一，并且不扣留自己的赎罪捐和感恩捐，则上帝的府库必时常充溢。定期捐款计划的单纯简易，不会使它的效能减损分毫，反倒彰显了上帝在这件事上的智慧。凡带有神圣印记的事，都既简单，又实用。如果上帝的定期捐款计划被普遍采纳，并且无论贫富，人人均忠心实行交纳什一的本分，则在我们的大型宗教集会上，便不会再听到反复而又迫切的捐献呼吁了。教会忽略了坚持实行定期捐款计划，其结果就是上帝府库的缺乏，以及教会的冷淡退后。{3T 408.4}[1]
§4
Should all whom God has prospered with earths riches carry out His plan by faithfully giving a tenth of all their increase, and should they not withhold their trespass offerings and their thank offerings, the treasury would be constantly replenished. The simplicity of the plan of systematic benevolence does not detract from its merits, but extols the wisdom of God in its arrangement. Everything bearing the divine stamp unites simplicity with utility. If systematic benevolence were universally adopted according to Gods plan, and the tithing system carried out as faithfully by the wealthy as it is by the poorer classes, there would be no need of repeated and urgent calls for means at our large religious gatherings. There has been a neglect in the churches of keeping up the plan of systematic benevolence, and the result has been an impoverished treasury and a backslidden church. {3T 408.4}[1]
§5
“人岂可夺取上帝之物呢？你们竟夺取我的供物，你们却说，我们在何事上夺取你的供物呢？就是你们在当纳的十分之一，和当献的供物上。因你们通国的人，都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上。万军之耶和华说，你们要将当纳的十分之一，全然送入仓库，使我家有余，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户，倾福与你们，甚至无处可容。万军之耶和华说：我必为你们斥责吞噬者，不容它毁坏你们的土产。你们田间的葡萄树在未熟之先，也不掉果子。万军之耶和华说：万国必称你们为有福的，因你们的地成为喜乐之地”（玛3:8-12）。{3T 409.1}[2]
§6
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts. {3T 409.1}[2]
§7
人们在什一和奉献上抢夺上帝的物。当纳不纳，或者抢夺上帝，这些都是可怕的罪行。在我们的大型集会上讲道的传道人，感到扣留原属上帝之物的罪恶很重。他们知道，百姓若继续忽视上帝的慈善计划，就无法得到上帝的祝福。他们力图用率直实际的讲道，来唤醒百姓注意自己的本分，说明自私和贪婪的危险。人们听后，心中自知有罪，自私自利的坚冰开始融化。捐助上帝圣工的呼召发出时，一些人在这些聚会激动人心的影响之下，心中醒悟，起来奉献，若非如此，他们便会无动于衷。就这类人而言，大会已经对他们产生了良好的结果。然而，许多心没有被自私冻结的人，对紧迫的呼吁感触最深。他们一直本着良心用钱财推进上帝的圣工。他们的全部身心因圣工的恳切呼吁而受到激励，便起而响应，竟能将自己的全部养生之物献上。{3T 409.2}[3]
§8
God has been robbed in tithes and offerings. It is a fearful thing to be guilty of withholding from the treasury or of robbing God. Ministers who preach the word at our large gatherings feel the sinfulness of neglecting to render to God the things that are His. They know that God will not bless His people while they are disregarding His plan of benevolence. They seek to arouse the people to their duty by pointed, practical discourses, showing the danger and sinfulness of selfishness and covetousness. Conviction fastens upon minds, and the icy chill of selfishness is broken. And when the call is made for donations to the cause of God, some, under the stirring influence of the meetings, are aroused to give who otherwise would do nothing. As far as this class is concerned, good results have been realized. But under pressing calls many feel the deepest who have not had their hearts frozen up with selfishness. They have conscientiously kept their means flowing out to advance the cause of God. Their whole being is stirred by the earnest appeals made, and the very ones respond who may have given all that their circumstances in life would justify. {3T 409.2}[3]
§9
然而，这些慷慨诚恳的信徒，因热爱上帝的圣工而受到激励，渴望迅速采取行动，认为自己可以做更多的事，超过上帝对他们的要求，因此，他们在其它方面的效能便受到了损害。这些甘心乐意奉献的人，有时虽不知道钱从何来，但仍承诺更多的捐献，有些人因为要履行自己的诺言，而陷入了窘迫的处境当中。一些人不得不以极低的价格出售自己的土产，还有些人为履行诺言，竟然在生活中忍受了种种不便与缺乏。{3T 410.1}[4]
§10
But these liberal, wholehearted believers, prompted by a zealous love for the cause and a desire to act promptly, judge themselves capable of doing more than God requires them to do, for their usefulness is crippled in other directions. These willing ones sometimes pledge to raise money when they know not from what source it is coming, and some are placed in distressing circumstances to meet their pledges. Some are obliged to sell their produce at great disadvantage, and some have actually suffered for the conveniences and necessities of life in order to meet their pledges. {3T 410.1}[4]
§11
在我们工作刚开始的时候，这样的牺牲是情有可原的，当时上帝祝福所有这样敢于为祂圣工冒险的人。当时，帮助真理的人很少，他们的财产也很有限。但随着工作的不断拓展和增强，信徒手中已有足够财富，可以维持圣工所有部门的运转。如果人人都按自己蒙福受托的比例承担责任，则任何人都不必受苦作难。上帝的圣工一点也不必受到损害。宝贵的真理已清楚地宣布；许多蒙上帝托付财产以推进真理事业的人，已持住真理。如果这些富足的人忠心履行自己的义务，那些较为贫穷的弟兄便不会受此重压了。{3T 410.2}[5]
§12
There was a time at the commencement of our work when such sacrifice would have been justified, when God would have blessed all who thus ventured out to do for His cause. The friends of truth were few and their means very limited. But the work has been widening and strengthening until there is means enough in the hands of believers to amply sustain the work in all its departments without embarrassing any, if all would bear their proportional part. The cause of God need not be crippled in the slightest degree. The precious truth has been made so plain that many have taken hold of it who have in their hands means which God has entrusted to them to use in advancing the interests of the truth. If these men of means do their duty, there need not be a pressure brought upon the poorer brethren. {3T 410.2}[5]
§13
我们生活在一个物质丰富的世界。如果大家的礼物和捐献都与各人从上帝所受的财富相称，我们的大型宗教集会上便不需要再听到紧急的募捐呼吁了。我完全确信，在我们的帐篷大会上强调钱财并非最好的计划。热爱上帝的圣工如自己的生活的信徒必然在这种场合承诺捐献，但他们的家人却要因他们已承诺要奉献以推进圣工的钱财而遭受生活的窘迫。我们的上帝不是工头，祂不要求穷人将维持生计的钱财拿来资助圣工，而使得他们的家人无法正常生活，忍受痛苦的缺乏。{3T 410.3}[6]
§14
We are in a world of plenty. If the gifts and offerings were proportionate to the means which each has received of God, there would be no need of urgent calls for means at our large gatherings. I am fully convinced that it is not the best plan to bring a pressure upon the point of means at our camp meetings. Men and women who love the cause of God as they do their lives will pledge upon these occasions, when their families must suffer for the very means that they have promised to give to advance the cause. Our God is not a taskmaster and does not require the poor man to give means to the cause that belongs to his family and that should be used to keep them in comfort and above pinching want. {3T 410.3}[6]
§15
就富人而言，我们帐篷大会上关于募捐的呼吁，显然在他们身上取得了良好的效果。然而，我们担心继续使用这种办法来充实上帝的府库，会带来不好的结果。我们担心这种办法会产生反作用。各地教会的负责人员应当采取更大努力，让人人都遵行上帝安排的计划。如果定期捐款计划得到贯彻，帐篷大会上便无须再听到为各项事工紧迫募捐的呼声了。{3T 411.1}[7]
§16
The calls for means at our large camp meetings have hitherto been attended with apparently good results so far as the wealthy are concerned. But we fear the result of a continued effort to thus replenish the treasury. We fear that there will be a reaction. Greater effort should be put forth by responsible men in the different churches to have all follow the plan of Gods arrangement. If systematic benevolence is carried out, the urgent calls at the camp meetings for means for various enterprises will not be necessary. {3T 411.1}[7]
§17
上帝设定了一项计划，令人人都能照着从祂所受之福进行捐献，使之成为一种习惯，而无须等待特别的呼召。那些有能力捐献，但因其自私不愿捐献的人，乃是抢夺他们的创造主，就是那位赐他们财富用以推进祂圣工的上帝。若非人人都实行定期捐款计划，现在的教会就不会符合使徒的规定。那些传道教导人的人，应当是慎思明辨的人。当他们呼吁捐献时，应当熟悉那些响应之人的能力，不应让贫穷的信徒承诺大量的捐献。当人承诺将一定数额的金钱献给上帝时，他便感到这钱已属于上帝，归于圣用。这是事实，所以我们讲道的弟兄应该对承捐人有彻底的了解。{3T 411.2}[8]
§18
God has devised a plan by which all may give as He has prospered them, and which will make giving a habit without waiting for special calls. Those who can do this, but will not because of their selfishness, are robbing their Creator, who has bestowed upon them means to invest in His cause to advance its interests. Until all shall carry out the plan of systematic benevolence, there will be a failure in coming up to the apostolic rule. Those who minister in word and doctrine should be men of discrimination. They should, while they make general appeals, become acquainted with the ability of those who respond to their appeals, and should not allow the poor to pay large pledges. After a man has once consecrated a certain sum to the Lord, he feels that it is sacred, consecrated to a holy use. This is true, and therefore our preaching brethren should be well informed of whom they accept pledges. {3T 411.2}[8]
§19
我们教会各个家庭相信真理的每一位成员，都当甘心乐意地采纳定期捐款计划，为圣工的发展尽自己的力量。“各人要……抽出来留着，免得我来的时候现凑”（林前16:2)。呼吁并催促个人捐献，并非给上帝的传道人定下的工作。每一位相信真理的人都应当承担起这项责任。“各人要照自己的进项抽出来留着，免得我来的时候现凑”（林前16:2）。家庭中的每一个成员，从最年长的到最年幼的都可以参与这种慈善捐献的工作。{3T 411.3}[9]
§20
Each member of the different families in our churches who believes the truth may act a part in its advancement by cheerfully adopting systematic benevolence. Let every one of you lay by him in store [by himself at home], . . . that there be no gatherings when I come. The burden of urging and pressing individuals to give of their means was not designed to be the work of Gods ministers. The responsibility should rest upon every individual who enjoys the belief of the truth. Let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. Every member of the family, from the oldest down to the youngest, may take part in this work of benevolence. {3T 411.3}[9]
§21
儿童的捐献也可蒙上帝悦纳及使祂喜爱的。捐献的价值是按那激动捐献的精神而定。穷苦的人，按使徒的规定，每周捐出小额的款项，帮助充实库房，他们的礼物就要全蒙上帝的悦纳；因为他们所作的牺牲，是与富人所作的一样大，甚至于比之更大。定期捐献的制度，将成为每一家庭的保障，抗拒试探，以免枉费金钱于不必要的事物上。此种制度，对于富人尤为福气，因其可使他们免得流入狂奢极欲的生活中。{3T 412.1}[10]
§22
The offerings of little children may be acceptable and pleasing to God. In accordance with the spirit that prompts the gifts will be the value of the offering. The poor, by following the rule of the apostle and laying by a small sum every week, help to swell the treasury, and their gifts are wholly acceptable to God; for they make just as great, and even greater, sacrifices than their more wealthy brethren. The plan of systematic benevolence will prove a safeguard to every family against temptations to spend means for needless things, and especially will it prove a blessing to the rich by guarding them from indulging in extravagances. {3T 412.1}[10]
§23
上帝每周对于每一个家庭的要求，藉着家中每一成员彻底履行这种制度，便可存记在心；而当他们放弃某些不必需的物品，以便有钱财捐入库中时，为上帝的荣耀而克己牺牲的宝贵教训就会铭刻于心。每周一次，家中各人都要检讨过去一周中的行为──若实行节约原可能省下来的进项，以及由于放纵而浪费的金钱。他的良心要象在上帝面前一样受检讨，而对他的行为或予嘉许，或谴责。他就认识到：若要保持内心的平安和上帝的眷爱，就必须在吃喝和衣着方面荣耀祂。{3T 412.2}[11]
§24
Every week the demands of God upon each family are brought to mind by each of its members fully carrying out the plan; and as they have denied themselves some superfluity in order to have means to put into the treasury, lessons of value in self-denial for the glory of God have been impressed upon the heart. Once a week each is brought face to face with the doings of the past week--the income that he might have had if he had been economical and the means that he does not have because of indulgence. His conscience is reined up, as it were, before God, and either commends or accuses him. He learns that if he retains peace of mind and the favor of God he must eat and drink and dress to His glory. {3T 412.2}[11]
§25
遵照上帝的计划长期慷慨地进行奉献，能够保持人心的渠道畅通无阻。我们甘心与上帝联合，祂就能使用我们作为祂赐恩给别人的通渠。穷人不会抱怨定期捐款计划，因为这对他们的影响极其轻微。上帝没有忽略并越过穷人，他们蒙恩准得作基督的同工，尽自己的一份力量，并和富人同得上帝的祝福。他们在把自己能省下来的一点留起来存着时，就在舍己和培养慷慨的心。他们正在训练自己去做善工，并和那些大量捐献的富人一道，有效地满足上帝在定期捐款计划上的旨意。{3T 412.3}[12]
§26
Systematic and liberal giving in accordance with the plan keeps the channel of the heart open. We place ourselves in connection with God, that He may use us as channels through which His gifts may flow to others. The poor will not complain of systematic benevolence, for it touches them lightly. They are not neglected and passed by, but are favored with acting a part in being co-workers with Christ, and will receive the blessing of God as well as the wealthy. In the very process of laying aside the littles as they can spare them they are denying self and cultivating liberality of heart. They are educating themselves to good works, and are as effectually meeting the design of God in the plan of systematic benevolence as are the more wealthy who give of their abundance. {3T 412.3}[12]
§27
使徒时代，人们到处奔走，传扬上帝的话语，新的教会得以建立。他们对基督的爱心与热诚使得他们付出了极大的克己和牺牲。许多外邦教会非常贫穷，然而使徒却宣称，他们的极穷之间还显出乐捐的恩赐。他们的捐献远远超出了他们的能力范围。许多人不顾生活困顿，为了真理的缘故甘心奉献一切。{3T 413.1}[13]
§28
In the days of the apostles, men went everywhere preaching the word. New churches were raised up. Their love and zeal for Christ led them to acts of great denial and sacrifice. Many of these Gentile churches were very poor, yet the apostle declares that their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. Their gifts were extended beyond their ability to give. Men periled their lives and suffered the loss of all things for the truths sake. {3T 413.1}[13]
§29
使徒建议，在七日的第一日是一个合适的时间，回顾上帝天意的安排和自己的进项，怀着敬畏上帝、真诚感激上帝所赐之福的心，根据祂亲定的计划，决定将多少数额的金钱归还给祂。{3T 413.2}[14]
§30
The apostle suggests the first day of the week as a proper time to review the course of Providence and the prosperity experienced, and in the fear of God, with true gratitude of heart for the blessings He has bestowed, to decide how much, according to His own devised plan, shall be rendered back to Him. {3T 413.2}[14]
§31
上帝定意让慈善的行为纯粹出于自愿，而不用求助甚至动人的呼吁来刺激人的同情心。“捐得乐意的人是上帝所喜爱的”（林后9:7）。祂不喜爱祂的库里装满勉强来的供物。祂子民忠诚的心，既以现代救人的真理为乐，就必因如此宝贵的亮光对祂表示热爱和感激，热切渴望献上自己的财物，协助将真理传与他人。向我们的救赎主表示敬爱的最佳方式，就是奉献财物使人认识真理。救赎的计划，就我们的救赎主这一方面来说，完全是出于自愿的，而按照基督的旨意，我们所有的善举都应当是乐意的捐献。{3T 413.3}[15]
§32
God designs that the exercise of benevolence shall be purely voluntary, not having recourse even to eloquent appeals to excite sympathy. God loveth a cheerful giver. He is not pleased to have His treasury replenished with forced supplies. The loyal hearts of His people, rejoicing in the saving truth for this time, will, through love and gratitude to Him for this precious light, be earnest and anxious to aid with their means in sending the truth to others. The very best manner in which to give expression to our love for our Redeemer is to make offerings to bring souls to the knowledge of the truth. The plan of redemption was entirely voluntary on the part of our Redeemer, and it is the purpose of Christ that all our benevolence should be freewill offerings. {3T 413.3}[15]