第17章 办事殷勤
§1
第17章 办事殷勤
§2
Chap. 17—Diligence in Business
§3
“你看见办事殷勤的人么？他必站在君王面前；必不站在下贱人面前”（箴29:29）。“手懒的，要受贫穷；手勤的，却要富足”（箴10:4）。“爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。殷勤不可懒惰；要心里火热；常常服事主”（罗12:10,11）。{5T178.1}[1]
§4
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”?{5T 178.1}[1]
§5
在旧约及新约圣经中，有许多劝勉人殷勤的话清楚地指出，我们的生活习惯与我们的宗教情绪及实践有密切的关系。人的心思及身体，其构造必须有充分的运用，才可保持各部机能的正常发育。当许多人过分致力于世俗的业务之时，另一些人却趋于相反的极端，不肯充分工作，养活自己及那些依靠他们的人。某弟兄就是这等人之一。他虽身居家长地位，但却有名无实。他把家中最重大的责任及工作，让给妻子去作，而自己却优游闲懒，或是忙于一些无补家计的小事。他会坐上好几个钟头，同儿子或邻居聊天，闲谈无关宏旨的琐事。当为妻为母者忙于备办那必要的饮食及衣着之时，他竟轻轻松松，安享清闲。{5T178.2}[2]
§6
The many admonitions to diligence found in both the Old and the New Testament plainly indicate the intimate relation existing between our habits of life and our religious feelings and practices. The human mind and body are so constituted that plenty of exercise is necessary in order to a proper development of all the faculties. While many are too much engaged in worldly business, others go to the opposite extreme and do not labor sufficiently to support themselves or those dependent upon them. Brother ----- is one of this class. While he occupies the position of house band to his family he is not this in reality. The heaviest responsibilities and burdens he allows to rest upon his wife, while he indulges in careless indolence or busies himself about small matters that tell little for the support of his family. He will sit for hours and chat with his sons or his neighbors upon matters of no great consequence. He takes things easy and enjoys himself while the wife and mother does the work which must be done to prepare food to eat and clothes to wear.?{5T 178.2}[2]
§7
这位弟兄是个穷苦可怜的人，除非他认清上帝所赐的特权，挺起胸膛来作人，他就长为社会之负担。任何人只要真正切望工作，就能找到一些工作；但若是疏忽懒散，那么他本可得到的工作地位，就要被那些更勤奋及更能办事的人得去了。{5T178.3}[3]
§8
This brother is a poor man and always will be a burden to society unless he asserts his God-given privilege and becomes a man. Anyone can find work of some kind to do if he really desires it; but if he is careless and inattentive, the positions which he might have secured he will find filled by those who had greater activity and business tact.?{5T 178.3}[3]
§9
我的弟兄啊，上帝始终无意要你长居在现今的贫困苦境之中。祂为什么赐你这个躯体呢？你有运用体力的责任，正如你的弟兄们有责任运用其财力一样。其中有些人若能用他们的财产交换你的体力，他们今日就必得利了。他们如果与你易地而处，就必殷勤运用智力及体力，不久就可脱离困境，而不拖欠任何人了。并非上帝与你有怨，使环境对你不利，乃是因你自己没有善用祂所赐给你的力量。祂无意要你的能力因不用而锈坏，乃是要你加以运用，而使之更强。{5T178.4}[4]
§10
God never designed that you, my brother, should be in the?position of poverty that you are now in. Why did He give you that physical frame? You are just as responsible for your physical powers as your brethren are for their means. Some of these would today be gainers could they exchange their property for your physical strength. But if placed in your position, they would, by a diligent use of both mental and physical powers, soon be above want and owe no man anything. It is not because God owes you a grudge that circumstances appear to be against you, but because you do not use the strength He has given you. He did not intend that your powers should rust by inaction, but that they should strengthen by use.?{5T 178.4}[4]
§11
你所信的宗教，要你在六日工作的时间内尽你的本分努力工作，正如在安息日去教堂赴会一样。你没有殷勤办事。你让光阴整时，整日，甚至于整周，空虚度过，一无所成。你向世人所能传讲的最好的道理，就是在你的生活上表现一番确实的改革，并供养你的家庭。使徒说：“人若不看顾亲属，就是背了真道，比不信的人还不好。不看顾自己家里的人更是如此”（提前5:8）。{5T179.1}[5]
§12
The religion you profess makes it as much your duty to employ your time during the six working days as to attend church on the Sabbath. You are not diligent in business. You let hours, days, and even weeks pass without accomplishing anything. The very best sermon you could preach to the world would be to show a decided reformation in your life, and provide for your own family. Says the apostle: “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”?{5T 179.1}[5]
§13
你无论住居何处，闲懒过日，以致要负债养家，这就使圣工因你而蒙了羞辱。你对于这些应该清偿的债务，不但不设法还清，竟然迁避他处。这种行动，乃是欺诈邻里。世人对于自称信仰圣经的基督徒，当然是期望他完全诚实正直的。因着一人漠视其应偿之债务，就有使我们全体的人被人目为不可靠之虞。{5T179.2}[6]
§14
You bring a reproach upon the cause by locating in a place, where you indulge indolence for a time and then are obliged to run in debt for provision for your family. These your honest debts you are not always particular to pay, but, instead, move to another place. This is defrauding your neighbor. The world has a right to expect strict integrity in those who profess to be Bible Christians. By one man’s indifference in regard to paying his just dues, all our people are in danger of being regarded as unreliable.?{5T 179.2}[6]
§15
“你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人”（太7:12）。这话不但是对那能送人礼物或使人受惠而言，也是对那亲手劳力的人而言。上帝已赐你力量及技能，但你却未善加利用。{5T179.3}[7]
§16
“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” This refers to those who labor with their hands as well as to those who have gifts to bestow. God has given you strength and skill, but you have not used them.?{5T 179.3}[7]
§17
你的力量是足够养家而有余的。应当每日早起，若有需要的话，不妨在星光犹灿之时就起床。定下计划要作一些事，然后务必作成之。除非疾病把你缠倒床上，总要设法履行一切的诺言。宁可在饮食及睡眠上刻苦自制，不可对于应还别人的债务有失信之罪。{5T180.1}[8]
§18
Your strength is sufficient to abundantly support your family. Rise in the morning, even while the stars are shining, if need be. Lay your plans to do something, and then accomplish it. Redeem every pledge unless sickness lays you prostrate. Better deny yourself food and sleep than be guilty of keeping from others their just dues.?{5T 180.1}[8]
§19
进步之山，人非用力不可攀登。不论是在宗教或世俗的事上，任何人不可妄图坐享其成，不劳而获。快跑的未必能赢，力战的未必得胜，但那手懒的，却要成为贫穷。恒心及勤勉的人，不但可使自己快乐，也是使别人大受其惠。人若不肯付上恒毅勤劳为代价，往往就得不到康乐顺泰。法老对于这种特有的美德颇为赏识，从他对约瑟所说的话上，就可以看出来，他说：“你若知道他们（指约瑟众弟兄）中间有什么能人，就派他们看管我的牲畜”（创47:6）。{5T180.2}[9]
§20
The hill of progress is not to be climbed without effort. No one need expect to be carried along to the prize, either in religious or secular matters, independently of his own exertions. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, yet he that dealeth with a slack hand will become poor. The persevering and industrious are not only happy themselves, but they contribute largely to the happiness of others. Competency and comfort are not ordinarily attained except at the price of earnest industry. Pharaoh showed his appreciation of this trait of character when he said to Joseph: If thou knowest any men of activity among them [Joseph’s brethren], then make them rulers over my cattle.”?{5T 180.2}[9]
§21
某弟兄除贪爱安逸及无能为己策划工作之外，是别无理由可推诿的。他现在最好的方法，就是离家并在一些要为他安排工作的人之下作事。他久已疏懒成性毫无成就，在儿女面前也有不良的榜样。他们都有了他品性的印记；只让母亲负起重担，他们要等人请求才肯作事；不象一般孩子那样有教养，见到该作的事，不待吩咐就动手了。{5T180.3}[10]
§22
There is no excuse for Brother -----, unless love of ease and inability to plan and set himself to work is an excuse. The best course for him now to pursue is to go from home and work under someone who shall plan for him. He has so long been a careless, indolent master over himself that he accomplishes but little, and his example before his children is bad. They have his stamp of character. They let mother bear the burdens. When asked to do anything, they will do it; but they do not cultivate, as all children should, the faculty of seeing what needs to be done and doing it without being told.?{5T 180.3}[10]
§23
妇女若是作了自己的工作，又要替家人工作，──担柴，挑水，甚至于还要用斧劈柴，而她的丈夫及儿子，这时却坐在火旁优游闲逸，这样，她就是对自己及家人犯下了严重的错误。上帝无意要为妻为母者当家庭的奴隶。儿女若未受教来分担家务，作母亲的就往往要过于劳瘁。结果，她便苍老早死，而在儿童亟需母亲以引导其无经验的脚步之时，撒手而去。这该谁负责呢？{5T180.4}[11]
§24
A woman does herself and her family a serious wrong when she does her work and theirs too—when she brings the wood and water, and even takes the ax to prepare the wood, while her husband and sons sit about the fire having a social, easy time. God never designed that wives and mothers should be slaves to their families. Many a mother is overburdened?with care while her children are not educated to share the domestic burdens. As the result, she grows old and dies prematurely, leaving her children just when a mother is most needed to guide their inexperienced feet. Who is to blame??{5T 180.4}[11]
§25
丈夫应当尽其所能地去减轻妻子的劳苦，保持她的精神愉快。切不可让儿童懒惰闲游，因为这样很快便会成了习惯。若不从事于有用的工作，人的官能就要么日见退化，要么积极行恶。{5T181.1}[12]
§26
Husbands should do all they can to save the wife care and keep her spirit cheerful. Never should idleness be fostered or permitted in children, for it soon becomes a habit. When not engaged in useful employment, the faculties either depreciate or become active in an evil work.?{5T 181.1}[12]
§27
我的弟兄啊，你的需要就是勤奋操作。你所有的面容气色，心思功能，都显出你有此需要。你不爱辛劳工作，也不想汗流满面以求糊口。然而这却是上帝所命定之生活方式。{5T181.2}[13]
§28
What you need, my brother, is active exercise. Every feature of your countenance, every faculty of your mind, is indicative of this. You do not love hard work nor to earn your bread by the sweat of your brow. But this is God’s ordained plan in the economy of life.?{5T 181.2}[13]
§29
你对于所作的工，半途而废。你没有训练自己循规蹈矩。做事要有系统是极其重要的。在一个时间之内只作一件事，并要作得好，及至完毕之后，才下手作第二件事。起居饮食及祷告，都应当有定时。许多人把宝贵的光阴虚耗在床上，只为满足其天生的懒惰倾向，若欲改变这种情形，就必须下一番努力。在早晨虚耗了一点钟，这种损失了的光阴，是永不复回的。智慧者说道：“我经过懒惰人的田地、无知人的葡萄园，荆棘长满了地皮，刺草遮盖了田面，石墙也坍塌了。我看见就留心思想，我看着就领了训诲。再睡片时，打盹片时，抱着手躺卧片时，你的贫穷，就必如强盗速来；你的缺乏，仿佛拿兵器的人来到”（箴24:30-34）。{5T181.3}[14]
§30
You fail to carry through what you undertake. You have not disciplined yourself to regularity. System is everything. Do but one thing at a time, and do that well, finishing it before you begin a second piece of work. You should have regular hours for rising, for praying, and for eating. Many waste hours of precious time in bed because it gratifies the natural inclination and to do otherwise requires an exertion. One hour wasted in the morning is lost never to be recovered. Says the wise man: “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.”?{5T 181.3}[14]
§31
凡自称敬虔的人就当尊崇自己所信仰的道理，不可因自己轻率的行动，使真理蒙羞。使徒说道：“凡事都不可亏欠人”（罗13:8）。我的弟兄啊，你现在就应当立下决心，切实改正你懒惰的恶习，爱惜光阴，让世人共睹真理已在你的生活上作了一番改革。{5T181.4}[15]
§32
Those who make any pretensions to godliness should adorn the doctrine they profess and not give occasion for the truth to be reviled through their inconsiderate course of action. “Owe no man anything,” says the apostle. You ought?now, my brother, to take hold earnestly to correct your habits of indolence, redeeming the time. Let the world see that the truth has wrought a reformation in your life.?{5T 181.4}[15]